Oversupply likely to plague Vietnam's rubber industry
With supply forecast to outstrip demand in the global market, the country's rubber industry is expected to have a difficult time over the next few years, according to the Vietnam Rubber Association.
Viet Nam exports more than 80 per cent of its raw rubber output. (Photo: caosuhatinh)
With supply forecast to outstrip demand in the global market, the country's rubber industry is expected to have a difficult time over the next few years, according to the Vietnam Rubber Association.
Speaking on the sidelines of its fourth congress held in HCM City on July 31, Tran Ngoc Thuan, chairman of the association, said the country exported more than 1 million tonnes of natural rubber, valued at 1.78 billion USD last year, a year-on-year decrease of 0.7 percent in volume and 28.4 percent in value.
Global rubber demand has only increased slightly in recent years, but supply has shot up, pushing prices down.
Thuan said international organisations expect prices to remain low in the coming years.
To cope with the situation, he said, producers should reduce the frequency of latex extraction to cut expenses and raise productivity.
Besides making efforts to boost exports to existing markets, companies should look for new markets and improve product quality, he said.
They should survey the market and make products that are in demand, for instance reducing SVR 3L production and increasing that of SVR 10 and 20, he said.
"The country exports more than 80 percent of its raw rubber output. We have suggested the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should take measures to reduce it to 50 percent by 2020.
"For this, we must set up an industrial park with incentives to attract international producers and consumers of natural rubber; they will then export finished rubber products from Vietnam."
In addition, he called for cooperation between producer and user members of the association.
He also called for government support to help the industry overcome its difficulties, including exemption of land rents for the first several years when rubber trees do not yet yield latex.
Vietnam ranks third in the world in rubber production - and accounts for 8.1 percent of global output - behind only Thailand (34.1 percent) and Indonesia (26.9 percent).
It exports to 86 countries and territories, with China being the largest market.
According to a report by the association at the event, rubber product exports increased by 35.3 percent last year to 1.5 billion USD, with 35.3 percent coming from tyres.
But import of rubber products was 65.6 million USD higher than the exports, the association said.-VNA
Vietnam’s rubber production faced many difficulties in 2013, but southern province of Binh Duong still reached encouraging results, the Binh Duong online newspaper reported, adding that the sector promises well in 2014.
The Quasa-Geruco joint stock company, a subsidiary of the Vietnam Rubber Industry Group (VIRG) which is operating in Laos, hosted a ceremony in Savannakhet province on May 6 to mark the start of its first rubber latex production programme in the country in 2014.
Vietnam ranked the world's third largest natural rubber producer and the fourth largest exporter following Thailand , Indonesia and Malaysia in 2013. Currently, when the rubber supply exceeds the demand, Vietnam needs to enhance the competitive edge to be able to maintain its rank in the global market, the Vietnam Business Forum Magazine (VBF) reported.
In spite of the declining profits of rubber producers listed on the Vietnamese stock markets following a decline in world rubber prices, future prospects for the rubber industry remain bright.
Vietnam’s rubber industry is predicted to encounter prolonged difficulties in the time ahead and as such, it must focus on restructuring to increase the added value of products and reduce raw material export, said General Secretary of the Vietnam Rubber Association Vo Hoang An.
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Viet Nam exports more than 80 per cent of its raw rubber output. (Photo: caosuhatinh)
