PHNOM PENH: Domestic consumption of rubber latex recorded a sharp increase of 146 percent, reaching 124,321 tonnes, according to an official report released Tuesday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
The report said domestic sales of rubber latex generated a gross revenue of approximately US$223 million.
The surge in local consumption has been driven largely by the presence of tyre manufacturing factories in the country, said Mr. Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce.
“Tyre factories use locally produced rubber latex as raw material for their production, thereby creating a stable market for rubber farmers and plantation owners,” he explained.
At present, seven tyre factories are operating in Cambodia, producing car tyres mainly for export to international markets.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia exported tyres worth US$1.219 billion between January and November last year, marking a 57.8 percent increase from US$772 million in 2024.
Cambodia currently has a total rubber plantation area of 448,051 hectares, of which 346,842 hectares—about 77 percent—are mature enough for tapping, the report noted.
Meanwhile, rubber latex exports declined by 12 percent last year to 343,762 tonnes, generating approximately US$644 million.
Cambodia exports rubber latex mainly to Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and China.