Intervention Programmes Help Boost Malaysia’s Natural Rubber Output - KPK

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Intervention programmes such as the Consolidation Programme for Abandoned and Untapped Mature Rubber Areas, the Latex Production Incentive (IPL) and the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) are helping to gradually increase the country’s natural rubber output.

The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) is confident that a positive trend in natural rubber prices, supported by rising demand, will encourage more tapping activities and boost production.

“The prolonged West Asia conflict could also potentially reduce the supply of petroleum-based raw materials used to produce synthetic rubber and push up its prices, which could create opportunities for increased demand for natural rubber,” the ministry stated on the Parliament’s website today.

KPK said it would continue efforts to strengthen domestic natural rubber supply through these intervention programmes and favourable market conditions to support the sustainability of the local industry.

Responding to Datuk Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN-Dungun) on the main factors behind the 13 per cent decline in the country’s natural rubber output in 2025, the ministry said production fell by 49,836 tonnes, or 13 per cent, to 336,676 tonnes from 2024, due to a shortage of rubber tappers and the ageing smallholder population.

“Other factors include unpredictable weather that reduces the number of tapping days, higher production costs, the threat of Pestalotiopsis leaf fall disease, and price uncertainty, which affects smallholders’ decisions to continue tapping,” it said.

From January to June 2026, Malaysia’s natural rubber output stood at 136,280 tonnes, down 16.7 per cent from 163,614 tonnes in the corresponding period in 2025. 

The decline was attributed partly to a shortage of rubber tappers and market uncertainty, which continued to constrain tapping activities

-- BERNAMA