The LATAM Disposable Surgical Gloves market size was valued at US$ 190.08 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 284.24 million by 2030. It is projected to register a CAGR of 5.2% during 2022–2030.Market Insights and Analyst View:The increased demand for surgical gloves widely defines LATAM disposable surgical gloves market growth. The demand was significantly raised during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued since the pandemic hit. A significant rise in the sales of surgical gloves across the region was observed post pandemic. In addition, the development in the healthcare industry in LATAM has widely contributed to the growth of the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market.Similarly, technological developments have led to the introduction of nitrile gloves, which have positively impacted the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market growth. Nitrile gloves show excellent chemical-resistant properties and are completely latex-free. Thus, nitrile gloves gained popularity during the pandemic, and the demand for disposable surgical gloves increased. However, supplying nitrile gloves was challenging due to raw material scarcity and lockdown, which caused delays due to restricted transportation. This global impact has eventually affected the supply of disposable surgical gloves in Latin America, resulting in price hikes.Growth Drivers and Challenges:Many studies have shown a significant rise in budgets and no restrictions on procedure volume. According to a study published by Global Health Intelligence (GHI) in March 2022, ~75% of hospitals in Latin America have not restricted the number of procedures and increased their budgets to import medical supplies and consumables. Among the countries in Latin America, Brazil has reported that more than a quarter of hospitals have increased the use of consumables. The study by GHI also reported that the third quarter of 2022 reported lower growth rates in consumables; however, there was a rise in consumables inventory. In addition, the countries showed an increased trend in consumption of consumables.Similarly, the MedTech Outlook: Latin America 2023 report presented vital information of over 1,500 key facts that aim to market and sell medical devices to Latin America. Thus, the factors mentioned above have significantly contributed to the growth of the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market. Moreover, the increase in investments in medical equipment by the key countries in the region has widely led to the growth of the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market. For instance, during 2020–2021, Brazil was among the largest capital investors for medical infrastructure and devices. During 2020–2021, Mexico increased its investments in the medical sector and, in 2022, started purchasing and improving healthcare infrastructure. Likewise, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina adopted the same strategies. Argentina increased its investments in 2021 by 8.7% during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was 11% in 2022. Also, the countries in the region are the largest importers of medical consumables. Thus, the investments to increase medical infrastructure have led to increased import of medical consumables, including disposable surgical gloves.Likewise, Chile is experiencing significant growth in the number of hospitals, which is expected to drive the demand for disposable surgical gloves. Compared to hospitals in Latin America, with an average of 46 beds per hospital, Chile’s hospitals are compared to the hospitals in the US. Chile is the only country in Latin America with 120–140 beds per hospital. The increasing number of hospital beds is expected to propel the number of surgical procedures, which drives the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market growth. Thus, considering the hospitals' size in Latin American countries, the demand for disposable surgical gloves as a consumable has boomed, leading to LATAM disposable surgical gloves market market growth.The latex allergy and increasing waste hinder the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market growth. The use of disposable surgical gloves has created concerns among healthcare workers. Latex allergies may end careers if neglected, and in a few cases, they may become life-threatening. It is reported that 10–17% of healthcare workers report latex allergy compared to 1–6% of the general population. Commonly seen allergies are allergic contact dermatitis and anaphylaxis caused by chemicals used in rubber gloves. Further, the disposal of disposable surgical gloves is hazardous to the environment. There is always a risk of transferring contamination to others. The World Health Organization issued guidelines for healthcare workers to properly dispose of medical waste and ensure no spread of contamination. Negligence in disposing of surgical gloves results in landfills and increases general waste from a healthcare facility.Report Segmentation and Scope:The LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is segmented on the basis of material, form, and end user. Based on material, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is classified into latex, nitrile, vinyl, neoprene, polyisoprene, and others. Based on the form, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is segmented into powder and powder-free. Based on end user, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is classified into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. Geographically, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is segmented into Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Rest of LATAM.Segmental Analysis:Based on material, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is segmented into latex, nitrile, vinyl, neoprene, polyisoprene, and others. The nitrile segment held the largest market share in 2022 and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030. Nitrile gloves are made from synthetic rubber latex derived from acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer. The nitrile gloves are accepted as a substitute for natural latex rubber (latex-free) as they duplicate the properties of natural rubber latex and prevent allergies. The nitrile gloves are comfortable to wear, which is the most significant advantage over natural gloves, and as nitrile is a flexible rubber, it allows wearers to experience optimal tactile sensitivity. In addition, nitrile gloves conform to hands as they are warmed by body heat, offering excellent dexterity, which is important for medical professionals. It prevents type IV allergy and is suitable for people with excessive sweating. Nitrile gloves are resistant to friction, wear, and tear and offer excellent strength and chemical protection compared to other gloves. These gloves are three to five times more puncture-resistant than latex and more elastic than vinyl. The nitrile gloves are suitable for instrument management, medical explorations, and contact with cytostatic products. Due to its temperature tolerance, durability, and strength, it is an exceptional material for manufacturing surgical gloves, specifically for people with latex allergies.Nitrile surgical gloves are preferred in high-risk settings such as dealing with patients having infectious diseases or during surgeries involving blood and other bodily fluids. Surgical gloves are test thoroughly to meet the guidelines specified by the FDA as there is possibility of infections during surgical procedures and operating room environments. Nitrile gloves are preferred due to superior barrier protection and durability. As nitrile gloves are latex-free, this promotes acceptance among individuals sensitive to latex or natural rubber and further decreases the odds of allergic reactions. Dentists prefer this material due to its strength and durability, especially with the sharp tools they use. Dentists and hygienists can maintain a safe barrier between themselves and their patients with durable nitrile gloves. In addition, nitrile surgical gloves have a longer shelf life than latex and vinyl varieties, allowing hospitals, dental facilities, healthcare facilities, and other organizations requiring surgical gloves to stock PPE, improving cost-effectiveness. Thus, the market for the nitrile gloves segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.LATAM Disposable Surgical Gloves Market, by Material – 2022 and 2030Based on form, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is categorized into powder and powder-free. The powder-free segment held a larger market share in 2022 and is expected to register a higher CAGR during 2022–2030.On the basis of end user, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. In 2022, the hospitals and clinics segment was the largest market share holder and is projected to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030.Regional Analysis: Based on region, the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market is divided into Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Rest of LATAM. Among the analyzed countries, Brazil is the largest and the fastest growing country in the region for the disposable surgical gloves market. According to the International Trade Administration, Brazil invests ~9% of its GDP in the healthcare industry. In addition, the country has many hospitals (6,642), of which 63% are private. The demand for disposable surgical gloves is likely to be increasing due to the growing number of surgical procedures. According to the Global Health Intelligence (GHI) report published in February 2023, 18,826,063 procedures were performed in Brazil in 2020. Although surgical procedures declined due to the COVID-19 crisis in 2021, the total number of surgical procedures performed in 2022 stood at 21,874,492. Thus, considering the above-mentioned factors, Brazil's market is estimated to grow significantly during 2022–2030.Industry Developments and Future Opportunities:Various initiatives by key players operating in the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market are listed below:In May 2023, Ansell received the highest recyclability certification from Institut Cyclos-HTP (CHI), a globally recognized organization that assesses and certifies the recyclability of packaging and goods, confirming a AAA rating for the SMART Pack packaging for surgical gloves. SMART Pack dispenser boxes are up to 50% smaller than key competitors in the market, making them a great space saver on hospital shelves.  In September 2022, Cardinal Health built a second state-of-the-art surgical glove manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand, with a ceremonial blessing and groundbreaking event at the new site. The new facility is 720,000 square feet and expanded Cardinal Health’s surgical glove manufacturing footprint in Rayong to more than 1.3 million square feet of manufacturing space. The company’s manufacturing investment in Rayong supports current and future state customer inventory needs for Protexis surgical glove portfolio.In October 2020, Mölnlycke globally launched its Biogel PI UltraTouch S surgical glove, which is an innovative product that addresses the problem of allergic contact dermatitis among surgical teams. The FDA has approved the Biogel PI UltraTouch S surgical gloves to reduce the potential for sensitizing users to chemical additives. Allergic reactions are no longer a barrier in the surgical gloves' performance, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on elective care procedures. Developing Countries in LATAM:Colombia is the third-largest market for medical devices in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico. The medical device industry is highly competitive and represents 5% of the healthcare expenditure in the country. The country's medical industry depends on imported medical devices and consumables, i.e., ~83% imported in 2021. However, the country has begun focusing on producing low-tech consumables domestically to lessen the dependency on imports of medical consumables. The country is further developing its healthcare infrastructure by employing well-trained healthcare professionals and adopting new technologies, which will enhance the number of minimally invasive surgeries and increase the demand for disposable surgical gloves.Similarly, Costa Rica is among the fastest-developing countries in the region. Medical tourism in the country is booming at a rapid rate. Costa Rica offers cheaper medical care by 50–70% than the US, hence gaining more patients from the US and Canada. In addition, the medical care in the country is safe and offers high-quality services, including spine and orthopedic surgery, bariatric surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, and dental treatments. Moreover, the country is easily accessible for people from the US, Canada, and Europe, as staying for less than 90 days in the country does not require visas. Therefore, there is a rise in medical tourism in Costa Rica, which, in turn, propels the demand for surgical procedures and generates the need for disposable gloves. Further, the country has the highest number of hospitals with maximum bed capacity, driving medical care and eventually leading to LATAM disposable surgical gloves market growth.Competitive Landscape and Key Companies:A few prominent players operating in the LATAM disposable surgical gloves market are Ansell Ltd, Ambiderm SA de CV, B. Braun SE, Degasa SA de CV, Cardinal Health Inc, Top Glove Corp Bhd, Medline Industries LP, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Sterimed Medical Devices Pvt Ltd, and Henry Schein Inc. These operating players focus on geographic expansions and new product launches to meet the increasing demand by the end users in the region and across the world and increase their product range in specialty portfolios. Their global presence and expansion in the region allow them to serve a large set of customers, subsequently allowing them to expand their market share.