Low commodities demand seen in the short term

An employee monitoring latex gloves on hand-shaped moulds moving along an automated production line at a Top Glove Corp factory in Setia Alam. The Malaysian rubber glove industry is envisaged to generate a higher export revenue of RM21.8bil this year. — Bloomberg

THE commodity-related industries in Malaysia are grappling with the coronavirus (Covid-19) turmoil that has led to the current depressed prices and gloomy export outlook in the coming months.

With most industries globally at a standstill given the lockdown measures on their operations, local industry players say demand for commodities such as palm oil, tin, steel and timber and their related products will remain low for at least the next three to six months.