Southeast Asia, led by nations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, has established dominance of global rubber production, accounting for nearly 80% of the world's natural rubber output. Vietnam, in a noteworthy development, has emerged as a standout in this sector. In the past two years, the country has seen its rubber production outstrip that of traditional leaders like India, Thailand, and Malaysia, carving out almost 9% of the global market share. The industry, with a focus on exports, predominantly serves markets in China, India, Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States.
December 2023 marked a significant milestone for the Vietnamese rubber industry with the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) hosting an international conference in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The conference, a congregation of over 60 delegates and industry experts, centered around sustainable practices within the rubber industry. A key moment of the event was the presentation by Vu Que Anh of FSC Vietnam, who discussed the new Interim Forest Stewardship Standard for non-timber products. This standard is a strategic move aimed at enhancing sustainable forest management and increasing the availability of FSC-certified rubber products.
The event also featured the Vietnam Rubber Association's annual dinner, it serves as a platform to exhibit the progress of the Vietnamese rubber sector, bridging buyers and suppliers, also recognize the efforts of organizations like FSC in adapting to global industry trends.
The conference saw high-level government engagement, with Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, commending the achievements of the Vietnamese rubber industry. This endorsement by the government further highlighted Vietnam's increasingly influential role in steering the global rubber market towards a sustainable and prosperous future.