Rubber Glove Prices May Rise This Year

Malaysia -- According to an article in biz.thestar.com.my by David Tan, "Rubber gloves from Malaysia are likely to cost more this year as latex prices are expected to go up.

The price of rubber gloves is expected to rise following the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries’ announcement recently that it was considering fixing latex prices at a “reasonable level” of $2.60 per kg, an increase of about 33 percent from about $1.95 per kg currently.

Latex prices hit a 56-year peak of $3.25 per kg in July 2008. Latexx Partners Bhd chairman and chief executive officer Low Bok Tek told StarBiz the company would have to pass on the cost of higher latex prices to its customers should there be an increase. “Latex constitutes more than 50 percent of the raw materials used in our production of rubber medical gloves. The price increase may prompt rubber glove producers to use synthetic rubber, an oil-based raw material, if there is no corresponding increase in the pricing of petroleum,” Low said."