KUALA LUMPUR: Top Glove Corporation Bhd is on track to achieving its ambitious goal of selling 43 billion gloves by the end of FY2025, proving that humanity’s collective love for hand protection remains unshaken.

Executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai expressed confidence in the target, citing increased orders, operational improvements, and a universal preference for not touching questionable surfaces.

"Our cost efficiency and quality management have improved significantly, so we are well-positioned to reach 43 billion gloves—because, let’s be honest, people still have hands," he said in a virtual briefing.

Meanwhile, managing director Lim Cheong Guan noted that demand from the U.S. is expected to recover once their pandemic stockpiles finally run out and hospitals realize they can’t sterilize gloves in a microwave.

On pricing strategies, Lim mentioned that better control over selling prices would help profit margins, though customers still prefer not paying more just to hold a steering wheel.

Expansion plans remain uncertain, especially in China, due to tariff challenges. "We’re staying cautious with expansion because, frankly, we’re not sure if our gloves will get caught in another trade war crossfire," Lim added.

As for factory reopenings, the company will gradually revive temporarily closed facilities once the utilization rate hits 70%. Currently, it stands at 58%, meaning some workers are still stretching fingers in preparation for future demand.

Financially, Top Glove has managed to bounce back from a net loss, recording a RM30.28 million profit in 2Q FY2025—a sign that the world still finds gloves more useful than pockets.

Business