I read these comments from Tan Sri Lim's TheEdge interview and I am reproducing it to my blog.

Glove demand expected to remain intact even with the discovery of a vaccine against the coronavirus.

“Moreover, even with the finding of a vaccine, gloves will still be needed for testing and administering the vaccine.”

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-stretched?type=corporate

Will discovery of a vaccine derail glove demand?

Countries around the globe are racing to develop a vaccine against Covid-19. Bloomberg reported that more than 100 vaccines for the virus are being developed globally but only a handful have made it to the crucial and final human clinical trial stage, with Chinese scientists leading the way. In total, five vaccines developed by Chinese companies are being tested on humans, the most in any country.

In the US, reports say five companies have been chosen as the most likely candidates to produce a vaccine against the virus.

Meanwhile, GSK, the world’s largest vaccine maker, plans to produce one billion doses of vaccine efficacy boosters for Covid-19 shots next year.

Top Glove’s Lim admits that panic buying of gloves will be reduced if a vaccine is found and demand may soften. “However, pre-Covid-19, global glove demand was already growing at 10% and will continue to grow steadily, driven by strong market fundamentals.”

He expects glove usage to increase after the pandemic, especially in the medical sectors of developing countries. “Moreover, even with the finding of a vaccine, gloves will still be needed for testing and administering the vaccine.”

Margma’s Low says the discovery of a vaccine is still a long way off and even if it were found, the pandemic has created greater awareness of personal hygiene and the need for personal protective equipment, so demand will still be there.

AmInvestment Bank Research foresees a structural change in the way gloves are used, where glove usage per capita will increase as hygiene measures become stricter. “This is expected to apply not only to the healthcare sector but also across different industries like F&B. Glove consumption per capita in emerging markets such as India and China was low at around two to six gloves as opposed to 100 to 280 gloves in developed countries.”

Takeaway: Glove demand expected to remain intact even with the discovery of a vaccine against the coronavirus.