The Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) anticipates a recovery in demand and "stands ready to support" the industry in achieving its growth targets, according to MARGMA.
"Collaboration and shared insights will be critical in navigating both local government priorities and international demands," the association said.
In this context, the industry should prioritize "fairness, transparency and sustainability" in all practices and in particular pricing practices, said MARGMA President Oon Kim Hung.
According to Oon, some of the biggest challenges of the industry include the low average selling prices (ASP) and oversupply.
"But this does not mean the Malaysian rubber glove industry players should bend on their ethical practices to counter the stiff competition from regional players," the president added.
In particular, he called for "the immediate removal" of an export "cess" tax in Malaysia on certain commodities to protect natural resources and local economies.
Removal of the tax, Oon said, would enable the gloves manufacturing industry to overcome current challenges and enhance its global competitiveness.
The rubber gloves industry's cess tax rate is 0.2 percent, which, according to MARGMA, amounts to over RM 500 million ($104 million) in annual payments.
MARGMA also called for "streamlining policies" such as a "gas supply agreement," as well as transparency in labor rights to help support the industry.
