Surgical gloves and protective clothing group Ansell says demand has jumped in China for its products because of the coronavirus and the company has been given special status to fast-track imports while ramping up production at a plant in Xiamen in China.

Chief executive Magnus Nicolin said the Xiamen plant made protective medical suits and employed 600 people, and usually exported about 90 per cent of its output. But it had temporarily swung its focus to the domestic market as demand surged from the medical sector as coronavirus fallout spread.