Disposable Medical Gloves Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Natural Rubber, Nitrile), By Application (Examination, Surgical), By End Use (Hospital, Home Healthcare), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global disposable medical gloves market size was estimated at USD 9.85 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2022 to 2030. The growing demand for safety and security at healthcare workplaces, rising healthcare expenditure, and the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to have a positive impact on industry growth. The resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in countries, such as China, Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium, is expected to increase testing, surveillance, and hospital visits, which will boost the product demand.

Furthermore, the pandemic had boosted the demand for disposable medical gloves and strained the supply chain, which prompted manufacturers to boost their production capacities to meet the growing demand. The market in the U.S. is undergoing a transition owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases has increased the number of hospital visits and re-admissions, which is positively impacting the product demand in the region. The growing number of surgical procedures performed in the U.S. including cesarean section, appendectomy, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), carotid endarterectomy, and circumcision are expected to boost the industry demand.

Disposable gloves act as a shield protecting healthcare workers against contagious infections. During surgeries, surgeons and other professionals along with patients have a potential risk of infection. Medical gloves aid in protecting physicians and healthcare workers from cross-contamination. Disposable medical gloves are distributed through direct and indirect channels, such as distributors and retailers, along with e-commerce and social media advertising. Manufacturers distribute their products through independent distributors, exclusive distributors, and multi-brand retailers.

However, a few companies distribute the products directly to companies, hospitals, commercial institutions, and consumers to avoid additional costs. Due to the high raw material costs and complex manufacturing procedures, the production of disposable medical gloves is particularly capital-intensive. Major raw material suppliers in the industry have integrated along the value chain to develop disposable medical gloves, thereby increasing the competition. The threat of new entrants is expected to remain low as initial capital investments are likely to constitute a significant entry barrier for new market participants.

Material Insights

The natural rubber material segment led the market in 2021 and accounted for the maximum revenue share of more than 37.5%. Disposable medical gloves made of natural rubber or latex are tactile and are used in applications, such as medical procedures and surgery. Furthermore, they are flexible and easy to wear, making them excellent for working with water-based or biological materials. All these factors are expected to boost their demand over the forecast period. Vinyl disposable gloves are latex-free and made from polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers. Vinyl gloves are an ideal solution where frequent change of gloves is required or in short-term jobs where comfort is not a concern. Increasing demand for antimicrobial and FDA-approved gloves is anticipated to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.

The demand for nitrile disposable gloves is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. Nitrile gloves are favored in an application, where exposure to blood-borne diseases and other contaminants is a key concern, due to the strong puncture resistance, superior barrier protection, and durability of nitrile gloves. Furthermore, because of their high elasticity and memory, they provide excellent comfort and fit. When compared to latex and nitrile gloves, neoprene gloves are stretch-resistant. Neoprene gloves provide a better grip and keep hands dry. Thus, these products are especially beneficial for dentists, physicians, and surgeons, as well as those who operate with damp instruments. Toxic chemicals, caustic compounds, and weak acids can all be handled with neoprene gloves.

Application Insights

The examination application segment led the market in 2021 and accounted for the maximum share of more than 75.5% of the global revenue. Growing demand for these products in the medical sector on account of higher demand in hospitals, dental applications for regular checkups, and patient visits is expected to drive industry growth. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals use examination gloves for non-invasive physical examination applications, reducing cross-contamination between healthcare workers and patients. The comeback of the COVID-19 is expected to boost demand for examination gloves used by frontline healthcare personnel for testing and examination purposes, propelling the industry growth even more.

The surgical segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. Rising incidences of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, which frequently necessitate medical procedures and operations for treatment, are predicted to drive product demand in surgical applications. When compared to examination gloves, surgical gloves have higher quality standards and are often used by surgeons and Operating Room (OR) nurses. These gloves are sterile and commonly used for surgical procedures as they feature exact size and are designed to deliver great precision and tactile sensitivity as required by surgeons and other operating room staff.

End-use Insights

The hospital end-use segment led the market and accounted for the maximum share of 55.5% of the global revenue in 2021. The rapidly growing geriatric population, especially in the developed countries, coupled with the rising prevalence of hospital-acquired and other infections, such as hepatitis and AIDS, is likely to augment the demand for these products. The increasing prevalence of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs), such as surgical site infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and bloodstream infection, is likely to drive product demand in the hospital end-use segment. Furthermore, the growing geriatric population, combined with a rise in chronic health concerns, is predicted to drive industry growth.

The demand from the home healthcare segment is likely to grow at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. Factors, such as the growing usage of home healthcare services and the rising geriatric population, are expected to boost the product demand in this segment. Primary care physicians provide primary care services to a specific patient population. These doctors are the first point of contact for patients who have unidentified symptoms, signs, or health concerns. Thus, medical gloves are essential while working with individuals who have undiscovered disorders to avoid cross-transmission and contamination. The growing number of patients seeking consultation at primary care facilities is likely to boost the segment growth.

Regional Insights

North America led the market in 2021 and accounted for more than 36.00% of the global revenue share owing to ongoing advancements in the field of surgery, such as advancements in medical technology and High-reliability Organising (HRO), which are expected to increase the hospital sector growth as well as promote demand for these products. Stringent government regulations governing the safety of patients, doctors, and other personnel in hospitals and other facilities, as well as severe fines for noncompliance, are projected to drive industrial demand.

In Europe, established healthcare infrastructure, ongoing innovations & advancements in the field of surgery, such as standardizing procedures & technical advancements, are anticipated to boost the segment growth. Asia Pacific region is expected to witness growth at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. Major factors driving the regional market include an increased number of healthcare infrastructures, such as hospitals and clinics, as well as a rise in the number of people choosing home care services, and growing medical tourism in APAC. The growing population is predicted to boost the demand for healthcare services, which is expected to drive product demand over the forecast period.

The healthcare sector in India is expected to grow significantly owing to several factors including increasing population, rising disposable incomes, easy access to insurance, greater health awareness, and high expenditure by the public and private players in the industry. Moreover, the rising cases of obesity have increased the instances of chronic illnesses, such as heart diseases and diabetes, which further require various healthcare treatments and services. This, in turn, is anticipated to benefit the market growth in the country.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Manufacturers adopt several strategies including acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, new product developments, and geographical expansions to enhance industry penetration and cater to the changing requirements of various end users, such as hospitals, home healthcare, and outpatient/primary care facilities. The market is marked by the presence of top exporters in Southeast Asia, such as Top Glove Corporation Bhd. and Supermax Corporation Berhad. A high degree of integration is present across the industry participants operating at different levels of the value chain. Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd. and Top Glove Corporation Bhd. are highly integrated and involved in the manufacturing of materials as well as the production & distribution of disposable medical gloves. Some prominent players in the global disposable medical gloves market include:

• Ansell Ltd.

• Top Glove Corporation Bhd.

• Hartalega Holdings Berhad

• Supermax Corporation Berhad

• Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd.

• Cardinal Health

• Semperit AG Holding

• Rubberex

• Dynarex Corp.

• B. Braun Melsungen AG

Disposable Medical 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 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global disposable medical gloves market report on the basis of material, application, end use, and region:

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Natural Rubber

  • Nitrile

  • Vinyl

  • Neoprene

  • Polyethylene

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Examination

  • Surgical

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hospitals

  • Home Healthcare

  • Outpatient/Primary Care Facilities

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • France

    • U.K.

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Indonesia

    • Australia

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • South Africa