Malaysian NR production shows slight rise in September

ERJ staff report (DS)

Kuala Lumpur -- Production of natural rubber (NR) in September 2008 was 105,390 tonnes, up by 1.8 percent on the figure in September 2007. Compared with August 2008, however, the output represented an increase of 1.5 percent. The smallholding sector contributed 94.6% of total production while the estate sector, the remaining 5.4%. Total production in the first nine months of 2008 amounted to 874,746 tonnes, a decrease of 4.6 percent when compared with the corresponding period in 2007.

Exports of Malaysian NR in September 2008 stood at 83,460 tonnes, down by 12.1 percent when compared with the same month of 2007, but up by 0.9 percent compared with August 2008. Exports of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) constituted 95.0 percent of total exports. Of the total SMR exported, SMR 10 accounted for the highest share, at 40.9 percent.

In September 2008, imports of NR amounted to 38,707 tonnes, down by 26.8 percent compared to that of the same month last year. Imports grew by 5.0 percent when compared with the previous month. The main type of rubber imported was latex concentrate which accounted for 68.9 percent of total imports in the reference month.

Domestic consumption of NR in September 2008 was 36,668 tonnes, down by 11.6 percent compared with a year ago, and down by 5.8percent on the figure from July 2008.

In September 2008, the average monthly price of latex concentrate was 627.19 sen, an increase of 2.2% compared to August 2008 but 26.2 percent higher than in September 2007.

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Press release from Malaysian Statistics Department