KUALA LUMPUR: Latex goods accounted for 83.1% of Malaysia’s total exports of rubber products in the first quarter of 2022, with the glove sub-sector remaining as the largest export revenue generator for the industry.

       The glove sub-sector, however, showed a decrease of 66.2%, equalling to RM6.04bil in the first three months of this year, from RM17.86bil in the same period in 2021, the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) said in a statement.

       Surgical gloves remained the highest earner with export revenue of almost RM561.7mil, an increase of 13.3% from the previous year, while latex threads marked a 21.8% rise at RM240mil compared with RM197.1mil a year ago.

       Catheters recorded an increase of 66.5% at RM113mil and foam products showed a notable growth of 204.2% at RM106.1mil.

       Tyre, which is the largest export within the dry rubber products sector, recorded an increase of 4.5% compared with the corresponding period of 2021, expanding from RM429.9mil to RM449.1mil.

       The industrial rubber goods, which comprise products for the automotive, mining and construction sectors, recorded a RM377.2mil (23.2%) growth, followed by general rubber goods at RM375mil (9.7%) and footwear at RM150.1mil (4.1%).

       The United States remained as the country’s leading importer of tyres, an increase of 17.6% amounting to RM193.6mil, compared with the same period last year.

       Overall, for January-March 2022, MRC said total rubber and rubber products exports were 52.8% lower to RM10.29bil against RM21.84bil in the same period of 2021.

       This was mainly due to the decrease of latex goods exports namely gloves and following the transition of the country to the endemic phase.

       Meanwhile, MRC said current initiatives are geared towards creating value for Malaysia’s rubber industry to ensure it remains resilient, agile, competitive and sustainable.

       Chief executive officer Nor Hizwan Ahmad said glove manufacturers should switch their focus to the non-medical industry players as their potential and key clients to make the industry much more lucrative and continue to thrive rather than focusing on the healthcare sector.

       “Industry players should creatively explore ways and means to make the glove industry profitable and thriving again.

       “After all, disposable non-medical grade gloves come in various range of sizes, colours, thicknesses and textures. Applications for such gloves exist in businesses from tattoo parlours to laboratories and even childcare centres,” said Nor Hizwan.

       To remain resilient, he said MRC is currently facilitating local manufacturers in securing new markets to the non-medical sectors.