According to Malaysia's Department of Statistics, local production of natural rubber rose by 7.6% to 7,350 tons in January on a month-on-month basis. However, if compared with the same period last year, the output of natural rubber dropped by 11.4%.
The small holding sector contributed 93.7% of total production while the estate sector accounted for the remaining 6.3%.
Exports of Malaysian natural rubber stood at 86,344 tons in January, down by 14.5% and 7.5% on a month-on-month basis and year- on-year basis respectively. Major destinations of exports were China, Germany, South Korea, the US, Iran, France and Brazil.
In January, imports of natural rubber amounted to 43,095 tons, a rise of 17.3% over the previous month and a growth of 9% when compared with January last year. Major sources of imports were Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar.
Stocks of natural rubber held, as at the end of this January, was 176,326 tons, a rise of 7.5% on a month-on-month basis and a decline of 18.5% on a year-on-year basis.
