Global rubber glove demand forecast to exceed 400bn units in 2026

Kuala Lumpur – Global rubber glove consumption is projected to reach around 405 billion pieces this year, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA).

Citing Malaysian Rubber Council forecasts, MARGMA said the figure compared with around 290 billion gloves consumed globally in 2019, representing an increase of almost 40%.

Meanwhile, Malaysian rubber glove exports generated more than RM7 billion (€1.5 billion) in revenue during the first half of 2026, said MARGMA 1 Oct.

The figure accounted for 66% of the country's total rubber-product exports.

The latest figures were released following MARGMA's International Rubber Glove Conference & Exhibition (IRGCE), held in Kuala Lumpur 8-10 Sept.

Speaking during the conference, MARGMA president Oon Kim Hung said the industry's future competitiveness could not depend “only on scale”.

“It must depend on how well we operate, how quickly we adapt, how effectively we innovate and how much value we can create,” he added.

The association said the industry was increasingly focused on automation, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, sustainability and regulatory requirements.