KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Aug. 13, 2012)—Malaysia's production of natural rubber increased marginally in June.
Total production in June 2012 was 85,866 metric tons, up by 0.6 percent on the figure for June 2011. The figure was up by 23 percent over the previous month.
Exports, however, declined. Total NR exports were 60,131 tons, 12.3 percent lower than the same figure a year ago and 4.3 percent lower than the May figure.
Imports increased by 35 percent over the year-ago figure to 62,035 tons. The import figure was marginally lower than imports in May.
Latex concentrate was the main type of NR imported at 26,068 tons (42.0 percent) of total imports.
NR was imported mainly from Thailand at 63.3 per cent, Viet Nam 14.2 per cent and Philippines 6.8 percent.
Total imports from these three countries accounted for 84.3 per cent of the overall NR imports.
As a result of this imbalance, Domestic consumption of NR in June 2012 which registered at 35,810 tons, up by 16 percent over the figure for June 2011.
Total stocks at the end of June were 116,111 tons, slightly lower than a year ago, but higher than last month.
The average monthly price of latex concentrate dropped 7.7 percent compared to May 2012. The average price of latex was also lower than a year ago by 28.1 percent.