WRP shutdown but sector still positive

WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, a prominent Malaysian manufacturer of medical and specialty gloves, is shutting down as of April 2026 due to severe operational and supply chain disruptions caused by the Iran war. Based in Selangor, the company faced unsustainable raw material shortages (notably nitrile latex) and high costs, despite high demand during the pandemic

“WRP Asia Pacific wound down due to fragile financials amid the +70% spike in nitrile costs and supply chain blockades,” says MBSB.

WRP

The immediate issue is the supply gap left by WRP’s closure, creating a bottleneck across the healthcare, F&B and chemicals industries, while other secondary markets (energy, logistics, packaging) would lose a prominent buyer

“However, larger glove companies see the closure as an opportunity to tap into the 12% US surgical glove market share and further consolidating the industry,” analysts say.

WRP’s closure provides a blueprint for risk management for interconnected sectors

TOP PICKS are Kossan Rubber Industries and Hartalega, on their capability to support the gap and to remain resilient

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