Malaysia’s natural rubber (NR) sector closed the first quarter of 2025 on a note of contrasts — exhibiting a month-on-month production slump, a shift in import dynamics, a steady export portfolio led by glove demand, and stock accumulation indicating a potential supply-demand imbalance.
Highlights
• NR production plummets; export and import too down
• Ivory Coast once again pips Thailand in imports
• Nitrile gloves posing greater threat to latex gloves