Malaysia's Rubber Production Has Dropped Significantly, With Annual Output Less Than 20% Of Its Peak Period

Due to typhoons, rainfall and other weather conditions, the production and supply of natural rubber have been hampered. Malaysia, once the world's largest natural rubber producer, currently has an annual output of less than one-fifth of its peak period. Data shows that in the past month, the average price of Malaysian rubber has risen by more than 5%. The country's rubber production has fallen from 1 million tons in 2011 to less than 350,000 tons in 2023, a 65% reduction. According to the Malaysian Rubber Board, more than 86% of the country's natural rubber comes from small farms. Labor shortages, abnormal climate, and increased pests and diseases have caused more and more small farmers to give up harvesting. In 2023, Malaysia's national rubber planting area was 1.14 million hectares, of which more than 420,000 hectares were idle without rubber tapping, accounting for about 37%.