After navigating a highly volatile and challenging 2025, the Malaysian rubber glove industry is well-geared for a significant boost in 2026, driven by recovering global demand and strategic market shifts.
The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA), the official voice of the industry, is signalling a bullish outlook for the coming year, underscoring Malaysia’s enduring position as the world’s major supplier of rubber gloves.
MARGMA President, Mr. Oon Kim Hung, acknowledged that 2025 had been a year of intense pressure. “This year truly tested the resilience of our members who have weathered a storm in 2025. The industry had to constantly manoeuvre around challenges, including geopolitical conflicts, US tariff announcements that destabilised trade flows, and the ever-rising costs of global compliance, particularly in ESG and labour standards," he stated.
Despite these headwinds, he remains optimistic. "The tough 2025 allowed the industry to complete its crucial inventory correction cycle. We believe we are now at the tail end of the market normalisation phase. As global demand growth steadily absorbs existing capacity, 2026 is poised to be the start of a more sustained recovery and growth trajectory." This positive sentiment is mirrored by several industry analysts, who foresee a brighter medium-term outlook.
Mr. Oon added, “We acknowledge that the global rubber glove market is still facing some oversupply and ongoing pricing pressure. However, we believe the situation is normalising and barring non other ongoing trade uncertainties, we should see a bullish outlook for 2026.”
Beyond the core medical examination and surgical gloves market, the usage of gloves are also fast-growing in the non-healthcare segments. The market is rapidly expanding its glove usage in non-medical sectors like food & beverage (F&B), beauty & aesthetics, tattooing, senior home care and more. This diversification mitigates reliance on healthcare-driven demand spikes and taps into the structural rise of global hygiene awareness.
IRGCE 2026 : Synergising Innovation to Redefine The Future of Rubber Glove Ecosystem
A concrete sign of the industry’s renewed confidence is the tremendous early interest in the upcoming 12th International Rubber Glove Conference & Exhibition (IRGCE), MARGMA’s flagship biennial convention scheduled to take place on 8th-10th September 2026.
"We are very encouraged by the market's response," said Mr. Oon. "With the event months away, the uptake for exhibition booths has already hit 91%. This strong commitment from local and international players, including glove manufacturers, chemical and equipment supplies and other related industry players, reflect the collective belief that the market bottom has passed and strong business opportunities lie ahead in 2026."
The event is set to draw up to 10,000 visitors including buyers, innovators, analysts as well as academia, to Kuala Lumpur, acting as a pivotal platform for networking and innovation showcase. “We have been host to this event since 2002, and it’s been growing bigger and bigger ever since. Malaysia holds a significant milestone for the rubber glove industry’s growth and IRGCE is a stamp of where the industry’s voice takes lead with industry leaders and experts converging in one location for conference, exhibition and networking”, exclaimed Mr. Oon.
The event is also co-hosted by the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) that is leading initiatives to penetrate new and emerging markets, particularly in regions with rising healthcare spending and increasing regulatory requirements for glove quality. MARGMA works closely with MRC to maintain Malaysia's competitive edge, focusing on strategic collaboration to secure new markets and technological superiority. In which, MARGMA also works closely Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) to continue its path on the innovation cycle, focusing on research and development to improve the sustainability and efficiency of both natural rubber and synthetic latex materials. This synergy is essential for producing high-quality, ethically-sourced, and cost-competitive gloves.
Overall 2025 may have served as a crucial rebalancing phase, the stage is now set for a robust performance in 2026, positioning Malaysia's rubber glove sector to once again becoming a major engine for the country's export economy.
For any enquiries to participate in the 12th IRGCE 2026, contact Project Director, Ms Alice Lem at +6019-691 4678 or email [email protected].
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