First latex, now Oil?

Whether you use or sell disposable gloves, I am sure you have noticed that prices are on the rise across the board. Latex has had a sharp increase because of a couple issues: flooding in Southeast Asia and slower production from rubber trees due to the winter season. This creates the classic scenario of low supply and high demand, which continues to drive up prices. That explains latex, but why are nitrile and vinyl also increasing?

The answer again is supply and demand. With latex glove prices increasing, everyone is seeking lower cost alternatives, such as nitrile and vinyl gloves. However, because of the speed of the latex increase, that left little time for the nitrile and vinyl glove producers to ramp up production to meet the new increased demand. Add to that the soaring cost of oil, which is used to manufacture both nitrile and vinyl, and also increased transportation costs and you can see how the rising cost of oil impacts everything. Everyone notices the price of oil when you go to the pump, but it isn’t your first thought when you are reaching for a glove.