European nitrile butadiene rubber latex market size to reach $102 million by 2027

Pune, India – According to a recent study from market research firm Graphical Research, the Europe nitrile butadiene rubber latex market size is set to register a significant growth during the forecast timeframe, because of rise in awareness among consumers with regards to sanitization and hygiene. This consciousness increased to a great extent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The region was among the worst-hit by the virus with millions of fresh COVID-positive cases surfacing each day.
The COVID-19 infection can spread through contaminated surfaces, and this has raised the demand for NBR latex gloves among the hospital professionals. Gloves made with NBR latex are far superior as compared to those made with natural rubber latex as the former material is highly oil resistant and has greater tensile strength.
Europe nitrile butadiene rubber latex market is projected to reach a valuation of $102 million by 2027. The key trends that will drive this industry forecast are mentioned below:
NBR latex gloves find high application across food processing sector:
The European Union has placed strict norms with respect to worker and food safety. The food processing sector has undergone some tremendous advancements which has increased the need for NBR latex disposable and reusable gloves.
Gloves play an important role in handling food items as they serve two purposes: one is that the food does not come in direct contact with the worker’s hands, thereby keeping the items safe from contamination. The other purpose is that the worker is safe from getting any food particles on his hands, helping him work on other processes with ease. These gloves have high rebound resilience and great resistance to wear and tear, increasing their demand among end-users in the food processing industry in Europe.
Healthcare and cleanroom users raise demand for NBR latex products:
Healthcare & cleanroom segment in Europe is expected to be among the largest end-users of NBR latex items. The regional producers import a large percentage of NBR latex from Asian nations. Countries like Russia and Ukraine import a vast majority of their gloves from Asian economies like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The healthcare system in Europe is one of the most advanced and ever-expanding, thereby raising the demand for nitrile butadiene rubber latex market in the region.
Surgeries and specialty hospitals witness rise in Europe:
Europe is seeing a great surge in the number of surgeries and specialty hospitals to cater to the healthcare needs of the regional population. This will result in rise in demand for medical gloves, which have another important application of producing and testing pharmaceutical drugs. Use of NBR latex gloves in these areas is vital as it prevents both the patients and doctors from contracting any fatal pathogens like bacteria or viruses.
The EU has enforced certain rules regarding the storage, transportation, use and disposal of NBR latex products. The organizations producing NBR latex in the region have to keep these rules in mind for their products to find legal use in hospitals and clinics.
COVID-19 effect on demand for NBR latex gloves:
The COVID-19 pandemic had a massive impact on the demand for NBR latex gloves in Europe. Many developed nations in the region like Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK created high demand for medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits. The healthcare sector in many countries across the region were overworked and on the brink of total collapse because of a grave difference between the demand and supply of medical equipment.
It has led to higher dependence of European nations on the import of NBR latex gloves from Asian countries. For example, Spain signed a multi-million Euro deal worth $467 million with China in March 2020. This deal also included import of around 11 million pairs of gloves.
The demand for NBR latex products is expected to only increase in the future. Many nations across Europe are developing advanced technologies to make their healthcare infrastructure smart and easily accessible to the general public. The leading organizations that are producing the nitrile butadiene rubber latex market in Europe are Synthomer, Versalis S.p.A., Zeon Chemicals, Omnova Solutions, Jubilant Group, LG Chem and Brenntag.