Exports Of Rubber Products Expected To Reach US$4 Bln This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Exports of rubber products are expected to reach US$4 billion (RM16.8 billion) in 2015, an increase of 10.7 per cent, year-on-year (y-o-y) and that for rubber gloves are estimated to be at US$2.9 billion (RM12.5 billion), an increase of 18 per cent y-o-y. (US$1 = RM4.19) In a statement Friday, the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) said the export value recorded an exponential growth of RM5.4 billion in 2000 to RM15.17 billion in 2014. "In the first six months of 2015, exports of rubber products amounted to RM8.47 billion, from which rubber glove export was valued at RM6.1 billion. "Exports of dry rubber products -- general rubber goods and industrial rubber goods -- are estimated at RM1.75 billion this year. "Exports of other latex products such condoms, catheters, mattresses footwear, tyres and inner tubes are expected to contribute RM2.5 billion in export revenue this year," it said. The council said Malaysian rubber products were exported to over 190 countries. Malaysia is the world's leading supplier for examination and surgical gloves, foley catheters and condoms. MREPC is an agency under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities with the primary objective of marketing and promoting Malaysia's rubber products. -- BERNAMA