DOSM: NATURAL RUBBER PRODUCTION INCREASED 22.3 PCT IN JULY 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 -- Natural rubber (NR) production in July 2021 has increased by 22.3 per cent to 47,473 tonnes compared to 38,807 tonnes in June 2021, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In terms of year-on-year (y-o-y), July 2021’s NR production appreciated by 13.6 per cent from 41,801 tonnes in July 2020. 

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the increase was driven by the month-on-month (m-o-m)  NR production growth recorded by the estates sector (2.1 per cent) and the smallholders sector (24.8 per cent). 

He noted that the smallholders sector accounted for 90.9 per cent of the NR production, while the estates sector contributed 9.1 per cent.

"In tandem with the increase in production, NR stocks also rose by 16.0 per cent m-o-m in July 2021 to 280,810 tonnes from 242,072 tonnes in June 2021," he said in a statement today.

He said gloves remained as the top exported rubber-based product, but noted that the exports had decreased by 39.9 per cent m-o-m to RM3.9 billion in July 2021 from RM6.4 billion previously.

Meanwhile, the average monthly price of latex concentrated contracted 12.4 per cent m-o-m (July 2021: 494.38 sen per kilogramme (kg), June 2021: 564.62 sen per kg) and field latex also declined by 18.5 per cent (July 2021: 546.94 sen per kg, June 2021: 671.47 sen per kg). 

"A similar trend is also observed for Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) CV and L which decreased to 12.2 and 12.3 per cent, respectively. 

"Meanwhile, prices for other SMR showed an increase -- SMR 5 rose 1.4 per cent, SMR GP (+1.5 per cent), SMR 10 (+1.5 per cent) and SMR 20 (+1.5 per cent)," he said.

Mohd Uzir also noted that Malaysia's NR exports for July 2021 stood at 48,645 tonnes, up by 0.1 per cent against 48,589 tonnes in June 2021. 

"China remained as the main destination for NR exports with a share of 44.6 per cent from total exports in July 2021 followed by the United States (US) (7.7 per cent), Finland (5.0 per cent), Turkey (2.8 per cent) and Egypt (2.7 per cent)," he added.

Based on the movement of global prices as reported by World Bank Commodity Price Data, Mohd Uzir said the prices for TSR 20 and SGP/MYS type rubber declined from US$1.64 per kg to US$1.63 per kg (US$1=RM4.14) and from US$2.12 per kg to US$1.87 per kg, respectively. 

"Conversely, crude oil prices rose from US$71.8 per barrel in June 2021 to US$73.3 per barrel in July 2021.

“Meanwhile, the price of natural gas in the US also increased from US$3.24 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (mmbtu) to US$3.79/mmbtu in July 2021," he said.

-- BERNAMA