MALAYSIA AS TOP RUBBER GLOVE MAKER

Over the years Malaysia are World’s Top Rubber Glove Maker with quality and branded product. Malaysia-based Top Glove is the world’s No. 1 rubber glover maker. In June 2013 the Business Times reported: “Top Glove Corp Bhd intends to grow its global market share from an estimated 25 percent currently to 30 percent by end-2015. RHB Research said all of Top Glove's expansion plans are now focused on nitrile gloves. "The management said the focus of the capacity expansion plans at phase 2 of Factory 23 (Ipoh) has switched to nitrile gloves from natural rubber gloves earlier. "This, together with the other planned capacity expansion plans, means that Top Glove will be adding another 4.9 billion pieces per annum to its nitrile glove production capacity this year, bringing total nitrile glove production capacity to 10 billion," it said. [Source: Business Times, June 9, 2013]. However in July 2005, Haslinda Amin and Stephanie Phang wrote in Bloomberg, “Top Glove Corp., the world's biggest supplier of rubber gloves, expects sales to rise 43 percent this year as it boosts capacity by more than a third to meet demand. Top Glove, based in Klang on Malaysia's west coast, has about 14 percent of the global market for gloves used by the medical profession and food industry, and is aiming for a 24 percent share by the end of 2007. Demand for protective gloves surged after 1987, when the U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said medical workers should use gloves to protect against diseases such as AIDS. The outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome and bird flu also boosted sales. (Source: Haslinda Amin and Stephanie Phang, Bloomberg, July 24, 2005). Blog 'Anim Agriculture Technology' rewrite about Malaysia Top Rubber Glove maker.

Aside from diseases, the war in Iraq and tsunami disaster have also boosted demand for gloves, said Gan, who ranks Top Glove as one of his ``top'' buys. Global demand for latex gloves made by Top Glove and rivals including tissue- and diaper-maker Kimberly Clark Corp. is rising about 12 percent a year, according to Top Glove. About 100 billion latex gloves are sold each year. Top Glove is building three more plants, two in Malaysia and one in China, and will add 1,800 workers, equivalent to 30 percent of its existing workforce, by the end of next year. It has 11 factories in Malaysia, China and Thailand producing 13.7 billion gloves a year. Much of the company's expansion may be in China, which is expected to account for about 30 percent of Top Glove's sales within two years, up from 15 to 20 percent, Lim said. Top Glove, which sells to 600 customers in 160 countries, plans to increase sales to Latin American and African countries, Lim said. The U.S. and Europe are its two biggest markets, each accounting for 30 percent of sales. The company may acquire rival rubber glove makers in Malaysia or Thailand in the next 12 months, Lim said. The companies it is considering buying are 10 or 20 percent the size of Top Glove, he said. Thank You.

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist,

Precint 11, Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(28 JamadilAwal 1441H).