<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://inews.gtimg.com/om_bt/OIIJFoWC2CBQ6RYpe9t_cq1Um0TgdhjNonZFNaFMbCRrEAA/1000?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="Image" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://inews.gtimg.com/om_bt/OIIJFoWC2CBQ6RYpe9t_cq1Um0TgdhjNonZFNaFMbCRrEAA/1000"/>
Under the tight global crude oil supply, more downstream industry supply chains are affected. Inexpensive consumables like disposable gloves are entering a price increase channel due to rising raw material prices.
Raw Material Prices Reach a 9-Year High
In recent years, nitrile gloves, which have seen the fastest sales growth in the global disposable glove market, are primarily made from nitrile latex, which is synthesized from two chemical raw materials: butadiene and acrylonitrile.
According to data released by Zhuochuang Information this month, the market price of butadiene in China rose rapidly in the first quarter. From January to February, as the previously low-priced imported supplies were nearly exhausted, market prices began to rise. In March, due to unexpected events, the supply side significantly supported prices, and the market price of butadiene quickly surged to a 9-year high.
Specifically, the average price of butadiene in the Shandong market in the first quarter was 12,051.44 yuan/ton, an increase of 55.19% month-on-month and 0.81% year-on-year; the average price in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang markets was 11,990.68 yuan/ton, an increase of 57.33% month-on-month and 1.44% year-on-year.
China is one of the major exporters of disposable gloves globally.
Recent data from Longzhong Information shows that some overseas nitrile latex facilities have reduced output for maintenance, leading to tight supply of the main raw material for nitrile gloves in the Southeast Asian market. As a result, the number of exports from Chinese companies has increased, raw material prices remain high, and the cost pressure on glove manufacturers has intensified. In May, the order prices for 3.5g disposable nitrile gloves in the Chinese market rose to between 28 and 30 USD per box.
One of the disposable glove manufacturers, INTCO (300677.SZ), revealed on its official WeChat account on March 6 that overall, against the backdrop of rising international crude oil and chemical raw material prices, the prices of upstream raw materials for disposable gloves will also trend upwards.
A representative from a nitrile glove manufacturing company told Yicai that due to the rising prices of upstream raw materials, their nitrile glove products have increased in price. Currently, downstream demand has not yet been affected by the price increase of nitrile gloves. Since gloves are a product with strong demand, large distributors have about 40 days of inventory, which is a relatively short inventory cycle. After the inventory is consumed, they will consider placing orders based on safety stock and supply assurance.
Another disposable glove manufacturer told Yicai that the market price of nitrile gloves has risen, and as the price of nitrile gloves increases, the market is shifting towards consuming latex gloves, which has also led to a slight increase in the price of latex gloves.
<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://inews.gtimg.com/om_bt/O4x0q9KrznWOe7ctJKgP1P5cG73qQVXpfIw856GgHFnoIAA/641?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="Image" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://inews.gtimg.com/om_bt/O4x0q9KrznWOe7ctJKgP1P5cG73qQVXpfIw856GgHFnoIAA/641"/>
Industry Profits are Recovering
Disposable gloves are mainly divided into nitrile gloves, PVC gloves, latex gloves, and PE gloves
In the past few years, the disposable glove industry experienced rapid capacity expansion due to a significant increase in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as market demand decreased, the industry faced a temporary oversupply situation.
In 2024, the disposable glove industry showed clear signs of clearing, with the supply-demand relationship gradually returning to a balanced trend.
Currently, influenced by raw material prices, the disposable glove industry has entered a price increase cycle. Whether this can further drive the profit recovery of industry enterprises is attracting market attention.
CITIC Construction Investment Securities believes in its research report that the disposable glove industry will enter a phase of price and profitability recovery starting in 2024. The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East in 2026 led to a surge in oil prices, which in turn raised the prices of raw materials and energy for the glove industry, likely accelerating the recovery process of industry profitability.
On March 17, Blue Sail Medical (002382.SZ) stated during an institutional survey that based on past industry cycles, when nitrile gloves see a significant price increase due to tight supply and demand, some downstream customers may actively switch to PVC gloves due to high procurement costs and tight supply of nitrile gloves, driving up both the demand and price for PVC gloves. The upstream supply of natural rubber relies on rubber tree planting, which has very low supply elasticity. Even if the price of nitrile gloves rises significantly, it is difficult to form an effective supplement, so it is expected that demand will shift more towards PVC gloves.
The company also stated that the glove industry has entered a clear price increase channel since the fourth quarter of 2025, with a clear upward trend in 2026. Even as external cost-driving factors gradually fade and price transmission forms a new balance, it is expected to still benefit the overall profit level of the industry.
(This article is from Yicai)

601857

600028

The global tight supply of crude oil has led to a rise in butadiene prices to a nine-year high, affecting downstream industries such as disposable gloves. Due to increased raw material costs, the price of nitrile gloves has risen to USD 28 to 30 per box in the Chinese market. Despite the rise in raw material prices, the demand for nitrile gloves has not yet been affected, and production companies stated that they will continue to monitor market dynamics

腾讯新闻 - 财经

Occidental Petroleum

PETROCHINA

Sinopec Corp.

SINOPEC CORP

INTCO

BLUE SAIL MEDICAL

China Universal CSI Oil & Gas Resources ETF

iShares US Oil & Gas Expl & Prod

E Fund CSI Petrochemical Industry ETF

Guotai CSI Subdivision Chemical Industry Theme ETF

ISHRS S&P Glb Engy

Pro Ultr Bloomberg Crude Oil

SPDR Energy Select

ChinaAMC CSI Petrochemical Industry ETF

Hwabao WP CSI Subdivision Chemical Industry Theme ETF

Bosera CSI Oil & Gas Resources Index ETF

iShares US Oil Equip & Svcs

VanEck Oil Services ETF

Penghua CSI Subdivision Chemical Industry Theme ETF

Yinhua CSI Oil & Gas Resources ETF

VanEck Oil Refiners ETF

SPDR O&G Equip

Guotai CSI Oil & Gas Industry ETF

Us Brent Oil

United States Oil Fund LP

VG Energy

SPDR O&G Ex & Prd

The rise in oil prices has pushed butadiene prices to a nine-year high, and the once inconspicuous disposable gloves have quietly increased in price