Even with the economic recession, the global healthcare industry is expected to stay buoyant as more people -- despite their economic status -- age, live unhealthy lifestyles and succumb to sickness.
With this, it is expected that the demand for healthcare services, medical devices and supplies will increase over the years. With more health threats and people getting exposed to contamination, bacteria, viruses and infections, demand for large quantities of medical gloves is projected.
In the global market, Malaysia is one of the largest exporters and producers of latex gloves. It currently supplies 65% of the world's natural rubber and half of the world's nitrile gloves. In the 1970s, Malaysia was the largest exporter of latex concentrate, supplying about 80% of the total global needs. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, falling prices of latex gloves and the growing demand for alternative gloves for protein-sensitised users have led to more manufacturers venturing into nitrile and polyurethane glove production. As more manufacturers join the glove manufacturing bandwagon, the Standard Malaysian Glove (SMG) was introduced to further improve barrier performance and minimise the risk of later protein allergy.
Despite facing fierce competition from neighbouring countries such as Thailand with its abundant latex and labour force, Top Glove Corporation Bhd remains a leading and largest glove provider in the world. Mr. Tan Sri Lim, Wee Chai, Chairman and Founder of Top Glove, was interviewed by the International Plastics News for Asia (IRNA) and this report is now online at www.industrysourcing.com. Learn how the company has made serious investment moves and adopted new processing technologies in the past and how these have helped to produce gloves that meet customers' diverse requirements.
