Vietnam has continued to strengthen its position as one of China’s leading rubber suppliers. In the first four months of 2021, China’s rubber imports from Vietnam surged by 81.6%, with Vietnam’s market share rising sharply to 16.6%, up from 11.65% in the same period of 2020.
According to the Import–Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), citing data from China Customs, during January–April 2021, China imported rubber (HS codes 4001, 4002, 4003, 4005) worth USD 4.25 billion, an increase of 27.5% year-on-year.
The five largest suppliers of rubber to China were Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan.
Vietnam Ranks Second Among China’s Largest Rubber Suppliers
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In the first four months of 2021, Vietnam ranked second, exporting USD 705.64 million worth of rubber to China — up 81.6% from the same period in 2020.
Vietnam’s share of China’s total rubber import value reached 16.6%, compared with 11.65% in early 2020 — a notable increase that reflects the strong growth of Vietnamese rubber exports.
Natural Rubber Imports from Vietnam Soar Nearly 141%
During this period, China imported USD 493.33 million worth of natural rubber (HS code 4001), up 44.1% year-on-year.
Its main suppliers included Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Vietnam.
Vietnam was China’s fifth-largest supplier of natural rubber, with USD 82.26 million in export value — an increase of 140.9% compared with the same period in 2020.
Vietnam’s share of China’s total natural rubber import value reached 6.76%, up from 4.04% in early 2020.
Vietnam’s Mixed Rubber Exports Show Strong Performance
China also imported USD 1.71 billion worth of mixed natural and synthetic rubber (HS code 400280), up 12.3% year-on-year.
The top five suppliers were Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
Vietnam was the second-largest supplier of mixed rubber to China, with USD 619.82 million, up nearly 77% from the same period in 2020.
Vietnam’s market share for this product category rose sharply to 36.27%, compared with 23.03% a year earlier — consolidating its strong foothold in the Chinese rubber market.
Outlook
The significant growth in Vietnam’s rubber exports to China reflects not only rising Chinese industrial demand but also Vietnam’s increasing role as a key raw material supplier for the regional tire and manufacturing sectors.
With China maintaining strong recovery momentum in its automotive and construction industries, Vietnam’s rubber export potential to the market remains highly promising for the rest of 2021 and beyond.