Malaysia's May natural rubber output up 11pc on month

MALAYSIA'S natural rubber output rose to 82,468 tonnes in May this year, an increase of 10.9 per cent or 8,132 tonnes from the previous month’s production, the Department of Statistics said.

Compared with May 2007, the production was, however, down 7.7 per cent, it said in a statement detailing the monthly statistics for May this year.

Total production in the first five months of 2008 amounted to 475,233 tonnes.

The smallholding sector contributed 95.3 per cent to total production while the estate sector produced the remaining 4.7 per cent.

Exports totalled 78,608 tonnes, down 11.9 per cent compared with April 2008 but an increase by 7.8 per cent year-on-year.

It said the main types of rubber exported was the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) which accounted for 94.2 per cent of total exports.

During January-May 2008, natural rubber was mainly exported to China amounting to 152,245 tonnes, followed by Germany 58,213 tonnes, the US 27,014 tonnes, Korea 23,140 tonnes, France 17,664 tonnes, Iran 16,129 tonnes and Brazil 13,749 tonnes.

Total exports to these countries accounted for 71.5 per cent of the overall natural rubber exports.

Imports in May this year was at 34,997 tonnes, a drop of 16.6 per cent compared with the previous month and a decrease of 24.9 per cent against that of May last year.

The main type of rubber imported was latex concentrate which accounted for 67.4 per cent of total imports in May this year.

Imports of natural rubber for January-May 2008 came mainly from Thailand 70.2 per cent, Indonesia 11.6 per cent, Philippines 4.8 per cent and Myanmar 3.8 per cent.

Total imports from these countries accounted for 90.4 per cent of the overall natural rubber imports.

Domestic consumption of natural rubber during the month reviewed was 38,949 tonnes, up 0.6 per cent compared with April this year and 15.6 percent higher than last May.

The major natural rubber consuming industries for January-May 2008 were rubber gloves 63.9 per cent, rubber thread 12.0 per cent and tyre & tubes 11.8 per cent.

Stocks of natural rubber as at end-May this year stood at 133,613 tonnes, a decrease of 11.2 per cent compared with the level of stocks held in the previous month.

Year-on-year, stocks decreased by 0.7 per cent.

The average monthly price of latex concentrate in May was up by 4.2 per cent to 609.70 sen compared with April.

Year-on-year, the price of latex rose by 16.2 per cent.

The price of SMR 20 in May was up 10.0 per cent to 921.83 sen compared with the previous month and it was also up by 22.5 per cent when compared with May 2007. — Bernama