Export of rubber gloves grows 26 pct in 1Q17

TELUK INTAN: The export value of rubber gloves in the first quarter of this year increased almost 26 per cent to RM4.026 billion from RM3.204 billion in the same period last year.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong said Malaysia’s dominated the rubber glove exports for the past two decades, commanding more than 60 per cent of the world’s market.

He said Malaysian rubber gloves were currently exported to 195 countries with the export value increasing threefold from RM5.4 billion in 2000 to RM18.2 billion in 2016.

Of the total exports last year, he said 73 per cent or RM13.3 billion were contributed by medical rubber gloves.

In the 2012- 2016 period, the exports of medical gloves increased at an average rate of six per cent per year and the export value could reach RM14.1 billion this year, he told a press conference after launching the “1 Million Medical Rubber Gloves Contribution” programme organised by the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council ( MREPC) in collaboration with the Perak Health Department at the Leaning Tower Square here yesterday.

At the event, Mah handed over a mock cheque for one million rubber gloves to Perak Health Director Datuk Dr Hassan Merican.

MREPC Chairman Ahmad Lai Bujang Chairman and MREPC Chief Executive Officer Low Yoke Kiew witnessed the ceremony.

Mah, who is also Member of Parliament for Teluk Intan said the one million rubber gloves would be distributed to hospitals, health clinics, dental clinics and healthcare centres in Perak.

The contribution of rubber gloves was the second outreach programme held by the MREPC after Kuching, Sarawak last year in the quest to raise awareness on the importance of the use of gloves in the society, especially among healthcare employees.

Mah said the use of rubber gloves per capita in Asian countries was still at a low level of 5.5 pairs per year on average compared with 75 pairs in the United States and 50 pairs in Europe, while that of China was three pairs per capita and Malaysia, 10 pairs per annum.

“In Malaysia, some agencies are using imported gloves and I’d told them that they should use Made in Malaysia gloves as they meet world- class standards.

“Our gloves are of high quality and the prices are fair too. We encourage most of our agencies to use local products,” he said, adding that this would help support Made in Malaysia gloves besides expanding the exports to countries like China which boasted a huge market potential. — Bernama