Malaysia's natural rubber production up 9.4% in May

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's natural rubber production in May this year saw a month-on-month and year-on-year increase of 9.4 per cent and 11 per cent respectively to 71,626 tonnes.

The smallholding sector contributed 95.5 per cent of total production while the estate sector's contribution was only 4.5 per cent, the Statistics Department said in a statement today.

Total natural rubber export in May showed a 18.1 per cent or 17,944 tonnes decline vis-a-vis the previous month.

However, year-on-year export rose by 26.4 with Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) contributing 95.5 per cent of the total with 43.1 per cent being SMR 20.

Exports were mainly to China, accounting for 42.5 per cent, Germany 14 per cent, Netherlands (4.8 per cent), the United States (3.3 per cent), Iran (three per cent), South Korea (three per cent) and Portugal (2.8 per cent).

The department said 45,800 tonnes were imported in May, a small decrease of 0.8 per cent, when compared with April this year.

Imports also dropped 7.9 per cent as compared with May last year.

It said the main type of rubber imported was latex concentrated, making up 50.2 per cent of total imports.

Thailand was the main supplier of natural rubber, accounting for 70.2 per cent, Vietnam (6.5 per cent), the Philippines (5.5 per cent) and Myanmar (3.3 per cent), it added.

Domestic consumption in May perked 1.5 per cent to 32,659 tonnes as compared with April but year-on-year consumption fell by 19.6 per cent.

The rubber gloves industry was the main consumer of natural rubber at 68.6 per cent, rubber thread (11.4 per cent) and tyre and tubes (8.1 per cent).

The three products consumed 88.1 per cent or 28,788 tonnes of the total natural rubber consumption, said the department.

It also said stock level at the end of May, reduced 7.3 per cent to 117,060 tonnes compared with the level held in the previous month.

It was however lower by 3.1 per cent than the previous year, it added. - BERNAMA