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Rubber production fell to 3,476 metric tons in March 2026, down from 6,527 in February and nearly 30% below year-ago levels, according to LISGIS. For smallholder farmers paid by volume, the decline translates directly to lost income in a sector that now accounts for less than 3% of national exports.
Rubber contributed US$105.99 million in constant-price GDP in 2025, up 8% from US$98.14 million the year before. But monthly production tells a rougher story: output swung from 14,214 metric tons in June 2025 to 1,871 tons in September, and March 2026 came in at just 3,476 tons. The sector is growing in value while grappling with deep seasonality.
Gold, diamond and cement output rose sharply in early 2026, with diamonds more than doubling year-on-year and cement up 52%, while rubber, cocoa and timber production fell. The split captures an economy where mining surges and traditional agriculture struggles.