In March 2015, the total production of natural rubber (NR) was recorded at 60,918 tonnes, decreased by 13,551 tonnes (-18.2%) from the previous month. However, this month’s production is 18,952 tonnes (+45.2%) higher than March 2014. The smallholding sector contributes 94.0 per cent of the total NR production while the remaining is from the estate sector. Both of smallholding and estate sectors recorded a decrease in production at 17.0 per cent and 33.5  per cent for month-on-month respectively.

A total of 61,167 tonnes of NR was exported in March 2015. Exports increased by 5,362 tonnes (+9.6%) from the previous month but decreased by 8,591 tonnes (-12.3%) from March 2014. Standard Malaysian Rubber (S.M.R.) contributed 92.1 per cent from the total exports of NR with 57.7 per cent comprised of S.M.R. 20.

NR was mainly exported to the People’s Rep. of China (41.1%), followed by Germany (10.4%), Islamic Rep. of Iran (7.3%), U.S.A. (5.3%), Finland (3.1%), Brazil (3.1%), Taiwan (3.1%), Turkey (2.1%) and Rep. of Korea (1.7%).

Total imports of NR in March 2015 was 78,123 tonnes, went up by 13,179 tonnes (+20.3%) as compared to the previous month. For year-on-year, the imports also increased by 17,123 tonnes (+28.1%). A total of 37.1 per cent of the overall imports comprised of latex concentrate.

NR was imported mainly from Thailand at 59.8 per cent and Philippines (9.5%).

4.     DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION

Total domestic consumption of NR was recorded at 38,326 tonnes in March 2015. Comparing to February 2015, domestic consumption went up by 2,762 tonnes (+7.8%). Year-on-year comparison also shows an increase of 1,183 tonnes (+3.2%).

The rubber gloves industry was the largest consumer of NR at 27,585 tonnes (72.0%), followed by rubber thread (8.7%) and tyre & tubes (8.4%). These three industries together consumed 34,116 tonnes (89.0%) of this month’s total NR.

The level of stocks in March 2015 was recorded at 209,772 tonnes. Month-on-month and year-on-year comparison shows an increase in the level of NR stocks at 2,934 tonnes (+1.4%) and  25,506 tonnes (+13.8%) respectively.

Data  for March 2015 is provisional.  The data will be updated based on the latest available figures and subsequently published in the April 2015 publication.