Rubber industry retains pole position this year

According to the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), the rubber product sector plays an important role in generating high export value due to the surge in global demand for rubber gloves to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR: The rubber industry retained its pole position in 2021 compared with other commodities, notching impressive growth and contribution to the country’s coffers as demand and production of rubber gloves were largely unperturbed by Covid-19 containment measures.

Malaysia is the world’s leading producer of medical gloves and the demand for the products has turbo-charged the industry to dizzying heights. It has met 68% of the global demand for this necessity for the past 30 years and for 2021, it is estimated to supply 280 billion pieces of rubber gloves.