The global clean room disposable gloves market is expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of eight per cent during 2014-2020. Neoprene disposable gloves would emerge as the fastest growing segment, at a CAGR of 17.5 per cent during the forecast period, according to a new report by Allied Market Research.

In order to maintain aseptic and contaminant-free environment during production, controlled environmental conditions are the prerequisites for pharmaceutical, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing companies. The prerequisites can be achieved by setting up distinct and separate clean rooms, which necessitates the need for clean room disposable gloves in the production environment. Factors such as a large base of consumers, stringent regulatory requirements and the popularity of 'clean room-customized' gloves are driving the growth of the market. Following the positive strides in the adoption of the clean room disposable gloves, the market is expected to reach 35.6 billion pairs by 2020.

Natural rubber/latex disposable gloves, despite its conventional nature, continues to dominate the market. It held about 2/5th of the market share in 2013 making it the leading market segment, and shall continue to lead the market during forecast period. Unchallenged physical attributes such as comfort and dexterity supplement the growth of natural rubber/latex gloves. However, increasing incidences of allergies and a consequent ban on such gloves have given rise to the need for non-allergic variants of clean room gloves, chiefly, the nitrile gloves.

According to the key findings of the study, nitrile gloves holds second highest CAGR i.e., 9.2 per cent during 2014-2020. Natural rubber/latex gloves would account for the largest market share, both in terms of volume as well as value through 2020, followed by vinyl gloves. Asia Pacific accounts for the 48 per cent of the global market in 2013, followed by North America, at 28 per cent of the global market share.China has emerged as one of the most lucrative markets during 2014-2020

Geographically, the market share of developed countries in the global clean room disposable gloves market is expected to decline due to the use of industrials robots; whereas, the developing nations would witness a steady rise in their market share due to surplus work force and outsourced pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.