KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s exports of rubber products last year decreased marginally by 0.6% to RM14.5 billion with the larger portion of exports worth over RM12 billion comprising latex goods like rubber gloves and medical equipment compared with exports of RM14.6 billion in 2012.
“Total number of manufacturers have not increased significantly over the years. Most of these manufacturers are small and medium enterprises,” said Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers Association president Dr Ong Eng Leong yesterday at a meeting between Malaysian and Indian rubber products exporters.
He said Malaysia is pipped by Thailand in terms of rubber exports with Thailand exports recorded at RM19 billion.
The meeting between Indian rubber products exporters and Malaysian importers was organised by Capexil in association with the Indian High Commission in Malaysia.
Although Malaysia is already the world’s leading exporter of latex products, there is a need to improve promotion and branding strategies to retain its position in the export market.
In the industrial and general rubber products subsector, which is more domestic market-oriented, there is a need to maintain its sustainability in the domestic market, by upgrading and improving existing products, as well as introducing new products.
“Malaysia’s import of rubber this year will be more than RM14.5 billion that was recorded last year,” said Ong.
Malaysia’s total exports of rubber products amounted to RM14.6 billion in 2012, a modest growth of 2.1% from RM14.2 billion recorded in 2011.
Growths in exports were recorded for rubber gloves (6.8%), condoms (22%), catheters (39%) and tyres (4.5%).
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s exports of inner tubes declined by 21.5%, footwear (-33.1%) and general rubber goods (-11.6%).
As a group, exports of rubber medical devices (gloves, condoms and catheters) valued at RM11.1 billion contributed to 76% of the total exports of rubber products in 2012.
Rubber gloves alone contributed to 73% of the total exports of rubber products, registering an export value of RM10.6 billion, compared with RM9.9 billion recorded in 2011.
The US remained Malaysia’s largest export destination for rubber products, with exports amounting to RM4 billion or a share of 27.8%, followed by Thailand, China, Japan and Germany.
Ong said the Indian and Malaysian rubber industry in both the countries should cooperate with each other to promote trade growth in both countries.
Source: freemalaysiatoday.com
