M'sia, China to step up on rubber research

SHANGHAI: Malaysia will increase its collaborative efforts with China in rubber research and technology as part of the overall strategy to market more rubber products, said Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.Speaking at a seminar on engineered rubber products at Tongji University here, he said China has seen rapid infrastructural development such as in bridge, highway, rail and port construction where rubber parts such as rubber bearings are important.

"Malaysian rubber bearings are made of high quality natural rubber designed to dampen vibration and have excellent resistance to fatigue. Malaysia successfully supplied the floating slab track rubber bearings in 1977 for the Hong Kong MRT Tsuen Wan Extension Line," he said.

China with its large population and vibrant economic growth over the past 40 years has become a key market, not only for Malaysia, but for the rest of the world as well.

Likewise, Malaysia has grown to become the largest exporter of rubber gloves, condoms and rubber catheters in the world.

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Trade in rubber products between the two countries has also seen considerable progress over the years, with China, from being the 33rd largest export market for Malaysian rubber products in 1997 with export value of only RM13.7 million (US$4.9 million) becoming the fourth largest in 2013 with export value of RM638 million (US$202.5 million).

Similarly, Malaysia's imports of rubber products from China have increased, from RM86.5 million (US$30.8 million) in 1997 to RM990 million (US$314.3 million) in 2013. Uggah also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation between Doshin Rubber Products (M) Sdn Bhd and Tongji University's Institute of Rail Transit. The MoU will pave the way for collaboration in the research and manufacture of rubber pads for floating tracks that are applicable to urban rail projects in China. –Bernama

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