KUALA LUMPUR – The production of natural rubber (NR) decreased 14.8% month-on-month (m-o-m) in November last year to 42,554 tonnes from 49,943 tonnes previously.
Year-on-year, production eased 19.7%, said the Statistics Department in its rubber report for last November.
“Exports of Malaysia's NR amounted to 56,522 tonnes in November 2020, an increase of 3.7% m-o-m against 54,492 tonnes in October 2020,” said chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
“China remained the main destination for NR exports, accounting for 57.8% of total exports in November 2020, followed by Germany (9.1%), Iran (5.1%), Finland (3.4%) and Turkey (3.4%).”
He said rubber gloves were the main export item, with the export value increasing 0.9% m-o-m to RM4.5 billion in November from October’s RM4.4 billion, with the United States, Germany and China continuing to be among the biggest export destinations.
NR stocks improved 0.5% m-o-m to 259,440 tonnes.
“The average price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 in November 2020 increased to 632.74 sen per kg against 621.76 sen per kg in October 2020,” said Uzir.
“A similar trend was also observed for the average price of latex concentrate, which expanded to 620.76 sen per kg in November 2020 from 576.14 sen per kg in October 2020.”
The department reported that domestic consumption of NR in November stood at 44,236 tonnes, a decrease of 8.4% m-o-m.
The rubber gloves industry continued to dominate the use of NR natural, accounting for 33,100 tonnes, or 74.8% of total domestic consumption. – Bernama, January 15, 2021