Why are Nitrile Glove prices increasing in 2026?

2 June 2026

If you've recently noticed price increases on some nitrile gloves and paper products, you're not alone.

Across the UK, manufacturers, importers and distributors are facing increasing costs that are affecting a wide range of hygiene, PPE and disposable products.

At Hygiene Depot, we've absorbed as much of these increases as possible, but we wanted to explain what's happening in the market and why some prices are changing.

We've Been Here Before

The good news is that we've experienced similar market conditions before. While prices increased significantly during the COVID supply crisis, they subsequently reduced as supply chains recovered and market conditions stabilised.

Importantly, those prices did not stay high forever.

As manufacturing capacity increased and supply chains recovered, glove prices reduced significantly across the market.

Figure 1: During the COVID supply crisis, nitrile glove prices increased dramatically across the entire UK market as global demand surged and supply chains came under pressure. As manufacturing capacity recovered and supply chains stabilised, prices reduced significantly. While recent market conditions have resulted in some increases, current pricing remains substantially below the levels experienced during 2020–2021.

The chart above shows the historical pricing trend for blue nitrile gloves across Hygiene Depot and major UK competitors since 2020. Today, despite recent market increases, UltraFLEX Blue remains approximately 74% lower than its COVID-era peak price.

As market conditions improved, prices reduced substantially across the industry and remained stable for the last couple of years.

UltraFLEX Blue subsequently fell to under £30 per case, demonstrating how pricing has historically moved both upwards and downwards in response to market conditions.

This is an important point: when costs reduced, prices reduced too.

We expect pricing to continue responding to market conditions in the same way going forward.

What is causing prices to rise?

The simple answer is the price of oil. With several factors contributing to higher costs throughout the supply chain:

• Increased transportation and freight costs
• Rising fuel and energy costs
• Changes in raw material pricing (derived from oil)
• Global supply chain pressures
• Increased manufacturing and labour costs

These factors affect products differently, but together they are creating upward pressure on pricing across the hygiene and PPE industry.

Importantly, these pressures are affecting suppliers across the industry rather than any single manufacturer or distributor.

Why does this affect nitrile gloves?

Nitrile gloves are manufactured using Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR), a synthetic material produced from petrochemical-derived raw materials.

Changes in raw material availability, manufacturing costs and global demand can all impact glove pricing.

At the same time, transportation costs affect every stage of the supply chain, from factory production through to delivery within the UK.

Figure 2 & 3: Recent supplier data shows significant increases in the cost of key nitrile glove raw materials. International Butadiene prices have increased by approximately 125%, while NBR Latex prices have increased by approximately 143% compared with late 2025. These materials form an essential part of nitrile glove production and have contributed to higher manufacturing costs throughout the industry.

Why are paper products affected too?

Although paper products are manufactured from different raw materials, they are still affected by:

• Fuel costs
• Transportation costs
• Distribution costs
• Energy costs used in manufacturing

This means cost increases in the wider market can influence both paper and PPE products at the same time.

Is this only affecting Hygiene Depot?

No.

Our historical competitor monitoring shows that price increases and decreases have occurred across the entire market, often following very similar trends.

The recent changes we're seeing are not unique to Hygiene Depot and are being reflected throughout the PPE and hygiene sectors.

Are there any alternatives?

Yes.

For applications where nitrile performance is not essential, vinyl gloves may provide a more economical alternative while market conditions remain volatile.

Depending on your requirements, our team may be able to recommend a suitable alternative that helps control costs without compromising performance.

What we're doing to help

Wherever possible, we continue to absorb supplier increases rather than passing them on immediately. Our purchasing team works closely with manufacturers and suppliers to secure the best possible pricing, maintain stock availability and minimise disruption for customers.

What happens next?

As always, we will continue monitoring supplier costs and market conditions closely.

Our aim is simple:

• Keep prices as competitive as possible
• Maintain strong stock availability
• Continue offering reliable service and fast delivery
• Pass on reductions when market conditions improve

We believe in being transparent with our customers and keeping you informed of developments that affect your business.

If you have any questions about price changes or would like advice on alternative products, please contact our team (customer.service@hygienedepot.co.uk).

Thank you for your continued support. For over 20 years, Hygiene Depot has supported businesses through changing market conditions, supply chain challenges and periods of price volatility. We remain committed to providing competitive pricing, reliable stock availability and the service our customers rely on.