Natural rubber output soars by 19.7% in May

Malaysia’s natural rubber output rose to 65,254 tonnes in May this year, an increase of 19.7% or 10,724 tonnes from the previous month’s production.

Year-on-year, the production increased 9.2% or by 5,521 tonnes, while exports increased 35.6% for the month, the Department of Statistics said.

However, the export of natural rubber in May this year decreased by 6.2% to 64,232 tonnes compared with exports in April. The level of stocks also decreased by 17,782 tonnes to 120,731 tonnes in May compared with the previous month, but year-on-year the stocks rose by 13.9%.

Imports in May were down by 15.7% when compared with the corresponding period of last year. The imports were however marginally up by 0.8% at 49,734 tonnes when compared with imports in April this year. — Bernama


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, July 15, 2010.