Rubber needs consistent quality

The uneven quality of rubber products from ‘Made in Vietnam’ factories is why local rubber products are cheaper than those from other countries, according to industry insiders.
rubber needs consistent quality hinh 0
Workers harvest rubber latex at Tan Loi Rubber Plantation in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

Tran Minh, head of the Vietnam Rubber Group’s Industry Department, said when using local rubber products, foreign producers have to use more technologies and additives to stabilise the quality.

“We need to build a national-level rubber latex process to stabilise quality. It’s essential to set up a management body to supervise latex quality before exporting. This has been conducted by many countries,” Minh told a conference in Hanoi this week.

To Xuan Phuc, an expert from Forest Trends said latex from small rubber plantations is often contaminated with impurities. As a result, even though Vietnam has set strict standards of product quality, only large companies have met the requirements of importers.

According to Forest Trends, a non-profit organisation promoting sustainable forest management and conservation, State-owned enterprises and private firms which have large rubber plantations have occupied 38% of total crude latex volume of Vietnam annually. Meanwhile, small plantations, which are owned by households, supply the rest.

Although rubber plantation area between these two sides is almost 50-50, many large rubber plantations have reached the end of the latex exploitation cycle (20-25 years), while small plantations are in the best harvesting period.

The rubber industry does not only help Vietnam earn billions of US dollars but also create jobs for more than 500,000 labourers. The industry has played an important role in supplying materials for domestic production sectors, especially wood processing.

In term of latex processing, non-State owned enterprises use nearly 60% of total latex annually, producing industrial products such as tyres, gloves and materials for the footwear sector. Foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises have the advantage of advanced technology and large investments in factories. Therefore, they attracted more than 60% of the labour force, while private firms employ 23% and the remainder work for State-owned enterprises.

At the conference, experts also discussed new challenges for the country’s rubber industry, especially amid the US-China trade war.

The US will impose tariffs on up to 25% on imports from China, such as furniture and automotive parts, as early as 2019. The tariffs could be pushed up to 44% if trade tensions escalate.

The Vietnamese rubber industry is likely to be hurt because China is the largest importer of Vietnamese natural rubber (65.3% of total exports). China was a key importer of rubber materials from Vietnam, and about 70% of its import volume was used to produce tyres.

According to the analysis, in the US-China trade war, Vietnam’s most affected export sectors are computers, furniture, automobile products and automobile tires. Chinese products exported to the US that are related to Vietnam’s rubber industry are likely to be affected. But it’s not clear how it will impact on industry.

To minimise the risks from the US-China trade in the timber and rubber sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has recently asked Forest Trends to assess the impact of the US-China war on Vietnam’s timber industry.

VNA

Other News

Data-driven land valuation to curb speculation: Experts

Data-driven land valuation to curb speculation: Experts

From a property-market perspective, Do Thi Thu Giang, National Director of Valuation and Advisory at Savills Vietnam, said the orientations under Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW could make the market more transparent and efficient, with property values increasingly tied to actual development and use potential.

Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW sets new growth drivers for Vietnam

Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW sets new growth drivers for Vietnam

Science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and AI must be translated into higher productivity rather than pursued as ends in themselves. At the same time, people should be placed at the centre of development, not merely viewed as a resource but as the ultimate objective of development policies.

Expo to open door for Vietnamese suppliers to enter US market

Expo to open door for Vietnamese suppliers to enter US market

US retail giant Target is seeking Vietnamese suppliers of household goods, home textiles, children’s products, personal care and beauty products, with a focus on companies capable of manufacturing and developing products that meet requirements on quality, design and supply chain management.

2026 Banking Sector Digital Transformation to open in Hanoi

2026 Banking Sector Digital Transformation to open in Hanoi

The annual event, which will be held on August 18-19, 2026, at the ICE International Exhibition Centre, 91 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi, is expected to attract around 324 delegates and feature 21 booths representing credit institutions, payment intermediary service providers, and technology companies.

Vietnam – one of most attractive destinations for leading US semiconductor companies: expert

Vietnam – one of most attractive destinations for leading US semiconductor companies: expert

Vietnam has built a solid semiconductor and electronics industry before joining ITSI, attracting major US semiconductor companies. Intel Products Vietnam is one of Intel's largest assembly and testing facilities worldwide, while chip design companies such as Synopsys, Cadence, Marvell and Qualcomm have established engineering and research centres in the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam targets higher-quality FDI under Resolution 10

Vietnam targets higher-quality FDI under Resolution 10

During the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam attracted more than 38 billion USD in registered FDI, up nearly 58% year-on-year. More importantly, the increase was driven by large-scale, high-tech projects rather than a surge in the number of new investments, signalling a significant improvement in the quality of capital inflows.

Manufacturing, engineering drive hiring growth in H1: report

Manufacturing, engineering drive hiring growth in H1: report

Manufacturing and engineering posted the strongest recruitment growth, with hiring demand surging 70% year-on-year, driven by production expansion, supply chain restructuring and sustained investment inflows in high-tech manufacturing.

Government proposes special mechanisms to unblock APEC 2027 projects in Phu Quoc

Government proposes special mechanisms to unblock APEC 2027 projects in Phu Quoc

The projects in Phu Quoc have been implemented under tight deadlines. Since May 2025, the Prime Minister has directed preparations for APEC 2027, including accelerated infrastructure development on the special zone. An Giang province and investors have subsequently launched a number of major projects involving complex technical requirements and demanding construction schedules.

Financial market reform plan targets high, sustained growth through 2045

Financial market reform plan targets high, sustained growth through 2045

The plan seeks to develop a balanced and modern financial market that is closely integrated with regional and global markets, strengthens the mobilisation and allocation of domestic and foreign capital, and enhances the market’s role as a key provider of medium- and long-term capital for the economy and as a major driver of sustained high economic growth.

An Giang aims to become leading maritime economic hub

An Giang aims to become leading maritime economic hub

Under the province's master plan for 2021–2030 with a vision to 2050, An Giang will prioritise investment in five strategic sectors: strategic infrastructure; processing industries and clean energy; trade, services, logistics and border-gate economy; high-quality tourism; and high-tech agriculture, ecological development and the circular economy.