Gaozhou Work & Gardening Gloves: Sourcing Guide to West Guangdong's Glove Belt
The Gaozhou belt produces billions of knitted and coated gloves per year. This guide covers palm coatings (PU / nitrile / latex), MOQs, EN388 / ANSI standards, and why "sample feel" decides bulk success.
Gaozhou (county-level city under Maoming) plus neighboring Huazhou and Dianbai form a complete glove belt: knitted yarn, palm coating, PVC dotted finish, packing and finalisation are all local. Big plants do OEM for EU/US brands; small plants make generic models for the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Which palm coating to pick
PU coating: light, breathable, for gardening and fine assembly; low price (USD 0.15–0.4/pair). Nitrile: oil- and chemical-resistant, for auto repair and machining (USD 0.3–0.8/pair). Natural latex: strong grip, cheapest, but allergen risk — EU/US increasingly demands latex-free (USD 0.12–0.35/pair).
EN388 vs ANSI standards
EU PPE gloves must carry EN388 marking (4 digits: abrasion, cut, tear, puncture). The US equivalent is ANSI/ISEA 105. Note: many small Gaozhou plants quote EN388 reports tested on a reference sample, not YOUR bulk formulation. Require a cut test on your actual bulk recipe.
Why sample feel decides bulk success
Gloves are among the easiest products for "sample vs bulk" to diverge. Even "13-gauge polyester PU palm" — yarn weight, coating thickness and curing temperature all move the feel. Before ordering: (1) hold the sample for 10 minutes to check breathability and pilling; (2) do 50 grip cycles to check coating cracking; (3) require 5 pre-production samples (PP samples) and compare to the sealed sample.
MOQ & lead time
Generic model MOQ is 5,000 dozen (60,000 pairs), lead time 30–35 days. Private-label (logo + custom box) MOQ is 10,000 dozen, lead time 45 days. Standard terms: 30% deposit + 70% against B/L copy.