Based on the source of raw material, there are two kinds of rubber: natural rubber (NR) and synthetic rubber (SR). 

Natural Rubber

• extracted from plants

• many plant species that produce natural rubber and there are many other plants that contain rubber latex

• for quality and economic considerations, there is one major source of natural rubber which is the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

Synthetic Rubber

• derived from petroleum, coal, oil, natural gas and acetylene

• has over a dozen major classes, many of them are copolymers i.e. polymers consisting of more than one monomer

• the earliest synthetic rubbers were the Styrene-butadiene copolymers (SBR) which, to this day, is the most commonly used elastomer. 

• serves as a substitute for natural rubber in many cases, especially when improved material properties are needed

This webpage mainly covers natural rubber being an agricultural commodity that has significant role in the economy of developing countries such as the Philippines.

Production of Natural Rubber

• Natural rubber is produced entirely in developing countries and over 20 million families are dependent on rubber cultivation for their basic source of income. 

• Asia is the largest producer of natural rubber, accounting for around 94% of output in 2005. 

• The three largest producing countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand) together account for around 72% of all natural rubber production (http://en.wikipedia.Org/wiki/ Rubber, wikipedia).

Utilization of Natural Rubber

• About 10 per cent of latex extracted from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, is manufactured into latex products

• The remaining 90 per cent of latex is converted into dry rubber

• Most natural rubber is dried by using a limited amount of fossil fuel. In general terms, dry natural rubber requires the use of about a tenth of the fossil fuel required to produce synthetic rubbers. Furthermore, the rubber tree is capable of reabsorbing the carbon dioxide generated by burning discarded rubber products, such as gloves and tyres

World Production Statistics and Projections

• The volume of production was 6.8 million tons during 1998-2000, which is projected to reach 7.9 million tons in 2010.

• The annual growth rate would be 1.3 percent in the current decade, which is significantly below the 2.9 percent during the past decade.

• It is projected that total production in Asia would reach 6.8 million tons by 2010, more than 85 percent of world output, with an annual growth rate of 1 percent.

• Slow growth rate may be due to the following:

• further contraction in Malaysia and Sri Lanka, which have made efforts to diversify to more remunerative crops

• expansion would be less rapid in almost all countries except Vietnam

• Compared to 2001, production in Thailand would even decline

• areas planted in the 1980's are now due for replanting and thus will be out of production for around six years

• the rate of replanting natural rubber is declining as farmers and land shift to other employment because of the low prices seen in recent years

• there is not much new planting seen

• Thailand is expected to retain its position as the world’s largest supplier to produce 2.2 million tons by 2010

• In Indonesia, production should grow 2.2 percent annually to reach 2.05 million tons by 2010

• Production in other major producing countries such as China and India experience little growth 

• Vietnam and the Philippines are likely to see their production grow annually by 4 and 5.9 percent respectively, to double their output by 2010

• Africa is expected to continue to increase its production to nearly 0.5 million tons with an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent which is slightly higher than 1.8 percent in the previous decade

Uses  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber, wikipedia)

The use of rubber is widespread, ranging from household to industrial products

• Tires and tubes are the largest consumers of rubber, accounting for around 56% total consumption in 2005

• high performance, notably aircraft and truck tires

• The remaining 44% are taken up by the general rubber goods (GRG) sector, which includes all products except tires and tubes

• Other significant uses of rubber are:

• door and window profiles, hoses, belts, matting, flooring and dampeners (anti-vibration mounts) for the automotive industry in what is known as the "under the bonnet" products

• gloves (medical, household and industrial), toy balloons, rubber bands

• natural rubber latex has even been successfully implanted into the human pancreas

• the principal glove producing countries are Malaysia, Thailand, China, India and the USA

• adhesives in many manufacturing industries and products, although the two most noticeable are the paper and the carpet industry

• textile industry

Philippine Statistics

• The Philippines ranks 6th in world rubber production.

• The total plantation area of more than 80 thousand hectares is located in Mindanao.

• North Cotabato has the largest area planted to rubber tree, accounting at least 27 percent of the total area planted in the country. However, North Cotabato ranks 3^rd in terms of volume of latex produced, with Zamboanga Sibugay leading the production with at least 27 percent contribution

• The present level of rubber production supplies only 40% of the average domestic consumption

• The present domestic consumption of rubber is 160,000 – 180,000 tons and is expected to increase to 250,000 tons in 2010. Demand is increasing by 15%-20% annually. It is projected that due to the slow rate of replanting and new planting programs, the Philippines will experience shortage of about 20,000 – 30,000 tons of natural rubber annually

Employment Generation

• the industry operates more than 31,000 production units, employing nearly 75,000 people

• 75% of the rubber farmers are small-holders operating from 2 to 5 hectares

• The manufacturing sector, although only about 160 in recent count, employs almost 15,000 people, or an equivalent of more than 90 people employed per manufacturing establishment

Local Products

 Major manufacturers of rubber products

Local Products

• 70% of total natural rubber production goes to the tire industry and construction works (roads, bridges, buildings, sports race tracts, etc.)

• 30% goes to non-tire products such as gloves, medical wares, sports wares, shoes, balls, rubberwood for floor tiles, furniture, plywood, cabinets, and toys

• Rubber is sold by producers in the form of fresh latex, centrifuge latex, coagulum, cuplumps, sheets and in block processed forms. The major players in moving rubber from production sites to manufacturing sites are small and large assemblers.

Export and Import

• The Philippine rubber industry exports about 40% of its natural rubber production. Malaysia, China and Singapore are the country’s major export markets

• Philippine imports of natural is minimal, recorded at 572 tons in 1996. Imports could increase in coming years with the decline in domestic rubber production and establishment of new rubber factories

Philippine exports of natural rubber, 1992 - 1996

Postharvest and Handling

Harvesting and handling

Rubber latex by “tapping”

• Tapping may start on the 5^th or 6^th year after planting the rubber trees

• Tapping starts at about 2 ½-3 ft. from the ground level

• Rainguards or rainskirts are used to protect the latex while being harvested

Machineries and Equipment for Latex Processing

Locally manufactures village- level latex processing equipment for the production of air dried rubber sheets (ADS):

• one-pair roller sheeter

• cabinet type rubber dryer

• jack-assisted presser

Issues and Concerns of the Philippine Rubber Industry

• Due to the slow rate of replanting and new planting programs, the Philippines will experience shortage of about 20,000 – 30,000 tons annually

• Small rubber farmers does not have the technical know-how of producing quality rubber. Their produce, the cuplump, is the lowest form of marketable rubber

• No long-term viable and affordable loan schemes

• Natural rubber commodity receives lower government priority support

REFERENCES:

Callano, Reynaldo S, PhD. July 2006. Village Level Rubber Latex Processing. Philippine Industrial Crops Research Institute, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato.

Callano, Reynaldo S, PhD. August 2006. Large Scale Latex Latex Processing. Philippine Industrial Crops Research Institute, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato.

Callano, Reynaldo S, PhD. August 2006. Tapping Systems and Latex Stimulation.. Philippine Industrial Crops Research Institute, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato.

Gabronino, Gloria L, PhD. July 2006. Marketing of Natural Rubber. University of Southern Mindanao.

Please check these pages often for updates.  Brought to you by the

Planning and Evaluation Department

 Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension

CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

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