Vietnam’s rubber has enjoyed trade surplus after suffering deficit for many years, exceeding 1 billion USD in the export of rubber products this year.

The information was released by Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Rubber and Plastic Manufacturers Association Nguyen Quoc Anh at a recent press conference to introduce a rubber and tyre exhibition held in the city.

Domestic rubber exporters can now join the billion USD club, he said, noting that they must pay attention to improve the quality of their products.

Vietnam has become the fifth biggest natural rubber producer in the world with 910,500 ha of land under rubber trees, producing 836,600 tonnes of rubber in 2012, she said.

The country also ranked fourth in terms of the amount of natural rubber for export, which accounted for 10.6 percent of the market share in 2012.

The nation’s rubber tree productivity is about 1,707 tonnes of latex per ha, generating 105 million VND, ranking third after India and Thailand.-VNA