1.     PRODUCTION

In January 2015, the total production of natural rubber (NR) which was registered at 81,798 tonnes, increased by 28,600 tonnes (+53.8%) when compared to a month ago. Comparison to January 2014 showed a decrease of 10,419 tonnes (-11.3%). The smallholding sector contributed 93.0 per cent of the total NR while the estate sector 7.0 per cent. Month-on-month, both smallholding and estate sectors recorded an increase in production at 56.4 per cent and 25.5 per cent respectively.

2.     EXPORTS

NR exports in January 2015 increased by 27 tonnes (+0.0%) compared to the previous month to 69,465 tonnes. Exports fell 953 tonnes (-1.4%) when compared to a year ago. The Standard Malaysian Rubber (S.M.R.) constituted 93.7 per cent of total exports of which the S.M.R 20 grade was the highest grade exported (61.9%).

NR was mainly exported to People’s Rep. of China (47.1%), followed by Germany (13.3%), Islamic Rep. of Iran (7.6%), U.S.A. (3.7%), Brazil (3.5%), Mexico (2.7%), Portugal (2.2%), Finland (2.2%) and Rep. of Korea (1.8%). The total exports to these countries accounted for 84.1  per  cent  of  the  overall  NR  exports .

3.     IMPORTS

In January 2015, total imports of NR was 96,131 tonnes. Month-on-month comparison shows an increase in imports by 10,938 tonnes (+12.8%). Nevertheless, for year-on-year, imports dropped by 10,323 tonnes (-9.7%). Standard Rubber was the main type of NR imported at 32,548 tonnes (33.9%) of total imports.

The main suppliers of NR were Thailand (52.7%) and Viet Nam (23.5%). These two countries accounted for 76.2 per cent of the total imports of NR .

4.     DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION

In January 2015, the total domestic consumption of NR was recorded at 37,923 tonnes. Domestic consumption of NR shows an increase of 214 tonnes (+0.6%) when compared month-on-month and 2,853 tonnes (+8.1%) for year-on-year.

The rubber gloves industry was the highest  consuming industry of NR at 27,378 tonnes (72.2%), followed by rubber thread (8.8%) and tyre & tubes (7.9%). The total consumption of these three industries constituted 88.9 per cent of the overall domestic consumption of NR.

5.     STOCKS

The level of stocks of NR in January 2015 which registered at 187,720 tonnes was 45,840 tonnes (+32.3%) higher than December 2014 but compared to a year ago, the level of stocks dropped by 35,391 tonnes (-15.9%).
 

        (Noon Quotations - F.O.B.)

In January 2015, the average monthly price of latex concentrate was recorded at 376.69 sen per kilogramme, went up by 14.46 sen (+4.0%) when compared to December 2014. Nevertheless,  average price of latex concentrate was lower than January 2014 by 108.68 sen (-22.4%).

The average monthly price of S.M.R. 20 was recorded at 503.64 sen in January 2015, declined by 1.63 sen (-0.3%) for month-on-month and 199.52 sen (-28.4%) for year-on-year.

7.     EMPLOYMENT
 

A total of 12,185 persons were engaged in the rubber estates at the end of January 2015, where 12,181 persons were paid employees with salaries and wages paid amounting to RM16.6 million. The number of paid employees decreased by 179 persons (-1.4%) from December 2014 and 439 persons (-3.5%) from January 2014.

 

The productivity of NR production in estates increased by 26.0 per cent to 146.5 kilogram per hectare (kg/ha) in January 2015 when compared to December 2014. Year-on-year, productivity showed a small increased of 2.2 kilogram per hectare (kg/ha)(+1.5%). 

9.     PRINCIPAL STATISTICS

Chart 1 below shows the monthly time series.   

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
12 March 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