NEWS

The French disposable gloves market in 2025 is shaped by China’s export performance, with vinyl, medical nitrile, and industrial nitrile gloves each showing distinct trajectories. INTCO Medical, the largest latex-free gloves manufacturer, continues to anchor global supply chains and remains a trusted partner for France’s healthcare and industrial sectors.

China’s Export Trends to France: A Five-Year Perspective

Over the past five years, China’s exports of disposable gloves to France have reflected shifting demand patterns:

• Vinyl Gloves: Pandemic-driven demand peaked in 2020 at 50.7 billion pieces, then steadily declined to 18.8 billion pieces in 2024.

• Medical Nitrile Gloves: Rapid growth from 1.2 billion pieces in 2020 to 21.8 billion pieces in 2024, driven by hospital restocking and regulatory preference for latex-free gloves.

• Industrial Nitrile Gloves: After customs code adjustments in 2021–2022, exports normalised and surged to 2.2 billion pieces in 2024, more than doubling year-on-year.

These figures, sourced from China Customs and ITC Trade Map, highlight France’s reliance on Chinese supply for disposable gloves.

Vinyl Gloves: Stabilisation After Pandemic

Vinyl gloves, widely used in cleaning and non-medical settings, have seen exports to France stabilise:

• 2025 (Jan–Oct): 16.0 billion pieces, down 1% year-on-year.

• October 2025: 1.8 billion pieces, a 14.3% decline from September but 13.8% higher than October 2024.

• Trend: Early 2025 saw restocking, mid-year weakened due to French inventory digestion, and late-year recovery with distributor replenishment.

France remains China’s No. 2 export destination for vinyl gloves in Europe, underscoring the category’s importance despite declining volumes.

Medical Nitrile Gloves: France’s Healthcare Backbone

Medical nitrile gloves are the core growth driver in France’s glove imports from China:

• 2025 (Jan–Oct): 17.4 billion pieces, down 9.2% year-on-year.

• October 2025: 1.6 billion pieces, stable compared to September.

• Five-Year Growth: From 1.2 billion pieces in 2020 to 21.8 billion pieces in 2024.

Hospitals increasingly prefer nitrile gloves due to their latex-free composition, allergy prevention, and compliance with FDA medical glove standards.

INTCO Medical’s leadership as the largest latex-free gloves manufacturer ensures France’s healthcare system receives a consistent, high-quality supply. 

Industrial Nitrile Gloves: Rising in Food and Cleaning Sectors

Industrial nitrile gloves, used in food processing and cleaning, show strong growth:

• 2025 (Jan–Oct): 3.0 billion pieces, up 132.7% year-on-year.

• October 2025: 0.36 billion pieces, a 33.3% increase from September.

• Trend: Early 2025 demand was driven by the food and cleaning industries, mid-year slowed by inventory digestion, and late-year rebounded with renewed orders.

France ranked No. 8 for Chinese industrial nitrile glove imports in Europe, reflecting growing industrial adoption.

France’s Market Position in Europe

China’s export data confirms France’s strong role in Europe’s glove market:

• Vinyl Gloves: France is the No. 2 destination in Europe.

• Medical Nitrile Gloves: France ranks No. 7, reflecting steady hospital demand.

• Industrial Nitrile Gloves: France ranks No. 8, with growing industrial consumption.

These rankings highlight France’s balanced demand across medical and industrial sectors. 

Strategic Implications for INTCO Medical

INTCO Medical’s role in France’s glove market is reinforced by:

• Latex-Free Leadership: As the largest latex-free gloves manufacturer, INTCO ensures compliance with allergy-prevention standards.

• Global Supply Chain Strength: Consistent exports to France across vinyl, medical nitrile, and industrial nitrile categories.

• Integrated PPE Solutions: Beyond gloves, INTCO offers masks, gowns, and protective equipment, aligning with France’s importer trends.

China’s Export Role in France’s Glove Market

The 2025 French disposable glove market is defined by China’s export performance:

• Vinyl Gloves: Stabilized demand, with France as a top European destination.

• Medical Nitrile Gloves: Core growth driver, cementing nitrile as the hospital standard.

• Industrial Nitrile Gloves: Rising demand in the food and cleaning sectors, with strong year-on-year growth.

INTCO Medical continues to anchor this supply chain, ensuring France’s healthcare and industrial sectors benefit from reliable, latex-free glove solutions.