Wednesday, May 26, 2010

ECO-FRIENDLY COAGULATING POWDER FOR INDUSTRIAL GLUE


Industrial Glue after being coagulated with our Eco-friendly,non-acidic Powder

Recently, our company has found a new application for our Eco-friendly coagulating powder.

Industrial Applications for Coagulating Powder

An industrial firm was looking for an eco-friendly coagulation medium to coagulate their waste glue before disposing them as scheduled waste. They did not want to use an acidic medium as it is environmentally un-friendly and is difficult to handle as it is corrosive.

They found us on the Internet and we offered our coagulation powder for their trials. After trying out our powder, they found it was able to coagulate their glue to their satisfaction.

Currently, they have placed an order with us on this powder and intend to do so on a monthly basis.

With this breakthrough, it is now possible to use our eco-friendly coagulating powder to coagulate natural rubber latex-based glue and synthetic rubber latex-based glue.

Though currently it is being used to coagulate the glue into coagulum before they are dumped as Schedule wastes, we intend to find out if these coagulum can be recovered for their natural or synthetic rubber.

If this can be done, we can reclaim the huge amount of rubber (NR and Synthetic) for re-use world-wide.

EMP MALAYSIA TRADING DIVISION RECEIVES BUDDING TOOLS & SHARPENING STONES ORDER

Our long term African plantation group has just emailed us their order for the supply of budding tools and sharpening stones.

Due to the urgency of this order, the items will be couriered to them once they are ready for shipment.

The budding tools will be used for their rubber trees nursery while the sharpening stones are used to sharpen our Gebung type rubber tapping knives.

We hope to receive our Ethephon Plus latex stimulant in the future.

Enquiries and request for quotations can be emailed us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Sunday, May 23, 2010

PHILIPPINES TO JOIN ANRPC 11TH. MEMBER


fe Bureaus
Posted: Monday, May 24, 2010 at 1849 hrs IST
Updated: Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 2347 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: The Philippines is set to debut at the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) assembly session to be held in the first week of October in Kochi. The country has been accepted by the 40-year-old organization of rubber producing countries as its 11th member last month.

The association's 33rd assembly session and the meetings of the executive committee and two other technical committees are scheduled to be held in Kochi in October this year. Along with this, the third ANRPC annual rubber conference will be held on October 6 at the same venue, according to Dr Djoko Said Damardjati, secretary general, ANRPC.

“Philippines's entry will strengthen ANRPC's role as the inter-governmental agency, dedicated to promotion of the natural rubber industry through multilateral co-operation,” he said in a statement from the ANRPC headquarters in Malaysia.

The ANRPC came into being in 1970 with the founder members being Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia , Sri Lanka and Vietnam. India joined the body after five years.

Attorney Bernie G Fondevilla, secretary of the department of agriculture, signed the instrument of accession for the government of the Philippines in April, according to ANRPC secretariat.

The Philippines, which has over hundred years of experience in natural rubber cultivation, has been a late entrant to the ANRPC. Rubber occupies about 130,000 hectare of cultivated land in the Philippines.

Tyre manufacturers like Goodrich, Firestone and Goodyear took the lead in popularising the rubber crop in the Philippines. The area expansion suffered a major setback during late 1990s when prices collapsed.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

EMP TRADING DIVISION QUOTES 150,000 SETS OF RF EAVES

Today, our EMP Trading Division submitted our price quotation for 150,000 sets of RF Eaves c/w cover and sealant to a plantation group in a South Asian country.

150,000 sets is a good figure to be shipped in one 20ft. container and this quantity is suitable for a medium size plantation and cost effective.

By installing such eaves or rainguard system, non-tapping days during the rainy season can be reduced. Tappers can continue to tap their rubber trees without having to remain indoors due to rain.

With our cover system, the rain will not cause any washout and contamination of the field latex in the cups.

This RF Eaves system c/w with latex cup covers augur well with our Gebung type tapping knives, sharpening stones and Ethephon Plus Latex stimulants.

Interested plantation groups and smallholders organisation can contact us at: TWKANG@emp.com.my.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

MALAYSIAN RUBBER SECTOR HOPES TO RECAPTURE ITS BOUNCE

Wednesday May 19, 2010

Local rubber sector to recapture its bounce

By HANIM ADNAN
nem@thestar.com.my


KUALA LUMPUR: The local rubber sector is poised to remain competitive on the global front via revitalised strategies and action plans under the newly launched Malaysian Rubber Industry (MRI) Strategies 2010-2020 and Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) Strategies 2010-2020.

By 2020, Malaysia is targeting for rubber productivity to hit 1.8 tonnes per ha per year, total production of about 1.8 million tonnes, total rubber planted area of 1.2 million ha and tappable area of one million ha.

Dr Salmiah Ahmad says MRB has wide-ranging responsibilities as custodian of local rubber sector.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the formulation of the domestic rubber industry strategy to reposition the sector and sustain its competitiveness was timely given the highly challenging global environment.

Both the midstream and downstream sectors would focus on improving market share through value-addition and diversification initiatives, including sustaining the growth of the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) market and creating the market for speciality rubber and value-added production.

Dompok said: “Our upstream sector is no longer a low-cost producer. That is why we need to improve tree productivity, efficiency and promote income diversification of smallholders.”

Under the new strategies, Dompok said MRB would be working with Risda, Felcra, Felda, Sarawak Forestry Board and Sabah Rubber Industry Board to ensure a more efficient transfer of technologies to increase rubber yield to 1.8 tonnes per ha per year by 2020 from 1.4 tonnes currently.

He noted that the downstream sector was also too narrow-based with almost 80% of export consisting of latex dipped rubber goods. “We need to diversify the product base especially with MRB having the capacity and capability to formulate, design and re-engineer new rubber-based products.”

Other strategies include facilitating entrepreneurs to be more daring at innovation, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

There was a need to develop a strong network between the private and public rubber-related organisations, Dompok said, adding that through the network, research and development (R&D) support could provide the extra edge for Malaysian rubber manufacturers.

Meanwhile, MRB newly appointed director-general Dr Salmiah Ahmad told StarBiz that the board had also formulated its own strategies in line with its expectation of becoming a global centre of excellence for rubber by 2020.

“As a custodian of the local rubber sector, MRB's responsibilities are wide-ranging from production to end-usage,” she said.

On the production side, MRB has to help sustain the livelihood of 290,000 smallholders via increasing land productivity and improving their income level as outlined under the New Economic Model.

The MRB strategies will focus on development of high yielding clones as well as development and adoption of mechanised and automatic systems in rubber plantations.

In the midstream and downstream sectors, Salmiah said there were pressing R&D needs to improve efficiency, market promotion, advanced materials and product diversification.

“This include the development of expertise and industrial support in tyre technologies, focusing on green tyres, with Malaysia poised to be a world-class tyre R&D and testing centre,” she added.

EMP TRADING DIVISION QUOTES BUDDING KNIVES AND SHARPENING STONES TO AFRICAN PLANTATION GROUP

Our Trading Division has just submitted a price quotation for the supply and delivery of budding knives and sharpening stones to our long time customer in Africa.

This customer has been using our Gebung Rubber tapping knives, sharpening stones and Ethephon Plus Latex stimulants for the past 15 years.

We have also introduced them to our patented RF Eaves with cover so that tapping can be done during rainy weather.

email us at TWKANG@emp.com.my if you require our products and services.

Monday, May 17, 2010

EMP PROJECTS AND ENGINEERING DIVISION REQUESTED TO QUOTE RUBBER PRODUCT MACHINERY TO BANGLADESH

In line with our company policy of being a One-Stop Rubber Machinery Supplier web portal, we have been tasked to quote a number of rubber products processing machinery.

The types of rubber product machinery required are as follows:-
  • Rubber dispersion kneader
  • Rubber extruder for producing rubber tubes
  • Continuous type Microwave vulcanising system for curing the rubber tubes
  • Rubber sheets calendars

We have already contacted our Taiwanese manufacturer(s) on the above and are awaiting for their pricings.

Besides our traditional business of designing upstream rubber processing lines, we are also keen in expanding our products and services by designing and supplying these value-added downstream types of rubber processing lines in developing countries.

The current enquiry is for Bangladesh and the potential customer is keen to invest in such a rubber products line.

If your company is interested in such processing lines, please email us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

NATURAL RUBBER BUSINESS FORECASTS

Natural rubber business forecasts improved outlook

By Dr. N. Yogaratnam

Global natural rubber (NR) prices continued to maintain their upward trend fetching around US$ 3.00 in early 2010, says the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG). Prices increased on an average by 36% from early December approaching close to US$ 3.00 level attained in early 2008. The physical price index for Thai RSS 3 increased by 30%; Indonesian SIR 20 and Malaysian SMR increased by 38% and 39% respectively, over the same period.

The upward trend is partly supported by fundamental factors as well as improving market sentiment following an easing in the global recession; physical prices also advanced following the surge in future prices. Aggressive replenishing of stocks by buyers to avoid supply scarcity over next few months on signs of demand recovery supported by the upward trend in prices, is expected to continue during this period.

Domestic scenario
The trend in domestic market (Sri Lankan) is equally encouraging, with rubber prices in the Colombo Auction reaching an all time high with a kilogram of rubber fetching around Rs 450/= in the 3rd week of April. Latex crepe as well as RSS1 fetched these high prices in the same auction. The RSS1 grade of rubber fetched only around Rs.105.00 per kg at the auction in November 2008.It is also interesting to note that, there is a good demand for the lower grades of RSS as well.

This increasing trend in NR prices provides a tremendous boost to domestic rubber producers, some of whom were out of rubber business due to the drastic drop in NR prices that was experienced over the last two years
NR output
Global output of NR fell by 5.1 % to 8.686 million tones during the 12 months ended December 2009 from 9.150 million tones in the previous year. The fall in supply is attributed to a decline in productivity in spite of expansion in yielding area due to adverse climatic conditions.

Thailand witnessed a 6.1 % drop in supply during 2009 from 3. 090 million tones in 2008 to 2.900 million tones in 2009. In Indonesia, the supply dropped by 5.7% in 2009 to 2.595 million tones from 2.751 million tones the year before. NR out put in Malaysia drastically fell during 2009 by 22.1% from 1.072 million tones in 2008 to 835,000 tonnes in 2009. India's production came down by 7.3% to 817,000 tonnes during 2009 compared to 882,000 in 2008.

In sharp contrast to the first four major producing countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and India), NR supply registered a positive growth in Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, due mainly to expansion in yielding area.

China strengthened its position in the global supply of NR by clocking 17.9% output growth during 2009 while the supply in Vietnam grew by 9.7% during 2009. Cambodia recorded 81.1% rise in supply year before.

Out put in Sri Lanka grew by 4.7% during 2009. Production in January/ February 2010 had been 12.9 Kg.Mn, which is higher by 5.7% compared with the production of 12.2 Kg.Mn in the same period in 2009.

In 2010, with the expected higher GDP growth and an improving outlook for prices, global NR production is forecast to reach almost 10.56 million tones, a rise of 11.9 %, compared to the previous forecast of a 3.7 % increase to 10.0 million tones, with higher out put seen in all the major NR producing countries.

The domestic NR production which has been showing an increasing trend over the last six years from 90,500 MT in 2002, reaching 133,400 MT in 2009, is expected to record a further significant increase of around 5.7%, in 2010. If this trend in production continues, our total NR production in 2010 would be around 141,003 MT.

Challenges
Prices have surged across the world in recent times, following supply crunch in the major NR producing countries. The crunch was caused mainly by climate change and the surge in the price of crude oil, now around US$ 86.

There had been a fall in production of NR in the major rubber producing countries. The fall was mainly attributed to variation on weather pattern. Climate change appears to have been a real threat to several agricultural crops and a tree crop like rubber is no exception. It had been reported that there were days of heavy rains as well as hot sunny days during the peak yielding months of August to September, in the Indian rubber growing areas. While the rains had disturbed tapping operations, the unusually hot days experienced in their rubber growing areas may have resulted in the evaporation soil moisture and delayed nutrient uptake.

Rains continued with intensity in the other major rubber producing countries of Thailand, Malaysia and even in Sri Lanka, whereas the Indonesian crop, it has been reported, has been affected by dry weather.

This is reported to be owing to the unusual weather phenomenon, which has caused rains or dry weather in different regions at the same time. Moreover, heavy downpours have been forecast in Southern Thailand during the three months of October, November and December 2010. This may bring about a fall in the country's NR production by about 10 %. Thailand produces 250,000 tons of NR a month on the average, but traders expect the annual production to stay within 2.9 million tons, whereas the country's national estimates for NR production in 2010 is over3.0 million tons. The forecasted weather pattern suggests that the country's official estimates may look unrealistic. Indonesia had a massive earthquakes in some NR producing areas, may also put NR production in disarray.

It is also known that among the terrestrial ecosystems, natural forests sustain the most efficient moisture conservation system. The water use by rubber plantations is still more efficient and is estimated to be 500-600mm lower than the typical tropical rain forests ecosystem. The rate of evaporation is lower in rubber plantations compared to the forest ecosystem where mean daily evapo-transpiration of rubber is about 4.5 mm per day.

The crop coefficient values of a rubber tree are reported to be lower during dry seasons, being in the region of 0.179, and even under wet conditions, it is around 1.058. The transpiration rate (TR) is also lower than many other forest species.

These data highlight the ability of rubber plantations to conserve soil moisture more efficiently than most other tree species and thereby they are in a position to adapt themselves to drought conditions. But the problem appears to be extreme weather conditions that are of regular occurrence now and that this trend is expected to continue with more vigor in future
Crude oil
Price of crude oil moved ahead of US$ 86 a barrel now. Sheet rubber that was fetching around US$ 3.00 may move up further. Since the price of crude oil is showing a tendency to move up further on higher consumption by the US, world rubber market is expected to witness a continued price boom.

Rubber consumption
The Industry Report of IRSG, forecasts an improved out look for global NR and SR consumption growth as compared to the previous projections for 2009 and 2010.

The extended recession scenario would result in a 3.3% increase in NR consumption to below 10.0 million tones in 2010, compared to the 8.2 growth rate of 10.6 million tones envisaged in the base case. SR consumption would rise 7.4% to 12.6 million tones in 2010, compared to a 14.9% increase to 13.5 million tones in the base case In Asia/Pacific, the largest consuming region, the latest data suggest that the sharp decline seen in total consumption earlier in 2009 may have been arrested.

Consumption of NR by Indian tyre industry has seen around 6% growth during 2009. Automobile tyres accounted for about 60% of the total NR consumption in the country. The total rubber consumption saw only about 2.55% growth during the same period, due to the decline in the consumption by non-tyre sector.

India is emerging as a large market for automobiles as its fuel-efficient, compact environment-friendly small cars are increasingly in demand in the Asian, European and Latin American markets. Economic and the rising fuel prices are forcing people in these countries to go for small vehicles. The 'scrappage incentive' offered by the European countries for replacing 9-year old cars with small, fuel-efficient vehicles has helped the Indian cars to enlarge its market share in these countries. Though this incentive ended in December 2009, but the trend in preferring compact vehicles will continue.

China has been progressing steadily in rubber consumption, with the tyre sector scaling up production in a bid to mitigate the effect of the US Government's imposition of 35% duty on import of Chinese tyres into the country. The decision has seriously affected Chinese tyre exports to the US. Robust domestic vehicle sales, however, have been driving up demand for tyres in China, which in turn, has necessitated large import of NR into the country.

Vietnam is expected to expand rubber cultivation by 220,000 hectares by 2015, to enhance the total cultivated rubber area to 800,000ha. The prospect of exporting substantial quantum of NR to China is believed to be, behind the move for the expansion. Vietnam is a regular supplier of NR to China. 65% of it's total NR exports of around 490,000 tons up to September 2009, was to it's neighbor China.

Outlook
Global NR production is forecast to rise by 11.9 to reach almost 10.56 million tones in 2010 compared to the 7% increase envisaged earlier with higher out put expected in all the NR producing countries, according to a Rubber Industry Report.

Asin out put is forecast to rise to 9.92 million tones in 2010 from 8.82 million tones forecast for 2009.Malaysian Rubber Board's estimates indicate that the country's current output of NR is around one million tones. The current yield level stands at 1,400 kg per hectare. Malaysia targets to enhance the productivity to 1,800 kg per hectare in five years' time. A proposal already drawn by them indicates, that the area under the estate sector would be almost doubled from the current extent of 61,000 ha to 120,000 ha in five years' time.

Thailand is also on a move to expand the rubber area. The country has already extended rubber cultivation to 160,000 ha during the five- year period between 2004 and 2009 and has drawn up proposals for planting another 160,000 hectares from 2010.

Sri Lanka also had embarked on a new planting program in the Low country Intermediate Zone covering an extent of 40,000ha, but the pace of replanting activities indicates that the replanting target may not be achieved as desired.

The Global demand for rubber gloves, is also expected to grow by 10% per annum says a 'Rubber World' report. The demand for rubber gloves is reported to be increasing from India, China and Vietnam due to increase in health and hygienic awareness.

Plantation expansion plans of the major NR producing countries have obviously been developed based on the rising trend in rubber prices. Since the global supply of NR is forecast to fall behind its consumption up to 2020, the current boom in the NR market is expected to continue.


INDIA RUBBER CONSUMPTION EXCEEDS USA

India overtakes US in rubber consumption

Agencies
Posted: Friday, May 14, 2010 at 1936 hrs IST
Updated: Friday, May 14, 2010 at 1936 hrs IST



Kottayam: India has overtaken recession-hit US as the second largest consumer of natural rubber, clocking a 6.8 per cent growth in 2009-10, a top Rubber Board Official said today.

India’s consumption of rubber rose to 930,565 tonnes in 2009-10 from 811,720 tonnes, board Chairman Sajan Peter said at the 162nd annual meeting of the Board here yesterday.

United States lost its No.2 position as its consumption plummeted by 34 per cent with the economic slowdown adversely affecting it, he said. China is the world’s largest rubber consumer.

During 2008-09 the consumption of natural rubber by US was 1,041,000 tonnes which fell to 687,000 tonnes in 2009-10, on account of recessionary trends, Peter said.

In India, the consumption of rubber by automotive tyre sector in 2009-10 moved up by 13.5 per cent against 2.5 per cent in 2008-09.

The production of rubber during 2009-10, however, decreased to 831,400 tonnes from 864,500 tonnes in 2008-09, a decline of 3.8 per cent with the unfavourable weather conditions and increase in the number of age old plantations being cited as the reason, he said.

The consumption in the automotive tyre sector in 2008-09 was 508,121 tonnes which increased by 13.5 per cent to 576,799 tonnes. The production is expected to rise by 8.93 lakh in 2010-11 from 8.31 lakh of the previous year.

According to estimates, during 2010-11 fiscal the production will be down by 85,000 tonnes compared with the consumption, but this will not affect the availability of rubber in the market as the country had 248,457 tonnes opening stocks, Peter said.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

OUR FIRST ETHEPHON PLUS ORDER TO INDIA



Our first order of one metric tonne of Ethephon Plus 5% concentration Latex stimulants packed in 40 Nos. x 25kg plastic containers are being packed for shipment.

This order will be going to India.

Our EMP Trading Division got this breakthrough recently and we expect to receive more orders of latex stimulants in the future.

Enquiries are welcomed on our range of Ethephon Plus Latex Stimulants from interested buyers around the world. Email to us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my.

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