Malaysia to try new strategy for NR industry

ERJ staff report (BC)

Singapore – Malaysia will introduce new measures in the next few months to ensure growth of both the upstream and downstream sectors of the domestic natural rubber industry, according to local sources quoted by Clement Choo of Platts.

Salmiah Ahmad, director-general of the Malaysian Rubber Board, said that under the country's economic transformation programme (ETP), the government has initiated two “entry point” projects, aimed at increasing average national rubber productivity to 2 000 kg/hectare annually by 2020, and ensuring the sustainability of the upstream rubber industry.

The ETP was launched in 2010 to transform the country into a high-income economy by 2020, by which date the rubber industry is expected to contribute MR52.9 billion (€13.2 billion) to gross national income by 2020.

Malaysia is the world's third largest producer of natural rubber.

The country’s average yield per hectare stands at about 1 500 kg, Ahmad said. Despite steps to improve productivity, she added that local production had fallen by 8-9percent in 2012 amid unfavourable weather conditions.

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