Industrial Gloves Market Expected to Reach $20.2 Billion by 2032—Allied Market Research

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Industrial Gloves Market," The industrial gloves market size was valued at $8.7 billion in 2022, and industrial gloves industry is estimated to reach $20.2 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2032.

Industrial gloves are protective wear in various industries such as automotive, food & beverage, oil & gas, chemicals, and others. Industrial gloves are used for workers’ safety and health standards across end-use industries to prevent glass cuts, metal cuts, and exposure of hands to hazardous chemicals. Industrial hand gloves are primarily used in assembling plants, manufacturing plants, medical institutions, and chemical plants where they protect from heat-corrosive substances and sharp objects.

An increase in demand for disposable gloves in the healthcare industry is anticipated to drive the growth of the industrial gloves market during the forecast period. Disposable gloves are used in a variety of industries such as medical devices, pharmaceutical, and hospital & food industries with the objective to protect the workers from infections working in hospitals and prevent food from getting contaminated while processing. In addition, the increase in its usage for household work has also surged the demand for industrial gloves globally.

In addition, the flourishing automotive, chemical, and oil & gas industry has also increased the demand for industrial gloves as workers sustain crushing, pinching, and cutting as well as chemical hazards that make up most of the serious injuries. Furthermore, there is an increase in the demand for industrial gloves in the construction industry as the workers at a construction site can suffer hand injuries such as metal cuts and glass cuts. Hence, wearing proper gloves for the safety of the hands of the workers reduces the cases of medical emergencies. These factors are expected to increase the demand for industrial gloves across the globe during the forecast period.

However, the availability of local and inexpensive products and lack of awareness regarding the usage of industrial gloves are expected to hinder the growth of the industrial gloves market. Thus, owing to this, the production volume of industrial gloves is expected to fall during the forecast period. Moreover, the implementation of innovative technologies in the production of industrial gloves is expected to provide growth opportunities for the industrial gloves market in the future.

The global industrial gloves market forecast is segmented into usability and region. On the basis of usability, the market is categorized into disposable and reusable. On the basis of material type for disposable, the market is categorized into natural rubber, nitrile, vinyl, neoprene, polyethylene, and others. On the basis of end-use for disposable, the market is classified into aerospace, disk drives, flat panels, food, hospitals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and others.

On the basis of gloves type for reusable, the market is categorized into dipped gloves, knitted gloves, supported knitted gloves, and others. On the basis of protection for reusable, the market is categorized into general purpose/mechanical protection, chemical/liquid protection, and product protection. On the basis of end-use for reusable, the market is divided into machinery, oil & gas, metal fabrication, automotive, chemical, construction, plane manufacturing, food processing, office building cleaners, healthcare, and others. Region wise, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

By usability, it is divided into disposable and reusable gloves. The disposable gloves segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global industrial gloves market in 2022.

By material type for disposable gloves, it is divided into natural rubber, nitrile, vinyl, neoprene, polyethylene, and others. The natural rubber segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global industrial gloves market in 2022.

By end use for disposable gloves, it is divided into aerospace, disk drives, flat panels, food, hospitals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and others. The semiconductor segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global industrial gloves market in 2022.

By gloves type for reusable gloves, it is divided into dipped gloves, knitted gloves, supported knitted gloves, and others. The supported knitted gloves segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global industrial gloves market in 2022.

By protection type for reusable gloves it is divided into general purpose/mechanical, chemical/liquid, and product protection. The general purpose/mechanical segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global industrial gloves market in 2022.

By end use for reusable gloves, it is divided into machinery, oil & gas, metal fabrication, automotive, chemical, construction, plane manufacturing, food processing, office building cleaners, healthcare, and others. The oil & gas segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global industrial gloves market in 2022.

Region-wise, North America accounted for the largest market share in the market. As the most developed region across the globe, this region has major manufacturers related to all industries such as consumer electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, and others.

Key finding of the study

• The disposable glove of usability segment of protective glove market is anticipated to witness moderate higher single digit growth rate, in terms of revenue, during the forecast period.
• North America dominated the protective glove market with a revenue of nearly two-fifths of market share in 2022.
• By usability, the reusable gloves segment is anticipated to witness a moderate growth rate of approximately 10%, in terms of revenue, during the forecast period.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL GLOVES MARKET

The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the global market for industrial gloves. The need for personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of the virus has led to a massive surge in demand for gloves, primarily in the healthcare sector. The demand for gloves has also increased among the general public as people seek to protect themselves from the virus. This surge in demand had led to shortages in many parts of the world, creating significant challenges for healthcare systems and other essential industries. The shortages have been exacerbated by disruptions in the supply chain due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and other measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus.

The pandemic led to significant price increases for gloves, with some suppliers charging several times more than the pre-pandemic prices. This put a strain on healthcare systems, as well as on individuals and businesses that needed to purchase gloves for their employees. The price increases have been driven by the shortage of supply, with many manufacturers struggling to keep up with the demand.

The surge in demand for gloves has spurred innovation in the market, with manufacturers developing new materials and technologies to improve the effectiveness of gloves and increase their durability. For example, some manufacturers have developed gloves with antimicrobial coatings to reduce the risk of contamination, while others have developed gloves with improved grip to make them more effective for use in wet conditions.

The increased innovation in the market is expected to continue in the coming years, as demand for gloves is projected to remain high even after the pandemic subsides. Despite the significant demand for gloves, the increased use of industrial gloves has raised concerns about their environmental impact. Many gloves are made from non-biodegradable materials, and the increase in demand has led to a significant increase in the amount of waste generated. Manufacturers are increasingly being encouraged to create gloves that are more environmentally sustainable by using biodegradable materials or recycling existing materials, to minimize the negative impact on the environment. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global industrial gloves market.

Competitive Landscape

The key players operating in the global industrial gloves market include Top Glove Corporation Berhad, Hartalega Holdings, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, Riverstone Holdings Limited, Careplus Group Berhad, Supermax Corp., Ansell Healthcare, SHOWA, Inc., Honeywell International Inc., and Semperit AG Holding.