Once again, Côte d’Ivoire has surprised the global rubber industry by exporting 110,000 tons of natural rubber (NR) in July 2022, an impressive 33.7% increase compared to the same month last year.
During the first seven months of 2022, the country’s total NR exports reached 724,000 tons, up 17.1% year-on-year — underscoring its rapid rise as a key player in the global rubber market.
July Exports Soar Nearly 34%
As Côte d’Ivoire’s domestic rubber product manufacturing sector remains underdeveloped, most of its NR output is exported. Therefore, export volume closely represents national rubber production.
Rubber production in Côte d’Ivoire fluctuates seasonally, with 51% of annual output occurring between January and July, and the remaining 49% produced from August to December.
Based on this seasonal pattern, Côte d’Ivoire is projected to produce an additional 647,000 tons in the last five months of 2022, bringing total annual production to approximately 1.32 million tons — equivalent to 9% of global supply.
If achieved, this output would allow Côte d’Ivoire to overtake Vietnam and become the world’s third-largest natural rubber producer in 2022.
Export Markets and Trade Structure
In the first seven months of 2022, Côte d’Ivoire’s major NR export destinations included:
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Malaysia: 22.0%
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China: 19.8%
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India: 8.7%
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United States: 8.3%
Notably, exports to India and China surged by 89.7% and 48.4%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
By product type:
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Cup lump rubber (including other raw rubber forms) accounted for 85.5% of exports to Malaysia (159,000 tons).
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Technically Specified Rubber (TSR) made up 100% of exports to China, India, and the U.S.
Export Prices and Market Differentiation
In July 2022, the FOB prices for Côte d’Ivoire’s NR exports varied by destination:
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TSR:
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China: USD 138.9/100 kg
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India: USD 147.5/100 kg
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United States: USD 156.2/100 kg
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Cup lump rubber (and other raw forms):
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Malaysia: USD 78.2/100 kg (June 2022 data)
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These price differences reflect Côte d’Ivoire’s growing competitiveness as a low-cost producer, increasingly attractive to Asian markets, while maintaining strong trade relations with Malaysia, India, and the U.S.