Top 10 Rubber-Producing Countries in World [Uses & Types]

Natural Rubber is found in the fluid of some specific plants and obtained from the milky white fluid called latex, found in many plants. But it can also be produced synthetically. Synthetic rubber producers make it through the process of polymerization of various monomers.

Naturally, rubber is produced by the process of tapping the plant called Hevea Brasiliensis. The tree is a native of the Amazon River basin in South America.

These Rubber Trees generally have 32 years of economic life but they may live up to 100 years or even more than that. The plantation would start its yield from the 6th year onward. Natural rubber production is processed to convert into a storable and marketable salable form.

Later on, these trees were cultivated in the plantations of Indonesia, the Malay Peninsula, and Sri Lanka. These natural rubber trees now produce about 90% of all consumption. Gutta-percha and balata are other plants that produce.

Geographical Location for Natural Rubber Production

The ideal rubber growing regions should be 8 degrees North of the Equator, 10 degrees South of the Equator, high temperature, altitude not beyond 400 meters, and high humidity.

Most Common Uses of Natural Rubber

The rubber industry produces a wide range of products like auto tires, auto tubes, automobile parts like seal & Timing Belts, footwear, Conveyor belts, cables & wires, battery boxes, etc. Block, Preserved Latex, Crepes, and sheets are some forms in which rubber is produced and used.

Basic Properties of Rubber

The key characteristics of rubber are resilience, high tensile strength, and resistance to friction, extreme temperatures, and abrasion. It comes back to its original shape if it is twisted or stretched but if heat is applied to the rubber, it won’t return to its original shape easily.

History of Rubber Plantation & Production

The rubber tree Hevea Brasiliensis is indigenous to Brazil and its wild growth was very common. Columbus made some knowledge available to Europe after the voyages of 1492. For the next two centuries, it was just a museum curiosity in Europe.

British inventor and chemist Charles Macintosh, 1823, established a plant in Glasgow for the manufacture of water-proof cloth and rainproof garments. During the 19th century, the Brazilian government banned the export of rubber plants to preserve its monopoly. Therefore, the Brazilian Jungle continued to be the main source of crude rubber for most of the 19th century.

Despite a rigid embargo, in 1876, a British explorer smuggled 70 thousand seeds of Hevea Brasiliensis, he was Sir Henry Wickham. These seeds were planted in London Kew Garden. Later on, plants 2,800 were sent to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and to Perak in, Malaya, for plantation, and then plantation was introduced in Indonesia.

In 1905, the year the first shipment was exported from Malaya, Malaysia. At that time Brazil was producing 99% of the world supply. Today Brazil accounts for less than one percent. Today more than 80% of plantation comes from southeast Asia.

Physical & Economic Factors for Rubber Production

For the growth of Natural Rubber following Physical conditions are necessary:

Physical Factors

Climate

For the optimum growth of rubber, conditions must be equatorial with a temperature of around 28C, with relatively little variation.

Temperature

Temperatures are required more than 28 C best for the growth of rubber plants. Temperature plays a vital role in the best output

Rainfall

A distributed annual rainfall of 60 to 78 inches is required for rubber trees.

Soil

Rubber has a wide tolerance for different soil types and soil moisture factors such as moisture absorption, moisture-holding capacity, drainage, and resistance to flooding. Deep soil is required to encourage deep penetration of roots and surface rooting.

Economic Factors for Natural Rubber Production

• Energy resources
• Water availability
• Availability of Market
• Location Factor
• Sufficient amount of Capital
• Skill Labor Force
• Government Patronage
• Government Policy for Industrial Development
• Means of Transportation 10: Availability of the latest technology

2 Main Types of Natural Rubber

Rubber is one of the familiar products that can be used for Commercial, Residential, and Industrial purposes. Generally, there are two types of Rubbers

Natural Rubber

These natural rubbers are derived from latex which is a milky substance found in the sap of trees. The products obtained from this process are raw products.

Synthetic Rubber

Synthetic rubbers are chemically synthesized. You can find many products in the market such as tires, sheets, pipes, floors, strips, bands, mats, magnets, etc.

Top Countries with Natural Rubber Production

World Total Production — 15,051 million metric tons (FAO, Statistical yearbook — 2017)

The continent of Asia ranks 1st in natural rubber production with the highest exports. The plantation was introduced in Asia in the 19th century and the first shipment for foreign trade became in 1905. The first rubber plantation was introduced by the British in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. The continent of Asia produces more than 91 percent of the natural rubber production in the world.

South-east Asia is the home of natural rubber production, out of 28 countries 12 highest production countries are in Asia. Among the continents, Africa ranks 2nd and it produces more than 7.4 percent. The third important natural rubber-producing region in South and Central America. This region produces more than 2 percent of natural rubber in the world.

Top 10 Natural Rubber Producing Countries in World

Today, 28 countries produce rubber in the world and are ranked differently as per their largest rubber exports. These are the largest producing and exporting countries to date.

Thailand

Thailand ranks first in natural rubber production in the world. This Southeast Asian country has a monsoon climate, which is most suitable for the vegetative growth of rubber plants. The Southern Thailand region has the world’s largest rubber plantation.

Thailand produced 4.9 million tons of natural rubber, as of 2021. The area under rubber plantations was 1.7 million hectares. The per hectare yield in Thailand is 1.76 tons.

Moreover, the country exports its rubber mainly to China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and South Korea. Thailand earned $659M by exporting to China, $200M by exporting to the USA, and $154M by exporting to Japan during the years 2020 and 2021.

Indonesia

Indonesia is considered to be the second biggest exporter of rubber. Tropical and monsoon climate suitability has encouraged plantations in Indonesia. Indonesia shared about 21% output of the world.

Its rubber production was 3.12 million metric tons, as of 2021. The area under rubber plantation was 3.175 million, while per hectare yield was 1800 kg, which is very low.

In 2021, Indonesia was responsible for 23.8 percent of the worldwide sales. They are responsible for exporting to Japan, China, South Korea, and the United States. Between 2020 and 2021, Indonesia generated the largest revenue by exporting to Russia ($57.5M), the United States ($319M), and Japan ($297M).

Malaysia

Malaysia ranks third after Thailand and Indonesia. The west coastal and piedmont zone of the Malay Peninsula and the western part of Kalimantan is important for rubber estates. Rubber output was 470,000 metric tons, as of 2021. While the area under plantation was 3,175,000 hectares and the per-hectare yield is 56.3kg.

The main destinations where rubber is exported from Malaysia are the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, Slovakia, and Germany. Malaysia’s rubber industry generated a huge revenue of RM 47.6 billion through rubber export. Their rubber industry has contributed more than 2 billion Malaysian ringgit to the country’s total GDP.

India

Natural rubber plantation was introduced in India in 1880 when rubber was planted in Travancore and Malabar regions, but commercial plantation started at a relatively later date in 1902. Kerala is the most important largest rubber producer state in India, accounting for 95% of India’s rubber acreage. However, other producing states are Tamal Nadu, Karnataka, Nicobar Islands, Tripura, Mizoram, and Assam.

India produced 775,000 metric tons of natural rubber, while the area under the plantation was 450,000 hectares. It is the largest exporter of natural rubber and it exports mainly to the United States, Netherlands, and the Philippines. The top three exporters are India with 102,802 shipments, followed by Vietnam in the 2nd position with 91,433 shipments, and in the third position is Indonesia with 76,511 shipments.

Vietnam

Vietnam has emerged as the fifth-largest natural rubber producer in the world. The area around Ho “Chi Minh” city is of fundamental importance for rubber cultivation. Vietnam exports the bulk of its natural rubber output to an international market. Its natural rubber production was 2.131 million tons, as of 2020.

The rubber tree planting area in Vietnam constitutes about 1 million hectares. These areas are majorly located in the southeast and central highlands. The largest planting area is in the southeast with almost 572,000 hectares which accounts for 58.3% of the total planting area for the country.

China

China is another outstanding country among rubber-producing countries and has emerged as the 6th largest producer. China is an emerging industrial nation, its demand is very large, and therefore it is a deficit in production. China imports natural rubber from other countries. However, its rubber plantations are located in the hills of the southeast and in the Yangtze basin and coastal belt.

It produced 688,000 metric tons of rubber, as of 2020. While the area under the plantation was 475,000 hectares. China’s biggest export product is rubber tires. In 2021, China exported rubber tires worth $17.1B. China exports rubber to the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom.

Philippines

The Archipelago of the Philippines has a suitable climate for plantations. It has emerged as an important country among producers in the recent decade. The Philippines’ coastal regions are most suitable. Its production is 152.20 thousand metric tons in the year 2022 and 95 thousand hectares of plantation area.

The largest rubber-producing continent in the country is Cotabato city which produces over 143,000 metric tons of rubber. Then comes Zamboanga Sibugay with 117,314 metric tons, and Basilan with 76,433 metric tons.

Nigeria

During the last decade of the 20th century, Nigeria expanded its hectare age and yield and has become the 8th largest rubber-producing country in the world. Favorable geographical conditions, cheap labor, nearness to the European market, and foreign investment have increased plantation in Nigeria.

Rubber production was 150,085 tons in 2021, while the area under rubber plantation was 340 thousand hectares. Moreover, Nigeria has multiple states known for producing a large quantity of rubber. These are:

• Edo
• Delta
• Ondo
• Ogun
• Abia
• Anambra
• Akwa Ibom
• Cross River
• Rivers
• Ebonyi
• Bayelsa

Cote d’Ivoire

In the West African region, plantations first started in Liberia but Cote-d-Ivoire outranked Liberia within a short period. The Cote-d-Ivoire ranks 9th in the world.

In recent years, probably in 2022, its average rubber production was 1.32 million tons. While the hectare age under plantation was 75 thousand hectares.

Sri Lanka

In South, Asia rubber was first planted in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) towards the close of the 19th century. Being a small country expansion of rubber plantations is not possible. Even then, Sri Lanka is the 10th largest producer in the world. This is due to favorable Geographical conditions, cheap labor, and easy shipment to the international market. Cultivation of rubber is concentrated in the southwestern foothills of the central highlands.

Sri Lanka produced 78,206 metric tons of rubber in the year 2020, from 116.4 thousand hectares of rubber estates. Sri Lanka’s 97 percent rubber output enters the international market. It is the leading exporter of rubber and in the year 2021, it generated 70% of its income from the export of rubber tires.

However, the country faced some serious problems coming in the way of rubber production that are the lack of good resources and infrastructure. Their industries need major upgrading to work efficiently.

Other Rubber Production Countries

Besides these top ten rubber-producing countries in the world, there are many that take part in exporting the product. We have mentioned a list of these countries with their average rubber production below:

Conclusion

Natural rubber production around the world was counted to be almost 13 million metric tons in 2020. This figure is huge compared to previous states, donating that there is an increased demand for rubber products worldwide as you must have encountered its daily use in vehicle tires, rubber bands, cookware, footwear, etc.

Methew Harbor

Matthew is a Co-Founder at BusinessFinanceArticles.org. Matthew was a floor manager at a local restaurant in Wales. He lost his job after the pandemic and took initiative to make a team and start the project.