Malaysia Rubber Glove Export Market Overview

Malaysia is the world's largest exporter of rubber gloves, built on a production ecosystem of major manufacturers including Top Glove, Hartalega, Kossan, and Supermax. For decades, this sector has been a cornerstone of Malaysia's commodities trade. However, few export categories have swung as violently as rubber gloves did between 2020 and 2023.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an extraordinary demand spike. As a result, exports rocketed from roughly $8.6 billion in 2020 to a record $13.2 billion in 2021. Once pandemic-era demand normalized, however, the correction was equally dramatic. Exports fell to around $4.3 billion in 2022, then to just $2.6 billion in 2023 — a nearly 80% decline from the 2021 peak. Since then, the industry has stabilized and modestly recovered, reaching approximately $3.2 billion in 2025.

Malaysia Rubber Glove Export Value — 2020 to 2025 Trend

Few Malaysian export categories illustrate the pandemic's economic whiplash as clearly as rubber gloves. Exports more than doubled between 2020 and 2021 as global healthcare systems scrambled for supply. Then, over the following two years, values collapsed by nearly 80% as demand normalized and global oversupply set in. Since 2024, however, the sector has found a steadier footing, growing modestly each year.

Malaysia's Top Rubber Glove Export Markets

The United States and the European Union have consistently been Malaysia's two largest glove markets. In fact, together they absorbed roughly 61.5% of Malaysia's total glove exports during the 2021 pandemic peak, when the US alone purchased approximately $5.16 billion worth of Malaysian gloves in a single year. By 2023, the US still accounted for around 35% of Malaysia's total glove exports.

Why Malaysia's US Market Share Slipped — Then Why It May Recover

Malaysia's share of the US glove import market fell from an average of 55% (2020–2023) to around 44% currently, as Chinese manufacturers undercut prices during the post-pandemic oversupply period. Notably, however, this trend may be reversing. The US raised tariffs on Chinese-made medical gloves from 7.5% to 50% in 2025, with a further increase to 100% planned for 2026. Meanwhile, as of mid-2025, Malaysian and Thai goods face a considerably lower 19% US tariff, versus 55% for China under the broader tariff framework — giving Malaysian exporters a meaningful pricing advantage heading into 2026.

A Note on HS Code Scope: Gloves vs. Surgical Gloves Specifically

HS Code 4015 covers all rubber gloves broadly — medical examination gloves, industrial gloves, and household gloves alike. A narrower sub-classification, HS 401511 (rubber surgical gloves specifically), tells a related but distinct story. According to global trade data, Malaysia exported approximately $2.19 billion worth of surgical gloves specifically in 2024, ahead of China ($1.41 billion) and Thailand ($886 million) — confirming Malaysia's leadership even within this more specific product category.

What's Driving the Rubber Glove Trade Story Now

1. The US-China Tariff Gap

The single biggest near-term factor is the widening tariff gap between Malaysia and China in the US market. As Chinese medical glove tariffs climb toward 100% by 2026, Malaysian manufacturers gain a substantial cost advantage. Consequently, industry observers widely expect this to help Malaysia recover lost US market share.

2. Post-Pandemic Demand Normalization

The dramatic 2022–2023 decline mainly reflected the unwinding of pandemic-era stockpiling and oversupply, rather than a genuine collapse in underlying demand. Therefore, the 2024–2025 stabilization likely represents a return to a more sustainable, structurally higher demand baseline than pre-pandemic levels.

3. Raw Material and Supply Chain Pressure

More recently, however, the industry has faced new cost pressures. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up Brent crude prices, which directly affects the cost of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) — the primary raw material for nitrile gloves. As a result, manufacturers are managing rising input costs even as export volumes stabilize.

Challenges Facing Malaysia's Glove Export Sector

Despite the tariff tailwind, however, the industry still faces real headwinds. For example, rising NBR raw-material costs squeeze manufacturer margins even when export revenue holds steady. Furthermore, a new 100% local-manufacturing requirement for glove exports has added an operational constraint amid ongoing supply disruptions. Given these pressures, sustained recovery will likely depend on how effectively manufacturers can pass on costs while capturing the US tariff advantage.

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