The rising cost of latex and oil prices are stretching the price of latex gloves, increasing the cost of hand protection in the workplace.

Natural rubber latex prices have gone sky-high, jumping more than 80 percent since June 2005, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers' Association (MARGMA). Bulk latex costs about $1.48 a kilogram.

The surge in latex prices is mainly due to Mother Nature. Drenching monsoon rains have wreaked havoc on rubber plantations in southern Thailand and Malaysia, two of the world's biggest producers of rubber. Approximately 60 percent of all rubber gloves used worldwide is produced by Malaysia. And rubber latex-a key raw material in rubber gloves-accounts for more than half of the production cost of latex gloves.

Higher oil prices are also affecting latex prices. The rising price of oil has driven up the cost of synthetic latex, causing more demand for natural rubber latex gloves. The demand for surgical latex gloves, in fact, is growing 10 to 12 percent a year.

Demand for natural rubber is also skyrocketing as a result of tire manufacturers increasing their demand for the product, according to the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA). Prices for butadiene-the petrochemical used to make synthetic rubber-have jumped 93 percent in the past year. Butadiene comes from processing crude oil. As crude oil prices hit record highs, tire manufacturers have switched from synthetic to natural rubber, driving up demand, decreasing supplies, and resulting in higher prices for natural rubber and rubber gloves.

Naturally, latex glove manufacturers have been forced to share the burden of the cost increases with consumers. However, MARGMA's president, KH Oon, has asked its members to base their price increases on the cost of materials. "We urge glove buyers to understand our members' predicament and work with our members, who are their suppliers, to develop a flexible pricing mechanism based on cost, particularly natural rubber latex cost," Oon said.

Latex gloves are the most popular type of glove being worn in the workplace. Because of their strength and thickness, they are often considered the best line of defense in healthcare settings. Latex gloves are less likely to puncture or tear, and they resist many chemicals, including acids and alkalis. They're also very supple, which makes them very comfortable to wear.

Latex gloves have been in the marketplace for hundreds of years. And despite the rising prices, consumers will continue to rely on their superior protective qualities of latex gloves. We at DonTheGlove.com offer two different types of latex gloves>/b> - powder and powder-free -- and we continue to do our best to keep prices in check.