Although it has cooled down compared to last month, rubber prices are expected to remain high in the coming time due to supply shortages.
The Import-Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that in January 2025, Vietnam’s rubber exports were 160,632 tons, worth 298.68 million USD. Compared to December 2024, this represents a decrease of 32.5% in volume and 34% in value. Compared to January 2024, there is a decrease of 23.7% in volume but an increase of 0.6% in value due to high prices.
Regarding export prices, in January 2025, the average export price of rubber from Vietnam reached 1,859 USD/ton, a decrease of 2.3% compared to December 2024 but still a significant increase of 31.7% compared to January 2024. Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, Vietnam’s rubber export activities significantly decreased in the first month of 2025.
In January 2025, rubber exports from Vietnam to most major consuming markets decreased compared to the last month. However, compared to the same period in 2024, the volume of rubber exported to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the US increased strongly, while exports to China, India, South Korea, and Turkey showed a downward trend.
Rubber prices are forecast to remain high due to supply shortages.
China remains the largest rubber export market for Vietnam, accounting for 78.7% of total export volume and 78.1% of total value in the first month of 2025. Vietnam exported 126,384 tons of rubber to China, worth 233.3 million USD, a decrease of 24.7% in volume but a slight increase of 0.1% in value compared to the same period last year. The average export price to this market was 1,846 USD/ton, an increase of 33%.
Meanwhile, the volume of rubber exported to the Indian and South Korean markets also saw a sharp decline of 66.6% and 54% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 3,934 tons and 2,452 tons, respectively.
Malaysia has risen to become Vietnam’s second-largest rubber export market in January 2025, with a volume increase of 8.4 times and a value increase of 9.4 times compared to January 2024, reaching 6,605 tons and a value of 10,095 tons.
The Vietnam Rubber Association also predicts that 2025 will be a successful year for the Vietnamese rubber industry, with the total export turnover of the entire industry reaching about 11-11.2 billion USD, a growth of 10% compared to 2024. This forecast is made in the context of the rubber industry continuously seeking opportunities for sustainable growth, especially as the export value is trending strongly upward due to international economic factors and Vietnam’s domestic policies.
Although there is a slight decrease compared to last month, rubber prices are expected to remain high in the coming time due to supply shortage. Rubber trees are usually exploited until January each year and stop from February to May before entering a new harvest season. Therefore, the rubber production can only be added from June 2025.
According to experts, although the production of natural rubber in leading producing countries is tending to shrink, global rubber consumption continues to increase, especially from China, the world’s largest rubber importer.
An important factor in maintaining high rubber prices is the increase in demand for the “tire manufacturing” industry and industrial equipment. Vietnamese rubber companies are benefiting from this trend, as global demand for rubber increases, contributing to the rise in export rubber prices.