PolymerLatex Malaysia Plant Is Up and Running

Malaysia -- PolymerLatex has successfully completed the start-up phase of the new NBR plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. All production lines are started up and producing the entire Perbunan NBR product range for medical and examination gloves. Given a 10+ percent annual market growth in the next two years, PolymerLatex said it expects its new plant to be sufficient to support the market growth in 2010 and 2011 before additional lines can come swiftly online as all required infrastructure is installed.

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."