1.     PRODUCTION

The production of Natural rubber shrank by 1.1 per cent to 52,004 tonnes in December 2014 when compared to the previous month. Production was also lower than December 2013 by 24,478 tonnes (-32.0%). The main contributor of NR production was from the smallholding sector at 91.2 per cent while the estate sector only contributed 8.8 per cent. Month-on-month, both smallholding and estate sectors recorded a decrease in production at 0.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.


2.     EXPORTS

In December 2014, a total of 69,438 tonnes of NR was exported. Exports increased by 23,013 tonnes (+49.6%) from November 2014 but dropped by 13,898 tonnes (-16.7%) from December 2013. Standard Malaysian Rubber (S.M.R.) contributed 95.5 per cent of the total NR exports with 65.3 per cent comprised of S.M.R. 20.

NR was mainly exported to People’s Rep. of China (48.3%), followed by Islamic Rep. of Iran (12.9%), Germany (9.7%), U.S.A. (5.0%), Rep. of Korea (2.1%), Finland (1.7%), Portugal (1.7%), Turkey (1.7%) and Brazil (1.6%). The total exports to these countries represents more than half of the overall NR exports.

3.     IMPORTS

A total of 85,193 tonnes of NR was imported in December 2014, increased by 4,736 tonnes (+5.9%) from November 2014. Imports reduced by 27.1 per cent when compared to a year ago. Standard Rubber and Latex Concentrate were the main types of NR imported, at 35.7 per cent and 30.5 per cent respectively.

The main suppliers of NR were Thailand (57.8%) and Viet Nam (20.3%). These two countries accounted for 78.1 per cent of the total imports of NR.

4.     DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION

In December 2014, the total domestic consumption of NR was recorded at  37,710 tonnes. Domestic consumption of NR shows a decrease of 983 tonnes (-2.5%) when compared month-on-month. Nevertheless, for year-on-year, domestic consumption increased by 3,612 tonnes (+10.6%).

The rubber gloves industry was the highest  consuming industry of NR at  26,821 tonnes (71.1%), followed by rubber thread (9.1%) and tyre & tubes (5.6%). The total consumption of these three industries constituted 85.8 per cent of the overall domestic consumption of NR.

5.     STOCKS

A total of 137,990 tonnes of NR stocks was recorded in December 2014, rose by 3,868 tonnes (+2.9%) compared to the previous month. Nevertheless, the level of NR stocks shows a decrease of  29,942 tonnes (-17.8%) when compared to the level of stocks in December 2013.

 

        (Noon Quotations - F.O.B.)

In December 2014, the average monthly price of latex concentrate was recorded at  362.23 sen per kilogramme. The average price of latex concentrate dropped 34.90 sen (-8.8%) from the previous month and 173.65 sen (-32.4%) from the previous year.

The average monthly price of S.M.R. 20 was recorded at  505.27 sen per kilogramme, a small increase of 1.72 sen (+0.3%) when compared to month-on-month but decreased by 237.47 sen  (-32.0%) for year-on-year.

7.     EMPLOYMENT
 

The total number of workers engaged in rubber estates in December 2014 was 12,377 persons, with number of paid employees was 12,373 persons and total salaries & wages paid amounting to RM17.7 million. Month-on-month, the total number of paid employees increased by 22 persons (+0.2%), whilst year-on-year, went up by 327 persons (+2.7%).

8.     PRODUCTIVITY

The productivity of NR production in estates dropped by 5.8 per cent to 116.2 kilogram per hectare in December 2014 when compared to November 2014. Year-on-year also shows a reduction in productivity by 14.6 kilogramme per hectare (-11.2%).


9.     PRINCIPAL STATISTICS

Chart 1 below shows the monthly time series.   

 

Released by:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
12 February 2015


Contact person:
Norrita binti Amran
Public Relation Officer
Corporate and User Services Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : norrita.amran@stats.gov.my