Domestic sales of gloves in Japan, household gloves declined for two consecutive Years in 2015

On 1st of March, Japan Globe Industry Association announced the actual sales volumes for household, work and surgical gloves in 2015.

The result was 91 million 630 thousand pairs for household gloves, decreased by 6.2% compared to the same period of last year, thus showed a decrease for 2 years in a row. While it is believed to be partially affected by the shift towards disposable type general purpose ultra-thin gloves, the current situation suggests the needs for promoting demand by increasing promotion to consumers.

For work gloves, the amount was 131 million 465 thousand pairs, decreased by 3.0% compared to the same period of last year, showing a decrease for the first time in 5 years. For medical gloves, surgical gloves resulted in 77 million 872 thousand pairs, decreased by 1.1% compared to the same period of last year.

・Household Gloves

Among household gloves, vinyl gloves was 52 million 16 thousand pairs, decreased by 4.5%, and latex gloves was 30 million 464 thousand pairs, decreased by 7.1%, and nitrile gloves was 8 million 150 thousand pairs, decreased by 13.2%.

On the other hand, general purpose ultra-thin gloves resulted in 3 billion 4 million 523 thousand pairs, increased by 23.4% thus continued to remain strong. For household gloves, the component ratio by description was – vinyl gloves 57.9%, latex gloves 33.2%, and nitrile gloves 8.9%, and the ratio by type was – thick type 6.9%, medium thick type 38.4%, and thin type 54.7%.

・Work Gloves

By description, double-sided coating gloves with backing cloth was 27 million 234 thousand pairs, decreased by 6.0%, and double-sided gloves without backing cloth was 11 million 969 thousand pairs, increased by 17.7% compared to the same period of last year.

Single-side coating gloves with rubber linings was 2 million 419 thousand pairs, decreased by 7.3%, and dip type (A) was 59 million 592 thousand pairs, increased by 0.5%, and dip type (B) was 4 million 284 thousand pairs, increased by 0.9%, print type was 24 million 193 thousand pairs, decreased by 12.3% compared to the same period of last year.

Cold protection type was 1 million 719 thousand pairs, decreased by 33.6%. Other types were 55,000 pairs, decreased by 3.5% compared to the same period of last year.

・Medical Gloves

Among medical gloves, powder-free gloves ratio in surgical gloves was 63.0% thus showed smooth grow. While this figure is far behind those 80% figure found in Western market, safeness and superiority of powder-free gloves has been steadily pervading further. Ratio of latex-free gloves was 17.2%, increased by 3.1 points compared to the previous year’s performance.

On the other hand, dentistry gloves (pair type) was 2 million 731 thousand pairs, decreased by 8.0% compared to the same period of last year, thus showed a decrease for 2 years in a row.

Check-up & examination gloves was 882 million 872 thousand pairs, decreased by 1.1% compared to the same period of last year, thus showed a decrease for 2 years in a row.

Issue Date: 2016-5-25

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