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Warehouses fill up in Austria. In Germany, the problems are likely to be greater due to the disposable glove supply situation.
In the face of growing concern over the crown crisis, disposable gloves for relief and rescue workers have become more expensive. Also, late decision makers find it difficult to find suitable products. Austromed Managing Director Philipp Lindinger estimates that the trigger for this development is not so much an acute, particularly high demand, but rather the replenishment of warehouses in hospitals or rescue organizations. However, there should be enough gloves available for the foreseeable need.
“The average number of orders from existing customers is guaranteed. But it will be difficult to satisfy the additional requirements,” says the managing director of the interest group of medical device companies. On the global market, capacities have already been purchased this year and 2021. Lindinger expects demand to drop.
The situation is similar at Semperit, the only large Austrian manufacturer of rubber gloves. Obligations to regular customers can be fulfilled but are fully booked until well into 2021 and “we can’t serve the new,” a spokeswoman said. The shortage leads to “major price increases on all sides.” It can be assumed that currently no manufacturer can supply large quantities in the short term and that inventory build-up will likely lead to the current high demand. At the latest, when the pandemic subsides or a vaccine is found, demand will decline again.
The Austrian Red Cross is also experiencing an increase in prices, but there are no obstacles at the moment.
1.7 million exam gloves in stock
The Federal Procurement Company (BBG), in turn, signed a framework agreement in July to ensure the supply of disposable gloves in Austria. Depending on quality, prices are up to 1.75 times higher than before the pandemic, but the five companies that have committed to deliveries are “currently basically in a condition to deliver, based on the information we have at our disposal.” read a statement at the request of the APA. For quantities greater than one million gloves, the delivery time is 30 days. Since July, BBG has recommended the installation of strategic warehouses and storage of supplies. Among other things, 1.7 million examination gloves were stored in five fields throughout Germany. But now manufacturers would have to increase supply to meet additional demand.
In Germany, the problems are likely to be greater due to the disposable glove supply situation. “Individual distributors have told us that the supply situation and the price evolution for disposable gloves is dramatic,” said German Association for Medical Technology (BVMed) spokesman Manfred Beeres of the German press agency. Purchase costs are increasing “very strongly” today. The association expects prices that are sometimes 500 percent higher, depending on the type of glove, compared to normal prices. However, the association does not currently see a deficiency. “If everyone orders wisely, it will work,” Beeres said. Speculation that drove prices up should stop.
China and the US are buying in droves
“Above all, China and the US are requesting gloves in droves from source countries,” says Uwe Behrens, managing director of the Central Association of Distributors, Manufacturers, Service Providers and Medical-Technical Consultants (ZMT) in Germany. The demand is significantly higher than the production capacities. In addition, the failures would have led to further shortages. The raw material for the articles, such as raw rubber latex, is of course limited.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health announced that there were no “reliable findings” on the supply of disposable gloves. The “very heterogeneous feedback” comes from the countries. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been repeated reports of a shortage of disposable gloves. At the same time, retailers continue to offer disposable gloves to countries for sale.
Countries could still turn to gloves purchased at the start of the pandemic. “If a supply bottleneck really does arise, a decision must be made as to whether disposable gloves should be purchased as part of a tender or emergency procurement from the federal states,” says the German Health Ministry. But there is no request yet.
(WHAT)
