U.S. Disposable Medical Gloves Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Application (Surgical and Examination), By Material (Latex and Synthetic), By Category (Powdered and Powder-free), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic/Pathology Labs, Dental Clinics, and Others), and Country Forecast, 2023-2030

The U.S. disposable medical gloves market size was worth USD 3.38 billion in 2022 and is projected to record a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period.

Disposable medical gloves are used during medical examinations to prevent the transmission of infections between patients and caregivers. The increasing number of inpatient and outpatient visits across hospitals in the U.S. due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases has boosted the demand for medical gloves in the country.

• For instance, as per the data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.60 billion new cancer cases were reported in 2020 in the U.S. This number is estimated to reach 1.95 billion by the end of 2030.

In 2020, the market was positively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The market’s growth was mainly attributed to the increasing implementation of preventive measures during the pandemic. In addition, significant increase in the adoption of disposable medical gloves by healthcare workers to diagnose and treat COVID-19 and rise in hospital admissions worldwide accelerated the market progress in 2020.

LATEST TRENDS

High Demand for Examination Gloves in Medical Sector

Examination gloves have witnessed a huge demand in the medical sector owing to their higher use in hospitals and dental clinics, and growth in patient visits. Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare specialists use examination gloves for non-invasive physical examination. These gloves reduce the risk of cross-contamination between patients and healthcare workers. Furthermore, the growing incidence of infectious and parasitic diseases has boosted the demand for examination gloves.

• For instance, according to the data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), in 2021, around 3.8 million people were diagnosed with parasitic and infectious diseases in the U.S. This factor increased the demand for examination gloves among healthcare professionals to prevent infection through touch or any other medium.

DRIVING FACTORS

Increasing Number of Medical Facilities to Drive Market Growth

Rise in the prevalence of various diseases in the U.S. and increasing patient visits to healthcare centers have boosted the demand for personal protective equipment among healthcare providers. This, along with increasing emphasis on personal hygiene by medical professionals and strict implementation of guidelines by healthcare facilities, has been pivotal in fueling the adoption of disposable type of medical gloves.

Moreover, the rising number of healthcare facilities and medical professionals in the U.S. is driving the demand for medical gloves, including disposable gloves. For instance, according to the data published by the American Hospital Association, there were around 6,093 hospitals in the U.S. in 2022. The number has increased to 6,129 in 2023. This significant growth in healthcare facilities is projected to increase the patient admission rate, thereby positively influencing the U.S. disposable medical gloves market progress.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Presence of Substandard and Falsified Medical Gloves May Hamper Market Growth

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the sales of Substandard and Falsified (SF) disposable medical gloves increased. For instance, in October 2021, Paddy the Room, a prominent Thailand-based company, sold millions of substandard gloves to the U.S. to meet the growing demand.

This practice of selling falsified disposable type of medical gloves can cause infections in patients and caregivers which can hamper the U.S. disposable medical gloves market growth to a certain extent.

In the U.S., there were around 24.4 million people diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, as compared to 23.4 million in 2020.

SEGMENTATION

By Application Analysis

Based on application, the U.S. market is segmented into surgical and examination.

In 2022, the examination segment held a dominant disposable medical gloves market share due to the increasing diagnostic procedures and outpatient department visits, coupled with the launch of new disposable gloves. The segment’s growth is further augmented by the increasing number of collaborations and partnerships among market players aiming to consolidate their position in the market.

• For instance, in July 2021, Premier Inc. and Honeywell International Inc. collaborated to expand the production of nitrile examination gloves in the U.S. The collaboration aimed to increase the production capacity for safety solutions to protect healthcare workers.

Furthermore, the surgical segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to the growing incidence of chronic diseases. These ailments frequently require medical procedures and operations for treatment, which will drive the segment’s growth in the future.

By Material Analysis

By material, the U.S. market is classified into latex and synthetic.

In 2022, the synthetic segment accounted for the highest U.S. disposable medical gloves market share. It is projected to register a significant CAGR owing to the increasing preference of healthcare providers for synthetic disposable medical gloves over latex ones. Synthetic gloves provide strong protection against viruses and offer better chemical protection.

In addition, several players in the market are focused on launching synthetic nitrile disposable medical gloves due to their benefits, thereby favoring the segment’s growth. For instance, in April 2023, Armbrust American, a surgical mask and PPE manufacturing company, began production of 100% American-made nitrile gloves to become the premier source of U.S.-made medical products.

Moreover, the latex segment accounted for a significant market share in 2022. Latex is widely preferred for making disposable type of medical gloves due to its elasticity property. Some of the reputed latex glove manufacturers are Cardinal Health, Cole-Parmer India Pvt. Ltd., and Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Plc.

By Category Analysis

Based on category, the market is classified into powdered gloves and powder-free gloves.

The powder-free segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. The segment’s growth is mainly attributed to the benefits offered by these gloves, such as versatility and water resistance. In addition, key players are focused on various growth strategies, such as new product launches, thereby boosting the segment’s growth. For instance, in January 2021, Aquila launched new N935 high-quality, powder-free, and 100% nitrile disposable medical gloves in the market.

However, the powdered gloves segment accounted for a lower market share as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned powdered gloves in the country.

By End-User Analysis

Based on end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, diagnostic/pathology labs, dental clinics, and others.

The hospitals & clinics segment held a dominant market share in 2022 due to the rapid growth inpatient admissions across hospitals. Furthermore, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, lucrative reimbursement policies, and increasing emphasis on better patient outcomes will contribute to the segment’s growth.

Moreover, the diagnostic/pathology labs segment is projected to capture a substantial market share over the forecast period owing to the increasing screening and diagnostic procedures for various diseases.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Regarding the competitive landscape, Top Glove Corporation Bhd is a dominant player in the market. The company provides high-quality gloves at a low cost. Other players in the market include Cardinal Health, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Mölnlycke Health Care AB, ANSELL LTD., Hartalega, and Semperit AG Holding.

These companies are adopting various growth strategies, such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, new product developments, and geographical expansions to cater to the growing needs of various end-users. For instance, in August 2022, Mölnlycke Health Care AB invested USD 52.57 million in a new surgical gloves production to meet the increasing demand from end-users.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Top Glove Corporation Bhd (Malaysia)


• Cardinal Health (U.S.)


• B. Braun SE (Germany)


• Kimberly-Clark Corporation (U.S.)


• Sri Trang Agro-Industry Plc. (Thailand)


• Dynarex Corporation (U.S.)


• Mölnlycke Health Care AB (Sweden)


• ANSELL LTD. (Australia)


• Hartalega (Malaysia)


• Semperit AG Holding (Austria)


• Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (Malaysia)


• Supermax Corporation Berhad (Malaysia)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS: 

• March 2022 – American Nitrile, LLC, a medical glove manufacturing company, in partnership with Orion Infrastructure Capital, launched its manufacturing facility in Grove City, Ohio, to manufacture nitrile gloves.


• February 2022 – Kimberly-Clark launched the Kimtech Opal Nitrile Gloves to protect against contamination by chemical splash and micro-organism-based hazards.


• November 2021 – Owens & Minor, Inc. launched new Safeskin nitrile gloves for various applications.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market report provides a detailed analysis of the market. It focuses on key aspects, such as an overview of technological advancements, prevalence of cancer in the U.S., and pricing analysis. Additionally, it offers information on new product launches, key industry developments, such as mergers, partnerships & acquisitions, and the impact of COVID-19 on the market. Besides this, the report also offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation