Natural rubber output up 8.7 pct in July

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production in July 2017 rose by 8.7 per cent to 54,994 tonnes from the 50,614 tonnes recorded in the previous month, said the Department of Statistics (DoS).

In a statement yesterday, the DoS said the smallholding sector was the main contributor to the NR production, accounting for more than 90 per cent.

“The average monthly price of latex concentrate dropped 9.7 per cent to 517.57 sen per kilogramme (kg), compared with 573.08 sen per kg in June.

“However, the average monthly price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR20) increased 5.4 per cent to 635.24 sen per kg in July from 602.71 sen per kg a month ago,” it added.

The department said NR exports rose 5.5 per cent to 47,136 tonnes in July compared with the previous month.

“The top destinations for NR exports were China (38.2 per cent), Germany (17.9 per cent), Iran (7.4 per cent), United States (4.9 per cent) and Finland (3.9 per cent),” it said.

On the local front, the DoS said domestic consumption of NR in July also improved to 40,852 tonnes, up 4.2 per cent from 39,211 tonnes in June.

“The rubber gloves industry remains the main domestic consumer at 72.9 per cent,” it said, adding, the NR stocks level at end-July fell 3.4 per cent to 192,196 tonnes from 199,049 tonnes in June. — Bernama