Cleanroom disposable gloves market to be worth US$1.4bn by 2020, report forecasts

Published: 14-Jan-2015

Neoprene disposable gloves are expected to be the fastest-growing segment


The global cleanroom disposable gloves market is expected to reach US$1.4bn by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 8.0% each year from 2014, a new report by Allied Market Research has found.

Neoprene disposable gloves are expected to emerge as the fastest growing segment, at a CAGR of 17.5% during the forecast period.

The report, Global Cleanroom Disposable Gloves Market (Product Types and Geography) – Size, Share, Trends, Regional Trends, Segmentation and Forecast, 2013–2020, says factors such as a large base of consumers, stringent regulatory requirements and the popularity of 'cleanroom-customised' gloves are driving the growth of the market. Following the positive strides in the adoption of the cleanroom disposable gloves, the market is expected to reach 35.6 billion pairs by 2020.

Natural rubber/latex disposable gloves continue to dominate the market, holding about 40% in 2013, making them the leading segment; they are expected to maintain this leading position during the forecast period. Unchallenged physical attributes such as comfort and dexterity supplement the growth of these gloves, but increasing incidences of allergies and a consequent ban on such gloves have given rise to the need for non-allergic variants of cleanroom gloves made from nitrile. Apart from non-allergic properties, nitrile gloves are also resistant to puncture, antistatic, feature an anti-slip grip and anti-fatigue properties. However, they cannot be used when subjected to hazardous conditions such as extreme temperatures, radiation, chemicals and punctures.

The report says these challenges can be overcome by neoprene gloves, but neoprene gloves (cleanroom-customised disposable gloves) are more expensive than conventional gloves, which is a restraint for the growth of this market.

Other key findings of the study show that:

  • Nitrile gloves will hold the second highest CAGR, 9.2%, during 2014–2020;
  • Natural rubber/latex gloves would account for the largest market share, both in terms of volume as well as value to 2020, followed by vinyl gloves;
  • Asia Pacific accounted for 48% of the global market in 2013, followed by North America, at 28% of the global market share;
  • China will emerge as one of the most lucrative markets during 2014–2020.
    • Geographically, the market share of developed countries in the global cleanroom disposable gloves market is expected to decline due to the use of industrials robots.

      On the other hand, the developing nations will see a steady rise in their market share owing to a surplus workforce and outsourced pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. Countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Philippines are expected to see double-digit growth during the analysis period. The US is currently leading the market in terms of volume and value; but China is expected to surpass the US in the coming years and will subsequently emerge as a market leader.

      The companies profiled in this report include Ansell Healthcare, Hartalega Holdings Berhad, Supermax Corporation Berhad, Kossan Rubber Industries, Rubberex, Top Glove Corporation Berhad, Adventa Berhad and Semperit Holding, among others.

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