July natural rubber production down 26pc year-on-year

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia produces 104,437 tonnes of natural rubber (NR) in July, 2005 which was 2.6 percent lower from July 2004 but higher by 6.6 percent from the preceding month.Out of the month's output, the smallholdings sector contributed 93.9 percent and the balance of 6.1 percent by the estate sector, the Statistics Department said in a statement here Thursday.

On a cumulative basis, NR production between January to July, 2005 was reduced to 625,654 tonnes as against 672,164 tonnes in the same period of 2004.

In terms of exports during the month under review, the statement said exports had declined by 1.5 percent to 91,817 tonnes year-on-year but a marginal increase of 0.4 percent was recorded when compared to June.

On a cumulative basis, NR exports from January-July 2005 were mainly to China (204,876 tonnes), Germany (78,019 tonnes), the United States (43,725 tonnes), Korea (42,791 tonnes), France (27,023 tonnes) and Iran (20,569 tonnes).

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Exports to the six countries accounted for 64.7 percent of total exports.

In terms of imports, Malaysia bought 45,638 tonnes in July 2005, up 16.7 percent from the same month last year and higher by 23.5 percent against the previous month.

For the first seven months of this year, NR was imported mainly from Thailand (75.4 percent), Indonesia (9.8 percent), Myanmar (6.0 percent) and the Philippines (5.8 percent).

All four countries accounted for 97.0 percent of total imports, the statement said.

During the month under review, it said domestic consumption of NR was 32,775 tonnes, down 3.0 percent from July last year but was up 4.7 percent from June.

From January-July, 2005, the major consuming industries were rubber gloves (58.6 percent), rubber thread (15.6 percent) and tyre & tubes (12.7 percent).

All three industries constituted 86.9 percent of domestic consumption of NR.

Meanwhile, NR stocks which stood at 144,667 tonnes end-July was lower by 20.6 percent from July 2004 but was an increase of 4.6 percent from the preceding month.

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During the said month, a total of 11,873 persons were employed in the rubber estates which was a reduction of 1,369 persons engaged in July last year but was an additional 68 persons from June.

In terms of productivity, the yield tapped during the month under review was 130.7 kg per hectare, up 6.9 percent from July last year and by 7.0 percent from the previous month. - Bernama

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