Disposable Gloves Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Powdered, Powder-free), By Material (Polyethylene, Natural Rubber, Nitrile), By End-use (Medical & Healthcare, Non-medical), And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2028

Report Overview

The global disposable gloves market size was valued at USD 10.17 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2020 to 2028. The growing demand for disposable gloves, especially from the healthcare industry amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, along with the rising awareness about Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), is expected to drive the market growth. The healthcare sector in major developing economies is anticipated to witness substantial growth on account of several factors, such as increasing investments in both private and public sectors, the high influx of migrants, and the growing geriatric population. Furthermore, rising healthcare expenditure is projected to drive the growth of the healthcare sector in developing regions, which, in turn, is estimated to augment the product demand.

The presence of target population & sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and higher disposable income levels of patients are some vital factors driving the market growth in the U.S. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic in the country has augmented the demand for disposable gloves, especially in the healthcare sector, to reduce further transmission of the virus.

Contact with harmful chemicals in the working environment of industries has been one of the major factors associated with health issues among workers. Skin diseases, rashes, hand cuts, amputation, and bloodborne pathogens are the common risks experienced in various industries, such as healthcare, medical, and mining. Safety regulations are likely to be the key factors anticipated to drive product demand over the forecast period.

Rising awareness regarding the importance of raw materials in providing high heat resistance, comfort, and elasticity is anticipated to boost the research & development activities of major players in the market. These initiatives aim to achieve product multi-functionality and widen its application scope by adding innovative add-ons to the existing designs.

The production of disposable gloves is highly capital-intensive on account of the high raw material costs and complex manufacturing methods. Major raw material suppliers in the market have integrated along the value chain for product manufacturing, which is expected to boost the competition in the market.

Material Insights

The natural rubber segment led the market and accounted for over 37% of the global revenue share in 2020. Natural rubber-based products offer superior performance and protection in various applications, such as medical & dental, food processing & service, janitorial & sanitation, pharmaceutical, and automotive. However, allergy caused by natural latex acts as a significant restraint, limiting the penetration of products made from natural rubber in the medical and food industries.

The nitrile material segment is anticipated to account for the highest revenue share by 2028 growing at the fastest CAGR of more than 10% during the forecast years. This growth can be credited to the rising adoption of nitrile-based products in the medical, painting, chemical, laboratory, and dentistry sectors. Higher puncture and chemical resistance of nitrile than vinyl and natural rubber are anticipated to boost the segment growth.

Vinyl-based products are latex-free and are made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and plasticizers. These gloves offer high comfort and tactile sensitivity as compared to neoprene gloves. Vinyl-based products are suitable in an environment where frequent change of gloves is required, such as food preparation. Other applications include manufacturing, print shops, assembly, and medical industries.

Polyethylene (PE) is the most cost-effective material for gloves. PE gloves offer a loose fit and are lightweight. These are particularly designed to come on and off quickly and easily. These products are also latex- and powder-free and are used for light-duty applications that require frequent change of gloves, such as food processing & serving work, salad preparation, and other food applications.

Product Insights

The powder-free product segment led the global disposable gloves market and accounted for over 72% of the total revenue share in 2020. Stringent regulations on the use of powdered gloves by several governments worldwide are expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the powder-free gloves market over the forecast period.

Powder-free products are treated with chlorination, which makes them less form-fitting to eliminate the use of powder for easy donning and removal. Rising preference for powder-free gloves across several industries, including chemical, medical, and food processing, among others, is projected to drive the segment over the forecast period.

On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the manufacturing, sales, and distribution of all powdered patient examination gloves, powdered surgeon gloves, and absorbable powder used to lubricate surgeon’s gloves, which, in turn, anticipated to hamper the growth of the powdered product segment over the forecast period. However, the powdered gloves offer better protection against hazardous chemicals or physical contaminants and perfect fitting than their counterparts.

End-use Insights

The medical end-use segment led the market and accounted for more than 78% of the global revenue share in 2020. The global Covid-19 pandemic is anticipated to boost the demand for gloves in the healthcare sector. Disposable gloves are often classified based on application as surgical and examination gloves. Disposable examination gloves have witnessed substantial growth in the medical sector on account of higher demand in hospital, veterinary, and dental applications. Surgical disposable gloves have high-quality standards compared to examination gloves and are commonly used by surgeons and operating room nurses.

Disposable gloves are essential to protect employees against hand injuries that are common across numerous industries, including food processing, construction, automotive, oil & gas, and metal fabrication. These gloves provide protection against hot objects, splinters, bodily fluids, sharp edges, excessive vibrations, electricity, and extreme cold. The demand for disposable gloves in the chemical & petrochemical industries is anticipated to witness significant growth in the forecast period for handling volatile chemicals in laboratories and chemical industries. Furthermore, rising concerns pertaining to employee safety and initiatives to reduce injury rates in manufacturing facilities are anticipated to augment the demand for protective gloves over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America led the market and accounted for over 35% of the global revenue share in 2020. The Covid-19 outbreak has resulted in increased product demand across several sectors in the region. Increasing healthcare expenditure coupled with the growing elderly population and rising awareness pertaining to HAIs is projected to have a positive impact on the regional market growth.

The upgrading of the public healthcare system and infrastructure coupled with investments in new facilities are part of the reform plan. These developments are expected to drive the demand for medical equipment and devices. The demand for hand protection equipment, such as disposable and durable gloves, is anticipated to witness growth owing to the expanding medical sector in the region.

Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing regional market over the forecast years. The market in APAC is characterized by increased product demand from the medical, food & beverages, and industrial applications. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic is further projected to augment the product demand across developing countries of the region, such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

The product demand in Latin America is anticipated to register a significant CAGR over the forecast period. Factors, such as increasing public-private partnerships in the healthcare industry and improving healthcare infrastructure, are expected to benefit the market in the region over the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The global market is fragmented with major manufacturers striving for market leadership. Key players have integrated along the value chain to further strengthen their market position. Companies are focusing on mergers & acquisitions along with strategic alliances, such as technology licensing, to obtain an edge over competitors.

The industry is marked by the presence of top exporters in Southeast Asia, such as Top Glove Corporation Bhd and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, which are integrated across manufacturing rubber and glove production processes. The processed natural latex and nitrile rubbers are supplied to the manufacturing companies in the region through a diverse distribution channel. Some prominent players in the global disposable gloves market include:

• Ansell Ltd.

• Top Glove Corporation Bhd

• Hartalega Holdings Berhad

• Supermax Corporation Berhad

• Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd

• Ammex Corp.

• Kimberly-Clark Corp.

• Sempermed USA, Inc.

• MCR Safety

Disposable Gloves Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2028. 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, 2017 - 2028)

  • Natural Rubber

  • Nitrile

  • Vinyl

  • Neoprene

  • Polyethylene

  • Others

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Powdered

  • Powder-free

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

  • Medical & Healthcare

    • Examination

      • Dental

      • Veterinary

      • Hospital

      • EMS

      • Others

    • Surgical

      • Dental

      • Veterinary

      • Hospital

      • 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, 2017 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Russia

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Indonesia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Colombia

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Chile

    • Peru

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • South Africa