Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Rubber Production In February Down 25.3 Per Cent Month-on-month

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- The production of natural rubber (NR) in February stood at 81,031 tonnes, a 25.3 per cent or 27,481 tonnes decline compared to January.

However, year-on-year, it is still a moderate increase of 12.0 per cent or 8,678 tonnes, according to the Statistics Department in a statement today.

It said the smallholdings sector contributed 94.1 per cent of total production while the estate sector's share was only 5.9 per cent.

Exports of NR dropped by 6.1 per cent or 4,263 tonnes to 65,296 tonnes in February when compared to the previous month, it also highlighted.

However, total exports rose by 10.4 per cent or 6,144 tonnes year-on-year.

Standard Malaysian Rubber (S.M.R.) contributed 95.2 per cent or 62,155 tonnes of total exports with 59.8 per cent from S.M.R.20.

Export was mainly to China with a share of 35.2 per cent (22,960 tonnes), Germany 18.1 per cent (11,812 tonnes), South Korea 6.3 per cent (4,142 tonnes), France 3.7 per cent (2,423 tonnes), United States 3.6 per cent (2,366 tonnes) and Portugal 3.4 per cent (2,238 tonnes).

The Department said in February, 50,362 tonnes of rubber were imported, representing a decline of 31.1 per cent or 22,764 tonnes when compared to January.

However, a 3.2 per cent increase was registered over the same month last year, it indicated.

It said the main type of rubber imported was latex concentrate which accounted for 27,391 tonnes or 54.4 per cent of the total.

It explained that 72.8 per cent of imports was from Thailand, followed by Philippines (5.0 per cent), Indonesia (4.0 per cent), Myanmar (3.8 per cent) and India (3.4 per cent).

Domestic consumption for February shrank by 8.2 per cent to 37,989 tonnes when compared to the previous month, but on a year-on-year basis, there was an increase of 8.4 per cent.

The three highest natural rubber consuming products were rubber gloves (24,474 tonnes), followed by rubber thread (5,665 tonnes) and tyres and tubes (4,108 tonnes).

These three products consumed 90.1 per cent (34,247 tonnes) of the total consumption of natural rubber.

The statement also said stocks of natural rubber at the end of February was down by a marginal 0.5 per cent or -1,059 tonnes to 193,983 tonnes compared to the level held at the end of the previous month.

On the other hand, year-on-year comparison showed a high increase of 20.6 per cent, it added.

It said the average monthly price of latex concentrate in February reached 702.31 sen per kg, rising by 6.9 per cent compared to January, and when compared to February last year, the increase was 72.9 per cent.

As for S.M.R. 20, the price was 1,010.13 sen per kg, up by 1.6 per cent compared with the previous month while year-on-year, the price more than doubled by 104.4 per cent.

The Department said the total number of workers engaged in rubber estates at the end of February was 10,097 persons, with the number of paid employees totalling 10,094 and total salaries and wages paid, amounting to RM9.1 million.

Month-on-month comparison for the total number of workers engaged showed a decrease of 0.9 per cent, while year-on-year, a decline of 7.8 per cent was recorded.

In February, the productivity for rubber production in estates fell by 16.56 per cent or 24.4 kg/hectare to 123.4 kg per hectare, when compared to last month.

Year-on-year, it recorded an increase of 10.3 per cent.
(bernama.com.my)

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