In response to growing market demand and difficulties in selling traditional rubber products, Kon Tum Rubber Company has strategically shifted toward producing and processing mixed rubber grades (SVR 10 Mix, SVR 3L Mix). This move marks a forward-looking strategy to capture emerging global trends and customer needs.
First Steps into Mix Rubber Production
Following detailed market assessments, the Business Market Department and VRG Industrial Department identified a significant rise in customer demand for mixed rubber products, including SVR 10 Mix and SVR 3L Mix, especially from new export markets. Acting on this insight, Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) directed its member companies to diversify into producing mixed rubber to meet this increasing demand.
According to Mr. Ngo Van Man – Deputy General Director of Kon Tum Rubber Company, “To diversify our product range and satisfy both existing and new customers, under VRG’s guidance and with technical support from its departments, we have begun manufacturing these new rubber grades. Although we are still in the early stages, the results so far have been promising.”
In 2023, the company produced 900 tons of SVR 3L Mix and 913 tons of SVR 10 Mix, achieving encouraging results despite being a new venture.
Mr. Man added: “Since we are new to this product line, production costs remain unstable and relatively high. Market awareness of these products is still limited, and our promotional activities need to be strengthened.”
Focus on Quality and Process Optimization
To meet customers’ growing expectations for mixed rubber quality, Kon Tum Rubber has implemented several technical and managerial measures. “The company continuously improves productivity and quality, from plantations to processing stages, while adhering closely to VRG’s direction in product development,” Mr. Man emphasized.
A key initiative has been the strict application of the corporate standard TCCS 111:2023, which regulates the collection, preservation, transport, and acceptance of latex materials. The company ensures that raw latex quality meets requirements right from the plantation level, minimizing variability in final products.
For 2024, VRG assigned Kon Tum Rubber a target of 1,500 tons of SVR 3L Mix out of its total 9,500-ton production plan. To support this, the company plans to upgrade its Ngoc Hoi Rubber Processing Plant with additional equipment such as cutting machines, shredders, and screw conveyors to facilitate efficient mixed rubber production in compliance with VRG’s TCCS 117 and TCCS 119 standards — governing the technological process for mixing natural rubber (SVR 10, SVR 3L) with synthetic rubber (SBR 1502).
Digital Transformation and Market Promotion
To further expand its market reach, Kon Tum Rubber is integrating digital technologies into branding and traceability systems, allowing customers to track product origins quickly and transparently.
According to Mr. Man, “We are promoting the VRG natural rubber brand and highlighting its superior quality, especially with our SVR 10 Mix and SVR 3L Mix products. This approach ensures greater transparency, builds trust, and enhances competitiveness in international markets.”