Global demand for protective gloves is soaring, but Ivorian rubber farmers are losing money
on: April 06 ,2020 In: Developing News
Despite the soaring demand for rubber gloves amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, the rubber production sector of the Ivory Coast, which is the largest rubber producer in Africa, stands to lose €91m in profits every month until the crisis is over. The closure of factories in Europe and Asia has led to the cancelling of contracts for Ivorian rubber exporters, and the Ivory Coast does not currently have the facilities to manufacture rubber gloves on its own.
The Ivory Coast produces 60% of the rubber produced by Africa. At least one million Ivorians either directly or indirectly depend on rubber for their income. In 2019, around 80 percent of the country’s 780,000 tonnes of rubber exports were used in the automobile industry, for tyres. However, due to the pandemic tyre manufacturers, including Michelin, Goodyear and Bridgestone, have stopped importing.
Read the full article here (france24.com – 3rd April 2020)