IPOH – The government will continue to assist the manufacturing sector, especially the rubber glove industry, so as to maintain Malaysia’s position as a major global supplier of the items, said Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the country’s rubber glove exports were valued at RM2.9 billion last October.
“We hope the rubber glove industry will continue to drive the nation’s economy and provide jobs to locals, to reduce reliance on foreign workers,” he told reporters after officiating at AT Glove Engineering Sdn Bhd’s rubber glove production systematisation facility in Chemor near here today.
In his speech earlier, Redzuan said rubber gloves contributed 51.1% to the nation’s total exports last October, up from the 49.1% registered in the same period a year ago, as demand from other countries soared amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers’ Association, he said, the shortage of rubber gloves worldwide will continue beyond the first quarter of next year.
For 2021, he said, the group projects the annual growth rate to reach 15% to 20%, with an export revenue of RM34 billion, based on global demand that is set to hit 420 billion pieces.
Even though many countries have obtained Covid-19 vaccines, this will not affect demand for rubber gloves, he added. – Bernama, February 23, 2021
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