GLOVE makers, including the world’s largest manufacturer, Top Glove Corp Bhd, are seeing a surge in demand in the past few days following the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The outbreak has so far seen more than 170 deaths – all in China, with more than 7,000 infections confirmed globally. Malaysia has confirmed eight cases of the virus, all of whom are visitors from China.

Top Glove Corp executive chairman Lim Wee Chai told The Malaysian Insight the demand for gloves as an essential item in the healthcare industry has increased in some countries due to the  outbreak.

“We do see the surge in orders from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In fact, over the past few days, we have received sales orders equivalent to more than double our usual monthly sales to China,” Lim said.

The company, which commands 25% of the global glove market share, has also donated latex and nitrile examination gloves to hospitals in Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus outbreak.

Lim said, apart from China, there has also been increased orders particularly from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

He added the company has the capability to ramp up its capacity to 95% or 100% from the current utilisation rate of 85%.

The company currently has 687 glove production lines.

“We believe we are well able to meet the growing demand. Top Glove has 33 glove factories and a production capacity of 70.5 billion pieces of gloves per annum,” he said.

“We will continue to produce as many gloves as we can to help with the conditions faced by the people in China and other countries and help save lives,” Lim said.

Besides the 33 factories which produce gloves, Top Glove Corp also has two latex concentrate plants, three chemical factories, a glove former factory, two packaging material factories, a dental dam factory and a condom factory.

Of this, 38 are located in Malaysia, four in Thailand and one in China.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers’ Association (Margma) president Denis Low told The Malaysian Insight it has been informed by glove makers across the globe that countries have ramped up purchases.

“We have been informed by many manufacturers that countries across the world have stepped up purchases and are requesting for faster deliveries.

“China, in particular, is asking for more and more gloves and wants immediate shipments too,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the glove industry is gearing up to deliver a billion pieces more to China, which is a priority country, while also simultaneously ensuring adequate supply to other countries.

“Defensive and protective strategies will mean very huge numbers of gloves has to be available,” he said, adding that the new virus is more contagious than H1N1, known as the swine flu.

Low said the association is doing its best to ensure adequate supply to meet demand in critical territories.

“We are doing our utmost to ensure adequate supplies to meet demand in the more critical territories and we will certainly divert shipments to China,” he said.

“It is too soon to know the exact number of gloves being delivered or diverted to China, but it will definitely run into a few hundred million pieces just for China alone in the interim,” he added.

Margma is a non-profit industry association comprising Malaysian rubber glove manufacturers, associated suppliers and supporting organisations. – January 31, 2020.