KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) production in January 2015 rose 53.8 per cent or 28,600 tonnes to 81,798 tonnes compared to the previous month, the Statistics Department said.
However, on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, the production showed a decline of 11.3 per cent or 10,419 tonnes.
In a statement Thursday, the department said the smallholdings sector contributed 93.0 per cent to total production, and the estate sector, 7.0 per cent.
Exports of NR in January 2015 increased 27 tonnes to 69,465 compared with previously, while on a y-o-y basis, it decreased by 953 tonnes.
The commodity was mainly exported to China (47.1 per cent), followed by Germany (13.3 per cent), Iran (7.6 per cent), the United States (3.7 per cent), Brazil (3.5 per cent), Mexico (2.7 per cent), Portugal (2.2 per cent), Finland (2.2 per cent) and South Korea (1.8 per cent).
Meanwhile, imports of NR in January 2015 totalled 96,131 tonnes, up 10,938 tonnes from the preceding month, but declined 10,323 tonnes y-o-y.
Thailand was the main supplier (52.7 per cent) of NR followed by Vietnam (23.5 per cent).
Domestic consumption of NR rubber improved 214 tonnes to 37,923 tonnes in January 2015 from the previous month, while y-o-y showed an increase of 2,853 tonnes.
At end-January 2015, NR stocks stood at 187,720 tonnes, 32.3 per cent higher from December 2014, but 15.9 per cent lower y-o-y.
The average monthly price of latex concentrate rose four per cent or 14.46 sen to 376.69 sen per kilogramme (kg) in January 2015 compared with the previous month.
Nevertheless, it was lower than y-o-y by 108.68 sen.
The number of paid workers engaged in rubber estates in January 2015 was at 12,185, with salaries and wages paid at RM16.6 million.
Productivity in January 2015 increased 26.0 per cent to 146.5 kg per hectare from December 2014, and had a slight increase of 1.5 per cent or 2.2 kg per hectare for the same month last year.
— BERNAMA
