The export value of Malaysia’s rubber glove sector hit RM6 billion for the period of January to May 2025, said Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said that the export value reached demonstrated the resilience of the rubber glove industry despite challenges arising from the US imposing tariffs on rubber glove products.
The minister highlighted that Malaysian goods exported to the US are subject to a 19% tariff, the same rate as Thailand, while China faces a much higher tariff of 55%.
“This situation provides Malaysia with a slight competitive advantage over these two main rival countries,” he said when winding up the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for the Plantation and Commodities Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
Johari was responding to Nurul Amin Hamid (Perikatan Nasional-Padang Terap) regarding the challenges the rubber industry might face following the US tariff imposition on rubber gloves.
The minister explained that Malaysia had a competitive edge in marketing rubber gloves through a comprehensive production ecosystem, economies of scale, consistently high product quality, and a diverse market for both natural and synthetic rubber gloves.
Meanwhile, Johari said that several strategic projects had been proposed under the 13MP, including the Malaysian Sustainable Natural Rubber (MSNR) initiative, the development of a geospatial system for smart agriculture, and the creation of an integrated digital system for rubber technology development and transfer.
“Other proposals include the development of a digital breeding data system and rubber clone verification platform, eco-friendly latex stabiliser technology, and facilities for designing smart rubber compounds to support small and medium enterprises.
“The total funding requested for implementing these projects amounts to RM114.8 million,” he said.
Johari said that the Plantation and Commodities Ministry is in the final stages of improving the rubber production incentive, which will be implemented based on productivity.
“Under this new policy, smallholders who work diligently and achieve target productivity levels will receive financial rewards, while those who do not fully cultivate their holdings will not be eligible for any incentives,” he added.
Source: theedgemalaysia