Malaysia doing what it can to sustain rubber prices

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia cannot control rubber prices in the global market as it does not have the majority say, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister.

Fadillah said the government is aware and concerned about the current instability of rubber prices.

“Intervention from the government to set or control (rubber) prices is minimal as Malaysia’s share of global rubber production is only an estimated 3%.

“Therefore, the country is unable to control rubber prices,” he told the Dewan Negara yesterday in reply to a question from Senator Datuk Mohd Hisamudin Yahaya about the government’s plan to stabilise rubber prices, which have been unsettling smallholders.

Fadillah said various factors influence raw-rubber prices, such as the performance of the rubber futures market, crude oil prices, foreign exchange rates and the economic growth of the major rubber importers and exporters.

He said, nevertheless, the government is working hard to help stabilise rubber prices through several initiatives.

Fadillah said among the measures taken is to foster cooperation with other rubber-producing countries and organisations such as the International Tripartite Rubber Council framework and the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries to stabilise prices by managing supply and increasing the use of raw rubber among the producing countries.

He added that the government, via Budget 2024, has increased the price activation level for the rubber production incentive to RM3 from RM2.70 a kg with an allocation of RM400mil.

Fadillah said the government is also working on implementing a mechanism to increase plantation owners’ revenue by improving productivity and the rubber supply chain as well as the rubber-business ecosystem.

“This mechanism will be implemented using the latest technology and by increasing cooperation with industry players such as cooperatives, entrepreneurs and processing plants,” he said. — Bernama