MALAYSIA/CHINA: China is sixth largest export market for Malaysian rubber products

“China has grown from being the 33rd largest export market for Malaysian rubber products in 1997, with an export value of only 36 million yuan (about RM13.7 million) to being the sixth largest in 2011,” said Malaysia's Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Similarly, Malaysia's imports of rubber products from China also increased from 232 million yuan (about RM86.5 million) in 1997, to 1.8 billion yuan (about RM915.7 million) in 2011, he said when opening the seminar for “Managing Infection Control - Selecting the Right Gloves” in Beijing, China, on 27 Nov. 2012.

Currently, Malaysia is the world's largest exporter of rubber gloves, condoms and rubber catheters. The major established markets are the United States and the European Union. Malaysia is also the world's biggest rubber glove maker with a 60% share of the world market.

In another development, the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) on 27 Nov. 2012 signed a memorandum of arrangement (MoA) with the China-Asean Business Council (CABC), to enhance trade in rubber and rubber products between both countries.

MREPC chief executive officer Datuk Teo Suat Cheng inked the MoA on behalf of the organisation, while CABC was represented by its executive secretary general Xu Ningning.

“We hope that business and collaboration between Malaysia and China will improve further. We would like to tell the Chinese government and business partners, that we are very interested in doing more business with China in whichever area,” Teo told a press conference after the
signing ceremony.

Source: Daily "The Star", Kuala Lumpur, through "Bernama" (Malaysian National News Agency); 27 Nov 2012

(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)