Sarawak trades RM17.1 million worth of local rubber in nine months

THE state traded 2,500 metric tonnes of locally produced rubber valued at RM17.1 million from Jan to Sept 2026, as efforts continue to strengthen Sarawak’s rubber industry and improve smallholder incomes.

Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the Sarawak Rubber Industry Board (SARIB) would intensify efforts to increase local rubber supply, reduce dependence on imports and develop higher-value downstream products.

“During the same period, rubber exports increased by six per cent to approximately 34,000 metric tonnes, including imported raw rubber,” he said this during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today (Oct 20).

Rundi said SARIB’s strategic direction for 2026 to 2030 focused on strengthening governance and partnerships, promoting sustainability, empowering smallholders, increasing productivity and expanding markets.

As part of its efforts to support smallholders, he said 25,000 had been registered under the Permit Autoriti Transaksi Getah (PAT-G) as of Sept 30, 2026, with 20,200 assisted in applying for federal government assistance.

SARIB, he said, also consolidated another 400 hectares of abandoned rubber holdings in 2026, bringing the total consolidated area to approximately 1,250 hectares.

Rehabilitation works covering 500 hectares across 25 localities, benefiting 127 smallholders, are scheduled for completion by Dec this year.

In 2027, he said the programme will be expanded by another 1,000 hectares, benefiting at least 500 smallholders.

Rundi said the consolidated holdings generated RM230,000 in rental income for 667 smallholders in 2025 and produced 1,557 metric tonnes of raw rubber.

He said the industry continued to face challenges, including low productivity, idle holdings, volatile prices, rising costs, labour shortages and declining rubber acreage, which affected smallholder incomes and industry competitiveness.

To address these issues, he said SARIB would work with government and industry partners to accelerate farm rehabilitation, improve productivity, strengthen commercial management and attract downstream investment.

The board is also strengthening licensing, regulatory compliance, traceability and technology adoption while advancing sustainable rubber standards.

He said collaboration with Forest Department Sarawak and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) will further promote rubberwood development and more efficient use of resources.

Dr Rundi said the broader objective is to build a competitive and sustainable rubber industry that generated greater value and delivered lasting income improvements for Sarawak’s smallholders.