Wintering, Labour Shifts Cripple Malaysian Rubber Output In April

​​​​​​​Malaysia’s natural rubber industry faltered in April 2025, with production plunging to its lowest level in recent years amid deep-rooted structural challenges and seasonal headwinds. Despite the government’s sustained push to revitalise the smallholder-driven sector, a shortage of tappers and shifting rural labour priorities—particularly during the durian season—have exposed the sector’s fragility.