Rubber glove industry: A year of mixed fortunes despite the boom

Malaysia supplied 240 billion pieces of rubber gloves globally, meeting almost 70 percent of 360 billion pieces of world demand in 2020, making it a "star" industry amidst the century's worst pandemic that has infected over 65 million and claimed 1.5 million lives globally.

Homegrown companies like Top Glove Corp Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Supermax Corp Bhd and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd were consistently in the limelight as the demand for rubber gloves spiked not only for medical but also non-medical purposes, especially food and beverages.

The industry emerged to be extremely lucrative that companies like Luster Industries Bhd, whose primary activity is in manufacturing and selling precision plastic parts, as well as property developer Mah Sing Group, have diversified into rubber glove making.