PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian government has announced that only rubber gloves manufactured locally can be exported, in a move aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the domestic industry amid escalating global trade tensions.
According to the plantation and commodities ministry, the directive applies to all exporters licensed by the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB). The ministry said the decision is in response to recent policy shifts in major global markets, which could otherwise turn Malaysia into a transit hub for foreign-made gloves, distorting trade flows.
“These circumstances may lead to a rise in rubber glove imports, which could affect the competitiveness of the domestic rubber industry,” the ministry said.
Malaysia remains one of the world’s top producers and exporters of rubber-based products. In 2024, the country recorded RM33 billion in rubber exports, with gloves contributing RM15.4 billion, or 45.8% of total rubber-related export earnings.
The government also highlighted that the MRB has tightened export licensing requirements and ramped up monitoring and enforcement efforts to maintain oversight of the sector.
The move follows the recent US imposition of a 10% general import tariff and a 24% tariff on Malaysian goods, temporarily suspended for 90 days. Authorities believe stricter rules are essential to prevent tariff circumvention through re-routing or mislabelling practices—issues already reported in other parts of Asia.
