Disposable Gloves Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Natural Rubber, Nitrile, Vinyl), By Product (Powdered, Powder Free), By End Use (Medical & Healthcare), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Industry Insights

The global disposable gloves market size was valued at USD 8.19 billion in 2017. Growing demand for disposable gloves in medical and healthcare, pharmaceutical, automotive finishing, chemical, and oil and gas industries has been a major factor driving the industry over the past few years. In addition, use of the product in the food processing industry is likely to complement market growth.

Increasing awareness pertaining to employee health and safety, coupled with rising concern regarding skin diseases in the industrial sector, is expected to drive the market over the projected period. Technological innovation, supported by availability of customized designs to cater to specific industry demands, is likely to have a positive impact on demand.

Increasing aging population and occurrences of chronic health issues necessitate the presence of reliable and upgraded emergency medical services. Growing demand for outpatient, ambulatory care and EMS in U.S. is expected to steer investments in medical infrastructure over the long term, subsequently driving demand for medical products such as gloves.

E-commerce acts as a major driving factor for market players to enhance product sales, venture into this industry, and expand service offerings. With the evolution of e-commerce, distributors are able to source and supply products with reduced lead-time and faster delivery to meet rising consumer demand.

Stringent government norms regarding safety of patients and doctors as well as other staff at hospitals have further accelerated the use of disposable gloves in the medical and healthcare sector. Moreover, high penalties for non-compliance with these standards are forcing employers to adopt these products for protection from skin infections.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the global usage of disposable gloves is expected to grow in industries such as pharmaceutical, research laboratories, and healthcare. However, unavailability of data pertaining to precise workplace incidents in industrial sectors acts as a major challenge in anticipating inventory levels.

Material Insights

Natural rubber dominated the global market by material and accounted for a revenue share of 36.3% in 2017. The product is highly elastic and offers chemical resistance while handling chemicals. High product demand while handling volatile chemicals in laboratory and cleanroom applications is projected to benefit segment growth.

Allergies caused by natural latex acts as a major restraining factor, hampering demand for natural rubber as a raw material in the food industry. As cited by health agencies, latex comprising fibrinogen may cause allergy, owing to which, market players have shifted focus toward synthetic disposable gloves made of nitrile, vinyl, neoprene, and other synthetic rubber.

The nitrile segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth on account of its inherent properties such as puncture-resistant, frictionless, and longer shelf life compared to latex. Increasing occurrence of pandemic diseases such as swine flu (H1N1), complemented by rising need for infection control, is anticipated to drive demand for nitrile as a raw material.

The vinyl segment is expected to witness increased demand over the forecast period, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.9% on account of low cost of the product, which makes it an economical choice. However, low durability has limited its use in applications wherein protection is of low priority.

Product Insights

The powder-free segment dominated the global disposable gloves market and accounted for 71.5% of the total revenue in 2017. Stringent regulations implemented by government associations, including food regulatory authorities of various countries such as U.S., Germany, and U.K., are anticipated to enhance use of powder-free disposable gloves in future.

The powdered variants have lost their market share over the past year owing to the ban imposed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2017. The FDA banned manufacturing, sale, and distribution of powdered examination gloves due to the unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury to users.

In 2016, the FDA decided to ban powdered surgical gloves due to their adverse effects on breathing. Healthcare systems in Germany and U.K. have imposed a ban on these products as well. Implementation of hygiene measures on account of stringent regulatory framework is likely to boost the powder-free segment in Europe.

End-use Insights

The medical and healthcare segment dominated the global market in 2017 while accounting for over 70.0% of the total revenue. The medical application includes dental, veterinary, EMS, and hospital use. Examination and surgical gloves in hospitals are expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

Growing awareness pertaining to health and safety measures associated with treatment of patients and emergency response incidents has played a crucial role in boosting the usage of medical gloves in the healthcare industry. In addition, rising product application in hospitals for hygiene purposes is likely to drive demand.

The non-medical segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period. Major application industries include automotive, chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas, mining, food and beverage (F&B), metal and machinery, and pharmaceutical. F&B processing accounted for the major market share owing to rising health and safety concerns pertaining to processed foods.

The medical and chemical industries are also projected to create ample opportunities for glove manufacturers over the next few years. These sectors have witnessed a significant shift in focus toward increased consumer health awareness, environmental sustainability, and improved protection of employees, which is likely to drive demand.

Regional Insights

North America emerged as the largest market for disposable gloves and accounted for 36.6% of the total revenue in 2017. Regulatory agencies in the region are enforcing stringent norms on employers to ensure worker safety on account of increasing occupational hazards.

The governments of Russia and Ukraine recently implemented reforms in the healthcare industry to improve medical care in the two countries and make it more in tune with Western standards. Upgrading of public healthcare systems as well as investments in new facilities are expected to drive product demand in these countries.

Demand for disposable gloves in healthcare applications in Spain is estimated to grow at a significant rate over the forecast period. The country has a comprehensive public health system that accounts for approximately 75-80% of the sector’s activity. Increasing spending in the country’s medical sector is likely to drive product demand over the coming years.

Asia Pacific is estimated to register a CAGR of 8.6% from 2018 to 2025 on account of the soaring use of the product in medical applications. Demand is expected to rise in countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Indonesia owing to increasing usage in surgical applications and in the food and beverages industry.

Disposable Gloves Market Share Insights

Major companies involved in the sector include Ansell Limited, The 3M Company, The Glove Corporation Bhd, Kimberly Clark, and Mölnlycke Health Care AB. The industry has witnessed numerous mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations undertaken by market participants to expand their share as well as offer better and accessible patient care.

Manufacturers are also adopting mergers and acquisitions as a lucrative strategy to expand their business in the global market. Freudenberg Household Products LP acquired the Playtex Gloves business from Edgewell Personal Care, which is a household gloves brand in U.S.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global disposable gloves market report on the basis of material, product, end use, and region:

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Natural Rubber

  • Nitrile

  • Vinyl

  • Neoprene

  • Polyethylene

  • Others

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Powdered

  • Powder Free

• End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • Medical & Healthcare

    • Surgical

      • Dental

      • Hospital

      • Veterinary

      • EMS

      • Others

    • Examination

      • Dental

      • Hospital

      • Veterinary

      • EMS

      • Others

  • Non-Medical

    • Automotive Finishing

    • Automotive Aftermarket

    • O&G and Mining

    • F&B Processing

    • F&B Service

    • Metal & Machinery

    • Chemical & Petrochemical

    • Pharmaceutical

    • Cleanroom

    • Academic R&D

    • Industrial R&D

    • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Russia

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Indonesia

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

    • Peru

    • Colombia

    • Mexico

    • Chile

  • Middle East & Africa (MEA)

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • South Africa