Malaysia fully backing "essential" rubber gloves industry

Kuala Lumpur – “No one understands rubber like Malaysia does, and by extension, no one understands rubber gloves better than Malaysia,” the country’s minister of plantation and commodities has claimed.

Johari Bin Abdul Ghani made the comments at the opening ceremony of the International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition (IRGCE), organised 3-5 Sept in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association.

Rubber gloves, he noted, have evolved from being merely personal protective equipment in the healthcare sector to becoming essential also in many industries, including semiconductors.

“Malaysia remains at the epicentre of this growth,” according to the minister, who said the consumption rate for rubber gloves is projected to rise by around 6-8% annually.

In 2023, he said, Malaysia’s rubber glove industry captured 45% of the global market and is set to contribute up to 12.4 billion ringgit (€2.6 billion) to domestic GDP this year.

The government recognises “the extensive economic benefits, from upstream cultivation to downstream manufacturing," continued Johari Bin Abdul Ghani.

He also noted challenges, such as the “volatility of our rubber prices together with emerging issues like untapped areas and plant diseases deeply affected the production and yield of raw rubber.”

Malaysia's ministry of plantation and commodities is addressing these issues by "leveraging" technology and research to enhance productivity, quality, and global competitiveness.

“Our new commercially driven model will significantly increase the country’s rubber yield, optimise plantation and labour management, and ultimately improve the income of rubber smallholders,” Johari Bin Abdul Ghani added.

The minister went on to note an expansion of sustainable practices within the industry, including the development of eco-friendly gloves, water-conservation initiatives, and investments in renewable energy.

Platforms such as the IRGCE, he concluded, are “more crucial than ever, as we navigate the complexities of globalisation, technological progress, and the increasing use of AI and data analytics in both upstream cultivation and downstream manufacturing.”