Natural rubber production rose 0.2 per cent in May 2018 to 35,789 tonnes as compared to 35,726 tonnes in April 2018. For year-on-year, the production decreased by 18.6 per cent.
Average price of Latex Concentrate was recorded at 487.03 sen per kilogramme while the average price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (S.M.R 20) was 561.11 sen per kilogramme, both rose 9.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively as compared to the average price in April 2018.
Exports of natural rubber amounted to 57,263 tonnes, increased 7.6 per cent than the previous month. Malaysia’s natural rubber mainly exported to China, Germany, Iran, Turkey and Finland.
Domestic consumption of natural rubber in May 2018 increased 1.5 per cent to 44,043 tonnes. Natural rubber was widely used in the rubber glove industry with consumption of 33,299 tonnes or 75.6 per cent of the total natural rubber domestic consumption.
Stock of natural rubber recorded at the end of May 2018 was 216,674 tonnes, decreased by 14.6 per cent as compared to 253,799 tonnes at the end of April 2018.