DOSM: NATURAL RUBBER PRODUCTION UP BY 48.9 PCT IN JUNE 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production increased by 48.9 per cent to 31,369 tonnes in June 2022 compared with 21,073 tonnes in May, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In its monthly rubber statistics report, the department said NR production eased by 19.2 per cent year-on-year from 38,807 tonnes in June 2021.

“The production of the commodity in June 2022 was mainly contributed by the smallholders' sector (87.2 per cent), while 12.8 per cent was contributed by the estates' sector.

“Total stocks of NR in June 2022 decreased by 3.0 per cent to 280,826 tonnes compared to 289,429 tonnes in May 2022,” DOSM said.

It also said the exports of Malaysia’s NR amounted to 58,556 tonnes in June 2022, an increase of 35.6 per cent, from 43,194 tonnes in May 2022.

“China remained the leading destination for NR exports which accounted for 39.8 per cent of total exports in June 2022, followed by the United States (5.8 per cent), Germany (5.3 per cent), Finland (3.8 per cent) and Turkey (2.7 per cent).

“The export performance was contributed by natural rubber-based products such as gloves, tyres, tubes, rubber threads and condoms,” it said.

Gloves were the main exports with a value of RM3.2 billion in June 2022, an increase of 98.5 per cent, compared to RM1.6 billion recorded in May 2022.

The department also said that NR production declined by 25.8 per cent to 74,940 tonnes in the second quarter of 2022 (Q2) as compared to 101,045 tonnes in the first quarter of 2022.

The annual performance of Malaysia’s NR production in Q2 recorded a decrease of 16.7 per cent compared to 2021 (89,985 tonnes).

-- BERNAMA