KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s total exports of rubber products in the first half of 2022 (1H 2022) stood at RM15.63 billion, compared with RM39.83 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC).
However, the export of rubber in 1H 2022 increased 1.01% to RM4.61 billion from RM4.56 billion previously, the council said in a statement.
Latex products (non-gloves) showed an expansion of 35.5% amounting to RM1.23 billion during the period, compared with RM907 million in 1H 2021, on demand for products such as catheters, foam products, condoms, and rubber toys.
“Foam products, mainly latex mattresses, recorded the highest increase at 182.4% in 1H 2022 at RM202.5 million compared with RM71.7 million in the corresponding period last year,” it noted.
There is room for Malaysian exports of tyre products to grow as they recorded an increase of 6% to RM883.2 million in the first half against RM832.8 million in 1H 2021, it said.
The top three export destinations for tyres in the first half were the United States with a 14.4% increase to RM403.3 million, Brazil with 36.9% to RM104.7 million, and Thailand with 25% to RM44.6 million.
MRC chief executive officer Nor Hizwan Ahmad said the council now focuses on new investments, technological advances, and greener products to grow exports.
“The tyre industry would (benefit) from technological advancement, environment-friendly production processes, usage, and also the treatment of end-of-life tyres," he said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) has announced that the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) was activated for smallholders in Sabah for August but not activated for the peninsula and Sarawak.
According to the LGM, the average estate price for “cup lump” or scrap rubber for August in Sabah was RM2.30 per kg, and the payment by IPG is 20 sen per kg for 50% dry rubber content (KGK), and 40 sen per kilo for 100% KGK. – Bernama, September 2, 2022
