RUBBER INDUSTRY

MALAYSIA

INTRUDUCTION

Scientific name: Hevea brasiliensis

Introduction of the rubber plant to sri lanka: Sir Henry Wickham

First planting of rubber:

• Reason for expansion of rubber: The eventual destruction of the coffee plantations

Basic Requirements for Rubber Cultivation

Temperature :27 c Rain fall over 2000 mm Uplands between 0-300 m Literate soil

Suitable Soil Classes for Rubber Cultivation

Parambe soil classHomagama soil class Agalawaththa soil classRathnapura soil classDeniyaya soil class Matale soil class

Water (56% - 60%) Rubber (30% - 40%) Protein (0.2%) Sugar (0.1%) Resin (0.05%)

Preservation of Latex Coagulation of latex takes place when pH is less than 4.5. An alkaline media is used to prevent that.

NH3

Na2CO3

Na2SO3

Methods of Preparing Rubber

Sheet rubber

Crape rubber

Block rubber

Concentrated rubber

Tapping

Collecting latex

Coagulation of latex Drying ribbed smoke sheets

Storing

Rubber Production

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Sheet rubber

Crape rubber

Centrifuged latex &other

Kg (mil;)0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Sheet rubber

Crape rubber

Centrifuged latex &other

Main Exporter

China

Sub Exporters Singapore Japan Pakistan Korea

Mexico England German

Trade of Rubber1999 2000

Production (million kg.) 97 87 Area of Cultivation (ha) 159 158 New Planting (ha) 218 251 Local Consumption (million kg) 54 55 Export quantity (million kg.) 43 33 Export Income (million Rs.) 2.305 2.179

THE END

Thanks