KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 – Malaysia’s rubber glove industry needs to create greater value, strengthen competitiveness and build a more sustainable industry as competition intensifies in the global market, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said.
She said competing primarily on production volume and price would not be sufficient for the future, as buyers were becoming more demanding and placing greater emphasis on sustainability, traceability, responsible manufacturing and product origin.
“For Malaysia, therefore, the question is no longer simply how much we can produce. The more important question is: how do we create greater value, strengthen competitiveness and build a more sustainable industry for the long term?” she said in her speech at the opening of the 12th International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition (IRGCE) 2026 here today.
The text of her speech was read by Malaysian Rubber Council Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Suparadi Md Noor, who represented her at the opening ceremony.
Noraini said the industry was now operating in a more normalised but more competitive global environment, as the extraordinary conditions experienced during the COVID 19 pandemic had largely receded.
Global demand for medical, industrial and specialised gloves continued to be supported by higher healthcare standards, industrial safety requirements and demographic trends, she said.
However, competition had intensified and buyer expectations had changed significantly, with sustainability, traceability, responsible manufacturing and product origin becoming increasingly important.
Technology was also transforming manufacturing, while supply chain resilience was becoming more important, she said.
Noraini said Malaysia needed greater investment in research and development, as well as faster adoption of automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Technologies such as AI driven quality inspection, smart production systems, advanced materials and next generation glove formulations had the potential to improve efficiency, product performance and Malaysia’s technological capabilities, she said.
She also called for improved productivity and resource efficiency, stronger collaboration between industry, research institutions and universities, and the development of skilled talent for a technology driven industry.
Noraini said these priorities were aligned with the Government’s broader direction for the rubber sector to modernise the industry, strengthen downstream activities and generate greater value across the rubber value chain.
She also stressed the importance of governance, saying Malaysia had worked hard to build its reputation in the global rubber glove market and that it was important to protect it.
Through the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), the Government was strengthening the regulatory framework governing rubber glove manufacturing and exports, she said.
Under the MRB (Licensing and Permit) Regulations 2014, only manufacturers holding the appropriate and valid Rubber Product Manufacturing Licence are permitted to manufacture rubber gloves in Malaysia.
Noraini said the licensing requirement supported accountability, product quality and compliance, while providing a mechanism for better management of manufacturing capacity as the industry addresses overcapacity and moves towards more sustainable and disciplined growth.
At the export level, the MRB had strengthened requirements including the display of the relevant Rubber Glove Export Licence number on packaging materials.
She said this would provide greater traceability and accountability and support efforts to prevent transshipment, ensuring Malaysia was not used as a route for products manufactured elsewhere to enter international markets under the reputation of Malaysian made gloves.
Noraini said IRGCE 2026 was a platform for manufacturers, raw material suppliers, machinery and technology providers, researchers, buyers, investors and policymakers to exchange knowledge, accelerate technology adoption, explore commercialisation and establish partnerships.
She said Malaysia was evolving, investing, strengthening governance and preparing for global competition.