Overview
1. PRODUCTION
A total of 77,728 tonnes of natural rubber (NR) was produced in September 2011, dropped 18,003 tonnes (-18.8%) when compared to August 2011. However, year-on-year comparisons shows that production of NR increase slightly by 2,978 tonnes (+4.0%). The biggest contributor of NR was from the smallholding sector (94.1%) whilst the balance from the estate sector (5.9%). The main producers of NR in estates were Negeri Sembilan (26.2%), followed by Kedah (18.8%) and Pahang (15.8%).
2. EXPORTS
In September 2011, a total of 79,255 tonnes were exported overseas. Exports dropped 1,251 tonnes (-1.6%) from the previous month but increased 15.3 per cent for year-on-year. The Standard Malaysian Rubber (S.M.R.) constituted 94.3 per cent of total exports. The S.M.R 20 grade was the highest grade exported (59.0 %).
Malaysia’s NR was exported mainly to China (50.0%), followed by Germany (12.1%), Rep. of Korea (4.3%), U.S.A (4.0%), Portugal (2.8%), Netherlands (2.1%), Turkey (2.1%), United Kingdom (2.0%) and Islamic Rep. of Iran (1.9%).
3. IMPORTS
Total imports of NR in September 2011 was reported at 64,393 tonnes, went up by 14,464 tonnes (+29.0%) from the previous month whereas when compared to a year ago, imports is 368 tonnes lower (-0.6%). More than one third of the total imports were from the latex concentrate type (38.8%).
The main supplier of NR was from Thailand with a total of 33,249 tonnes (51.6%), followed by Viet Nam (10.9%), Philippines (9.5%), India (5.6%), Cambodia (1.5%) and Indonesia (1.4%).
4. DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION
In September 2011, domestic consumption of NR was recorded at 32,642 tonnes, decreased by 442 tonnes (-1.3%) from August 2011. Domestic consumption of NR also decreased by 2,735 tonnes (-7.7%) when compared to a year ago.
The highest consumption of NR was the rubber gloves industry (68.3%), followed by rubber thread (11.2%) and tyres and tubes (7.4%). The consumption of NR by these three industries constituted 86.9 per cent of the total domestic consumption of NR.
5. STOCKS
As at the end of September 2011, the level of stocks of NR were 136,765 tonnes, dropped 9,949 tonnes (-6.8%) from the level of stocks of the previous month. Nevertheless, comparing year-on-year, the level of NR stocks shows an increase of 12,249 tonnes (+9.8%). Rubber Processors continued to be the biggest holder of NR stocks (87.9%).
6. AVERAGE MONTHLY PRICE PER KILOGRAM (Noon Quotations – “F.O.B.”)
The average monthly price of NR closed mixed as at the end of September 2011. When comparing to August 2011, the average price of latex concentrate dropped 4.1 sen (-0.5%) to 854.90 sen whereas the average price of S.M.R. 20 went up by 11.6 sen (0.9%) to 1,364.40 sen. However, year-on-year comparison shows that the average price of NR for this month is still at a higher level where the average price of latex concentrate and S.M.R. 20 increased 20.1 per cent and 32.0 per cent respectively.
7. EMPLOYMENT
A total of 10,943 workers were engaged in the rubber estates in September 2011 where a total of 10,939 persons were paid employees with total salaries & wages paid amounting to RM13.4 million. The total number of workers engaged decreased by six persons (-0.1%) when compared month-on-month but increased by 497 persons (4.8%) for year-on-year.
8. PRODUCTIVITY
In September 2011, the ratio of NR production to total area tapped was 118.8 kilogram per hectare (kg/ha). Productivity is lower when compared month-on-month and year-on-year where both decreased by 6.5 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively. The average number of tapping days for the whole of Malaysia was 21 days. Pahang recorded the highest number of tapping days of 25 days and followed by Negeri Sembilan 24 days.
Notes:
Data for September 2011 is provisional. The data will be updated based on t he latest available figures and subsequently published in the October 2011 publication.
