DUSSELDORF, Oct 26 (Bernama) — Even though there were only 12 Malaysian exhibitors of plastics and rubber products (including 10 exhibitors under the aegis of the Malaysian External Trade Development Corp) at the just-concluded K’ fair this year in Dusseldorf compared to 20 in 2010, plastics and rubber products will continue to be vital components of Malaysia’s exports in the future.
Lai-Lyn Fong, general manager of Edaran Anfas (M) Sdn Bhd based in Petaling Jaya, the Malaysian representative of Messe Dusseldorf, the organiser of the K’ shows, said that plastics and rubber are two priority industries of Malaysia.
“These two industries have, traditionally, had strong roots in Malaysia and will continue to play an important role in the future as well, even as new technologies and themes such as ‘green products’ increasingly influence the sector’s future,” Fong told Bernama at the Dusseldorf exhibition centre.
She said it is important for Malaysian companies to attend shows such as the K’ fair because this is “the venue where buyers and sellers from around the world meet under one roof.”
“Malaysians not only meet business associates in Dusseldorf but also get exposure to the latest technology, modern marketing techniques and feedback on the newest trends in the market,” she added.
According to Malaysia’s Department of Statistics, exports of manufactured rubber products in 2012 amounted to US$6.522 billion, up from US$5.947 billion in 2011. The top five importers of Malaysian rubber products have traditionally been China, USA, Germany, Japan and Thailand.
Malaysia’s exports of manufactured plastic products in 2012 amounted to US$3.240 billion, up from US$3.267 billion in 2011. The five top importing countries of Malaysian plastic products have traditionally been Singapore, Japan, USA, Thailand and Australia.
Malaysia’s rubber product exports to Germany in 2012 amounted to US$289.8 million, up 4.9 per cent from US$276.2 million in 2011.
During the January-July 2013 period, Malaysia’s rubber product exports amounted to US$188 million, up 16.2 per cent from US$161.8 million in the year-earlier period. Rubber gloves account for roughly 85 per cent of Malaysia’s rubber exports.
Malaysia’s exports of manufactured plastic products to Germany in 2012 amounted to US$41 million, down from US$43 million in 2011. However, from January to July 2013, Malaysia’s exports to Germany amounted to US$26 million, a 2.1 per cent improvement over the corresponding period in 2012.
— BERNAMA
