When nitrile gloves were introduced to the market about 30 years ago, they were sought after as an alternative to vinyl and latex gloves. They are more durable than their counterparts and also have a very low allergy rate. The combination of durability, long shelf life and wear time along with less likely to cause allergies makes nitrile gloves very desirable to dental clinics and other medical professionals.
Through the global pandemic the cost and demand of nitrile gloves increased and supply decreased. It is estimated from the year 2019 to 2020 the demand for nitrile gloves has more than double. In 2019, global demand for the gloves was approximately 290 billion annually while in 2020 the demand was said to be around 585 billion. Production of the gloves decreased significantly when one of the major manufacturing plants had to be shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The vast majority of nitrile gloves are produced overseas, partly due to the fact that synthetic rubber is a main ingredient in nitrile gloves and it is almost exclusively produced in Asia.
It is estimated that the cost of an individual pair of nitrile gloves has increased by 600% since the pandemic began. The good news is, trends are starting to show that the price of gloves will start to normalize in the coming months. On the other hand, shipping delays and transportation will continue to make it difficult to get nitrile gloves to the market efficiently. To try to help the matter, in 2020 the United States of America announced plans to begin building domestic plants that have the potential of producing 1 billion nitrile gloves per month.
Throughout the pandemic, Neosource has worked hard to supply our clients with nitrile gloves at the best price. We are happy to say as of now, we have been able to lower our prices and our goal is to see further decrease in price in the coming months.
If you are looking for nitrile gloves, reach out to our helpful team by emailing sales@neosource.ca or call 1-800-847-3160.
RESOURCES
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/global-nitrile-gloves-market-report-092800384.html
https://defendersafety.com/articles/navigating-the-nitrile-gloves-shortage/
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/nitrile-glove-supply-chain-procurement-MSC-Industrial/593145/
