MALAYSIA: Rubber glove industry expects MYR 14.3 billion exports for 2016

The rubber gloves industry is expected to record MYR 14.3 billion in export revenue for 2016 with stronger growth seen in the second half due to rising health awareness and outbreak of diseases.

The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) president Denis Low said on Tuesday (6 Sept 2016) he targets the glove industry to record MYR 14.3 billion in exports this year.

This would be a 9.1% increase from the export revenue of MYR 13.1 billion in 2015.

"Malaysia is expected to export a total of 133.6 billion pieces of glove this year," he told reporters at a press conference at the 8th International Rubber Glove Conference & Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

For the first half of 2016, the rubber glove industry recorded MYR 6.4 billion in export revenue.

Low said the rubber glove industry would seasonally experience better sales and growth in the second half of the year.

"Even though the world economy is expected to slow down, we believe that the demand for rubber glove would continue to sustain especially with increased awareness in countries like China as well as outbreak like the Zika virus," he added.

Source: Daily “The Star”, Kuala Lumpur; 6 Sept 2016

(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)