KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production in May 2015 dropped 11.3 per cent to 38,923 tonnes compared with the same period last year, the Statistics Department said.
Month-on-month, however, saw an increased in rubber production by 8.6 per cent.
The department, in a statement today, said the smallholding sector contributed 91.2 per cent to the total production, while the remaining from the estate sector.
Export of NR in May 2015 declined 31.9 per cent to 40,513 tonnes from May 2014, while on month-on-month basis, it slipped 17.4 per cent or 8,546 tonnes.
The department said Standard Malaysia Rubber (SMR) contributed 92.1 per cent of the total NR exports.
The commodity was mainly exported to China (36.2 per cent) followed by Germany (16.3 per cent), the US (5.7 per cent), Iran (4.3 per cent), Brazil (3.4 per cent), Portugal (3.2 per cent), South Korea (2.5 per cent), and Finland (2.3 per cent).
Meanwhile, imports of NR in May 2015 increased 6.4 per cent to 66,230 tonnes with a year ago, but decreased 4.8 per cent from the preceding month.
Thailand was the main supplier (53.3 per cent) of NR followed by Vietnam (14.3 per cent).
Domestic consumption of NR improved two per cent to 38,860 tonnes from a year ago, while month-on-month showed a dropped of 2.6 per cent.
At the end of May 2015, NR stocks stood at 132,925 tonnes, up 1.8 per cent year-on-year, but fell 24.6 per cent from April 2015.
The average monthly price of latex concentrate fell 2.2 per cent or 10.2 sen to 447.58 sen per kg in May 2015 compared with the same period last year, while on month-on-month basis, the price increased 8.8 per cent or 36.27 sen.
The number of paid workers engaged in rubber estates in May 2015 was 12,199, with salaries and wages paid amounted to RM13.4 million.
Productivity in May 2015 eased 2.7 per cent to 88.2 kilogramme per hectare from May 2014, but jumped 28 per cent from the previous month.
— BERNAMA
