Medical gloves maker Ansell has been hit on a second front with its industrial gloves business now suffering from softer sales as end users in Europe and the United States cut back on orders amid an economic slowdown.

The industrial gloves business is a much steadier and consistent business than the larger single-use medical gloves, surgical suits and personal protective equipment arm which soared during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic but is now grappling with oversupply and sliding margins after industry players rapidly expanded production.