Rubber Industries in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Natural rubber industry has a long history in Papua New Guinea, because the Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, had been planted since 1903. In recent years, the production volume of natural rubber has been decreasing, however, some efforts for expanding natural rubber industries are planned. There is only one natural rubber estate in Doa, Central province. The technically specified rubber is produced from cup lump. The products are exported to only Malaysia. There are approximately ten thousand of smallholders in Western province. Traders buy cup lump from the smallholders and sell them to primary processing factories or export them to other countries. The smallholders organize cooperative of natural rubber led by some companies and the government. The potential of natural rubber industry in Papua New Guinea is very high. Both of the estates in Central province and the cooperative in Western province are proceeding new planting. In the near future, the production volume would be increased rapidly in Papua New Guinea.