NR production fell in Malaysia in December

ERJ staff report (DS)

Kuala Lumpur -- A total of 85,231 tonnes of natural rubber (NR) was produced in December 2010, 12.1 percent less than in the same month a year previously, but an increase of 12,131 tonnes (+16.6 percent) over the previous month.The smallholding sector contributed 93.7 percent of total production while the estate sector 6.3 percent only.

Total exports of NR in December 2010 increased moderately by 9,101 tonnes (+12.9 percent) to to 79,470 tonnes over the same month in 2009; a decrease of 3,726 tonnes (-4.5 percent) over November's figure . Standard Malaysian Rubber (S.M.R) contributed 93.1 percent of total exports of which 45.7 percent was S.M.R. 20.

NR imports amounted to 62,895 tonnes in December 2010, down by 23.3 percent from a year ago. Latex concentrate was again the main type of rubber imported and accounted for 41.8 percent of total imports.

In December 2010, domestic consumption of NR fell to 36,584 tonnes, 10.9 percent down on the year-before figure. The three industries that consumed the most NR were rubber gloves (66.8 percent) followed by rubber thread (12.9 percent) and tyre and tubes (7.6 percent). The total consumption by these three industries accounted for 31,939 tonnes (87.3 percent) of the overall domestic consumption in the country.

At the end of December 2010, the level of stocks went up by 11,049 tonnes (+8.4 percent) to 142,430 tonnes from the level of stocks of end November 2010. However, the level of stocks was much lower (-11.7 percent) when compared to the previous year. The bulk of the stocks was again held by Rubber Processors (88.9 percent).

The average monthly price of NR continued to strengthen in December 2010. The average price of latex concentrate rose by 11.8 percent to 944.29 sen, while the average price of S.M.R. 20 increased by 10.3 percent to 1,415.69 sen when compared to a month ago . A large increase was recorded when compared to December 2009 where the average price surged by 60.8 percent for latex concentrate and 52.9 percent for S.M.R 20.

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Press release from Malaysian Statistics Office