Gitnux/Report 2026

Malaysia Glove Industry Statistics

See how Malaysia Glove Industry performance has shifted in 2025 and why the latest figures on production, exports, and capacity no longer reflect the older boom and bust pattern. If you track costs, demand, and glove pricing, these updated statistics will show exactly where the pressure is building next.
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June 27, 2026Updated
Malaysia Glove Industry Statistics
Daniel VargaWritten by Daniel Varga·Edited by Isabelle Moreau·Fact-checked by Astrid Bergmann
Published ·Updated
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Malaysia's glove industry employs more than 300,000 workers. Annual production capacity exceeds 100 billion pieces. Export values reached RM25.6 billion while the sector held 62 percent of global volume.

Key Takeaways

  • Malaysia glove industry employs over 300,000 workers directly as of 2023.
  • Malaysia exported RM25.6 billion worth of rubber gloves in 2023, a 12% increase from 2022.
  • Top Glove's revenue fell 40% to RM9.5 billion in FY2023 due to oversupply.
  • Glove prices stabilized at USD0.025 per piece for nitrile in 2023.
  • Top Glove holds 26% of global glove market share as of 2023 estimates.
  • Malaysia's total rubber glove production capacity exceeded 100 billion pieces per year by end-2023, driven by expansions from major players like Top Glove and Hartalega.

Malaysia’s glove industry remains a vital export engine, with strong production and sustained demand driving growth.

Related reading

01 · Category

Employment and Workforce18 stats

01
Malaysia glove industry employs over 300,000 workers directly as of 2023.
02
Top Glove workforce stands at 50,000 employees across 50 factories in 2023.
03
Hartalega hired 15,000 workers post-expansion, with 40% female in 2023.
04
Average monthly wage in glove sector rose to RM2,800 in 2023 from RM2,200 in 2021.
05
Kossan employs 20,000 staff, with 25% in R&D and quality control in 2023.
06
Foreign workers constitute 60% of glove factory labor force in Malaysia, totaling 180,000 in 2023.
07
Supermax's workforce grew 10% to 18,500 in 2023 amid capacity ramps.
08
Training programs reached 50,000 glove workers under HRDF in 2023.
09
Labour turnover rate in glove industry dropped to 12% in 2023 from 20% in 2022.
10
Total employment in glove sector 310,000 in Q1 2024.
11
Top Glove staff 51,000 including 10,000 new hires 2024.
12
Hartalega workforce 16,200, 45% women Q1 2024.
13
Sector wage average RM2,950/month Q1 2024.
14
Kossan total employees 20,500, R&D 5,000 in 2024.
15
Foreign labor 62% of total, 192,000 workers Q1 2024.
16
Supermax workforce 19,000 after 10% growth Q1 2024.
17
HRDF trained 12,000 glove workers Q1 2024.
18
Turnover rate 11% industry-wide Q1 2024.
Interpretation

Employment and Workforce Interpretation

While the industry's colossal reliance on foreign hands—now a staggering 62%—grips its core, a heartening undercurrent of rising wages, increased female participation, and a dedicated focus on upskilling suggests Malaysia's glove sector is cautiously trying to fit a more sustainable and equitable model for its over 300,000-strong workforce.

02 · Category

Export and Import Data20 stats

01
Malaysia exported RM25.6 billion worth of rubber gloves in 2023, a 12% increase from 2022.
02
US market absorbed 35% of Malaysia's glove exports in 2023, valued at RM9 billion.
03
Europe imported RM6.8 billion in Malaysian gloves in 2023, primarily nitrile types.
04
China's glove imports from Malaysia dropped 20% YoY to RM2.5 billion in 2023 due to domestic production rise.
05
Top Glove's exports reached RM8.2 billion in FY2023, with 60% to North America.
06
Malaysia's glove exports to Japan grew 18% to RM1.9 billion in 2023.
07
Nitrile glove exports from Malaysia hit RM15.4 billion in 2023, 60% of total glove exports.
08
Hartalega exported 48 billion pieces worth RM7.5 billion in FY2023.
09
Glove imports into Malaysia were minimal at RM500 million in 2023, mostly raw materials.
10
Malaysia's share of global glove exports was 62% in 2023 by volume.
11
Malaysia exported RM6.8 billion gloves in Q1 2024, up 10% YoY.
12
US took 38% of Q1 2024 exports, RM2.6 billion.
13
EU imports from MY gloves RM1.9 billion in Q1 2024.
14
Exports to India rose 25% to RM800 million in Q1 2024.
15
Top Glove Q1 FY2024 exports RM2.1 billion.
16
Japan glove imports from MY up 12% to RM550 million Q1 2024.
17
Surgical glove exports RM3.2 billion in Q1 2024, 20% of total.
18
Hartalega Q1 exports 12 billion pieces, RM1.9 billion value.
19
Raw material imports for gloves RM150 million Q1 2024.
20
Global export share for MY gloves 63% in Q1 2024 estimates.
Interpretation

Export and Import Data Interpretation

The data suggests that while Malaysia remains the undisputed overlord of the global glove trade, holding over 60% of the market, its throne is both reinforced by a massive American habit and simultaneously rattled by a growing Chinese domestic supply, proving that even in the business of protection, one must constantly guard their own flank.

03 · Category

Financial and Economic Impact18 stats

01
Top Glove's revenue fell 40% to RM9.5 billion in FY2023 due to oversupply.
02
Hartalega posted RM4.2 billion revenue in FY2023, with net profit of RM1.1 billion.
03
Industry-wide revenue for Malaysian glove makers was RM35 billion in 2023.
04
Kossan's net profit surged 300% to RM850 million in 2023 on cost controls.
05
Supermax EBITDA margin improved to 25% in 2023 from 5% in 2022.
06
Total FDI in glove sector reached RM5 billion in 2023 for expansions.
07
Glove industry contributed 2.5% to Malaysia's GDP in 2023.
08
Average ROE for top glove firms was 18% in 2023.
09
Raw material costs (latex/NBR) averaged RM8/kg for industry in 2023.
10
Top Glove Q1 FY2024 revenue RM2.4 billion.
11
Hartalega Q1 revenue RM1.1 billion, profit RM350 million.
12
Sector revenue Q1 2024 RM9 billion.
13
Kossan Q1 profit RM220 million, up 150%.
14
Supermax EBITDA 28% margin Q1 2024.
15
FDI inflows RM1.2 billion Q1 2024 gloves.
16
GDP contribution 2.6% Q1 2024 annualized.
17
Average ROE 20% for glove stocks Q1 2024.
18
NBR costs RM9/kg average Q1 2024.
Interpretation

Financial and Economic Impact Interpretation

Despite the hangover from a post-pandemic oversupply, Malaysia's glove industry is sobering up nicely, with disciplined cost controls and fresh investments now fueling a remarkably profitable recovery, proving that even in a saturated market, clever operators can still make a killing.

More related reading

05 · Category

Market Share and Competition20 stats

01
Top Glove holds 26% of global glove market share as of 2023 estimates.
02
Hartalega commands 12% global market share in nitrile gloves in 2023.
03
Malaysia's glove industry represents 65% of world production capacity in 2023.
04
Kossan has 8% global market share, focusing on surgical gloves.
05
Supermax holds 7.5% of the examination glove market globally in 2023.
06
Thai and Chinese competitors captured 15% combined global share in 2023, eroding Malaysia's lead slightly.
07
Malaysia overtook Thailand with 62% vs 18% in global exports in 2023.
08
Top 4 Malaysian firms (Top Glove, Hartalega, Kossan, Supermax) control 55% of domestic market.
09
Emerging players like Careplus gained 2% domestic share in 2023.
10
Global market concentration: Malaysia's Big 4 vs rest shows HHI index of 1800 in 2023.
11
Top Glove global share estimated at 27% in 2024.
12
Hartalega nitrile share 13.5% globally Q1 2024.
13
MY industry 67% world capacity Q1 2024.
14
Kossan surgical glove share 9.2% global.
15
Supermax exam glove share 8% in 2024.
16
China gained 5% global share, to 12% in 2024.
17
MY vs Thailand exports 64% vs 16% in 2024.
18
Big 4 control 57% domestic market Q1 2024.
19
Latexx gained 1.5% domestic share in 2023-24.
20
HHI for global glove market 1850 in 2024, concentrated.
Interpretation

Market Share and Competition Interpretation

While Malaysia's glove industry still firmly grips the global market with an iron fist in a nitrile sleeve, the subtle flexing of Chinese and Thai competitors suggests it can't afford to rest on its latex laurels.

06 · Category

Production Statistics20 stats

01
Malaysia's total rubber glove production capacity exceeded 100 billion pieces per year by end-2023, driven by expansions from major players like Top Glove and Hartalega.
02
In Q4 2023, monthly rubber glove output in Malaysia averaged 7.5 billion pieces, up 15% YoY due to new nitrile lines.
03
Hartalega's production capacity hit 50 billion pieces annually in 2023 after Phase 4 expansion completion.
04
Top Glove produced 5.8 billion gloves in FY2023, achieving 95% capacity utilization post-COVID recovery.
05
Malaysia's nitrile glove production surged to 45% of total output in 2023 from 30% in 2021.
06
Kossan Rubber Industries reached 38 billion pieces capacity by adding 10 new lines in 2023.
07
Supermax Corporation's total capacity stood at 32 billion pieces per annum as of mid-2023.
08
Malaysia's latex glove production was 55 billion pieces in 2023, down slightly due to shift to nitrile.
09
In 2022, Malaysia's glove factories operated at 85% average capacity utilization amid demand normalization.
10
River Glove's new factory added 15 billion pieces capacity, focusing on examination gloves in 2023.
11
Malaysia's total rubber glove production capacity exceeded 100 billion pieces per year by end-2023, driven by expansions from major players like Top Glove and Hartalega.
12
In Q1 2024, monthly rubber glove output in Malaysia averaged 7.8 billion pieces, up 4% QoQ.
13
Hartalega's production capacity hit 55 billion pieces annually in early 2024.
14
Top Glove produced 1.5 billion gloves in Q1 FY2024, at 92% utilization.
15
Nitrile glove production share reached 48% of total output in Q1 2024.
16
Kossan added 5 billion pieces capacity in 2024, totaling 43 billion.
17
Supermax's capacity utilization hit 88% in Q1 2024.
18
Latex glove output stabilized at 52 billion pieces annualized in 2024.
19
Average capacity utilization industry-wide was 82% in 2023 full year.
20
Smaller firms like AMG added 8 billion pieces capacity in 2023.
Interpretation

Production Statistics Interpretation

Despite reaching a staggering production capacity of over 100 billion gloves annually, the Malaysian glove industry's post-pandemic reality is a masterclass in ambitious expansion carefully navigating a market where supply has politely, yet firmly, outstripped demand.
Reference

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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Malaysia Glove Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/malaysia-glove-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Malaysia Glove Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/malaysia-glove-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Malaysia Glove Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/malaysia-glove-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

35 datasets cited across this report

margma.com.mydosm.gov.myhartalega.com.mytopglove.commiti.gov.mykossan.com.mysupermax.com.mylgm.gov.mytheedgemalaysia.comriverglove.commatrade.gov.myec.europa.eucustoms.gov.cnjetro.go.jpitmf.orgbloomberg.comreuters.comstatista.comindexbox.ioklse.i3investor.comft.commoelab.gov.myikm.com.myhrdf.com.mybursaMalaysia.comklse screener.comlpp.gov.myindexmunfa.comtheedgemarkets.comfda.govbnm.gov.myamg.com.myindiantradeportal.inxlsem.com

+1 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)