Domestic consumption of natural rubber increase 1.8 percent on March 2020
Monthly Rubber Census March 2020 showed that the implementation of MCO affects the production of natural rubber as well as the prevailing wintering period. Production of natural rubber decreased 23.3 per cent in March 2020 to 35,961 tonnes as compared to the previous month (46,881 tonnes).
Exports of Malaysia's natural rubber amounted 45,198 tonnes, decreased by 12.8 per cent against 51,852 tonnes in February 2020. The primary natural rubber export destination is People’s Republic of China with a share of 41.8 per cent from total exports in March 2020 followed by Germany (9.3%), Iran (5.8%), U.S.A (5.7%) and Brazil (3.3%). The highest exports were for glove items with a value of RM1,777.6 million, an increase of 11.9 per cent compared to February 2020. In addition, there was also an increase for condoms (21.7%) and tubes (19.3%) with values of RM28.6 million and RM0.8 million respectively for the same period. This increase was also due to the implementation of lockdown caused by the COVID-19. Meanwhile, stocks of natural rubber continuously recorded an increase of 1.4 per cent from 296,328 tonnes in February 2020 to 300,448 tonnes in current month.
Average price of Latex Concentrate recorded a decline of 435.66 sen per kilogramme compared to February 2020 (456.73 sen per kilogramme). Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (S.M.R. 20) also dropped to 517.45 sen per kilogramme compared to 549.68 sen per kilogramme for the same period.
Total domestic consumption for natural rubber was 42,244 tonnes, an increase of 1.8 per cent as compared from the previous month. Rubber gloves industry dominates the use of natural rubber with 34,086 tonnes (80.7%) from the total domestic consumption.
Released By:
DATO' SRI DR. MOHD UZIR MAHIDIN
CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA
Source DOSM