KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- In 2022, rubber and rubber products export values were recorded at RM 8.822 billion and RM 27.155 billion, respectively. With a value of RM19.041 billion, rubber gloves remain the biggest contributor to the exports of rubber products, making up 70.1% of the total share in 2022. Malaysia exported a wide range of rubber gloves, including for applications in medical, industrial, cleanroom, and food service sectors.
 
Besides gloves, other latex products comprising threads, condoms, catheters and foam products increased by 29.1% in 2022 as compared to 2021, with a total export value of RM2.384 billion. Among the key exports of latex products, foam products, catheters, and condoms, recorded increases by 138.5% to RM359.0 million, 93.7% (RM620.4 million) and 25.2% (RM383.1 million) in 2022. The strong growth indicates that Malaysia's latex products industry is diversifying and expanding beyond gloves, which have traditionally dominated the country's latex products exports with around 95% share.
 
In the non-latex products category, the value of tyres exported increased by 4.8% from RM1.741 billion in 2021 to RM1.825 billion in 2022. Tyre exports to Brazil and Germany increased significantly, by approximately 49% and 32.4%, respectively, compared to 2021.
 
For General Rubber Goods comprising products like automotive components, tyre precured treads, structural bearings, and sporting goods, recorded a total export value of RM1.669 billion, increased 19.6% from 2021. The United States contributed the largest to the total exports with RM235.2 million in 2022. However, Indonesia recorded the highest growth at 42.0%, resulting in an export value of RM56.2 million in 2022.
 
“MRC has always put efforts in diversifying and increasing exports of dry rubber products (non-latex products). Indonesia is identified a potential market for rubber products and to capitalise on the growing demand for rubber products, last year, we conducted a marketing mission on tyre precured treads, educational seminar on gloves and participated in a ministerial mission for rubber sector in the country.” The Malaysian Rubber Council's DCEO, Encik Izwan Zarik Sapari, explained.
 
“Our efforts in promoting the dry rubber products sector are also in line with National Agri-commodity Policy 2021 – 2030 (NAP 2030) strategies to expand the share of the products to 15% of the total rubber products exports by 2025. In 2022, the share of dry rubber products recorded a staggering 21.1%, an increase from 8.1% in 2021.” Encik Izwan added.
 
Wrapping Up 2022 and Anticipating 2023

Before the year 2022 ended, MRC organized MRC-MRANTI Commercialization Matching Day 2022 as an effort to encourage adoption of new rubber products and technologies by local companies. The event aims to promote available IP, technologies, funding, facilities, and services relevant to the rubber industry so that it can be taken up further by industry players. The event, which was held on December 8, 2022, is in collaboration with the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), a commercialization agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI).
 
"MRC will still continue its initiatives for rubber gloves sector as to maintain Malaysia’s leading position in the global supply of the products. The Council will facilitate industry players to overcome challenges and to expand markets.” Explained Encik Izwan.
 
Considering the need for more workers to sustain production of rubber products particularly gloves, on December 7, 2022, MRC launched the Hiring Malaysian Workers Fund (HMWF) 2.0 aims to encourage employers to hire more Malaysian workers, thereby reducing the rubber industry's reliance on a foreign workforce. MRC allocated a total budget of RM17.3 million to serve the industry's employers and employees. About 10% of the fund is allocated for rubber smallholders registered under the Malaysian Rubber Board to be insured under PERKESO’s one-year coverage of self-employed insurance scheme. MRC is confident that this initiative will inspire and motivate young people, particularly those looking for their first job, to consider a career in the rubber industry. 
 
Recently, MRC successfully led 17 Malaysian manufacturers of rubber medical devices to Arab Health 2023, the largest medical exhibition in the Middle East in North Africa held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE, from January 30 to February 2, 2023. MRC’s Malaysia Pavilion received an overwhelming response throughout the exhibition with potential sales of RM107 million to be generated by the participating companies in the next 12 months.
 
In the first quarter of 2023, MRC will participate in Tyrexpo Asia 2023, which will be held in Singapore on March 8th - 10th, 2023, and will showcase Asia's tyre exhibitions, including Truck, Bus and Radial (TBR), Off the Road (OTR), and Passenger Car Radial (PCR). The three-day event aims to connect manufacturers with distributors, fleet managers, and traders. MRC will also exhibit at Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2023 on March 16th - 18th, 2023. This event will feature a diverse range of automotive products such as electronics and connectivity, accessories and customization, diagnostics and repair, car care, tyres and wheels.

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About MRC
 
The Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC), formerly known as the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, was established on April 14, 2000 under the Companies Act 1965 as a company limited by guarantee under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC). The MRC is responsible for promoting quality Malaysian rubber and rubber products in international markets. It is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
 
To achieve its goals, the MRC has established overseas offices in strategic locations around the world, including the US, China, India, Europe, and the Middle East. In the US, the MRC set up its office in Washington DC in February 2001, which serves as an information centre for the American public and end-users. The MRC has two offices in China, the Shanghai office was established in September 2011 and the Guangzhou office in April 2016 to facilitate and assist Malaysian companies in growing their business in China.
 
MRC India was established in Mumbai in May 2016 to promote the export of Malaysian rubber and rubber products to India and to assist Malaysian companies in growing their business in India. The MRC's London office in Europe plays a crucial role in facilitating the export of Malaysian rubber products into Europe by monitoring developments and changes in policies and new regulations concerning the importation and use of rubber products in Europe.
 
Recently, in September 2021, the MRC established its Middle East office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the aim of exploring and facilitating potential joint ventures, foreign investments, and research and development collaborations in the MENA region.
 
Visit www.myrubbercouncil.com

Source: Malaysian Rubber Council ( MRC) 

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--BERNAMA