Malaysia has once again captured the global spotlight with the commencement of the International Rubber Industry Convention and Expo (IRICE) 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Officiated by YB Datuk Seri Johari bin Abdul Ghani, Minister of Plantation and Commodities and Acting Minister of Natural Resources & Environmental Sustainability, the opening ceremony served as a powerful showcase of the nation's leadership in the global rubber industry. The event brings together 86 exhibiting companies from six countries—Malaysia, China, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand—alongside a distinguished gathering of industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and international buyers.
Organised by the Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers Association (MRPMA) and co-hosted with the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC), this flagship industry event is set to welcome over 3,000 trade buyers and 200 conference delegates over its three-day run. IRICE 2025 reinforces the joint efforts of MRPMA and MRC to elevate Malaysia's rubber industry as a global leader in business opportunities, innovation sharing, and international collaboration.Key highlights include 111 booths showcasing Malaysia’s excellence in dry rubber products—from tyres and automotive components to footwear, industrial goods, and medical devices. The event also features an international conference with 30 sessions on sustainability and digital transformation, B2B business matching via MRC’s eGSM platform, and a special celebration honouring “100 Years of Excellence in Rubber & Latex Science Research”.
This year’s theme, “Building a Sustainable Future for the Rubber Industry,” reflects the industry’s long-term commitment to sustainability, innovation, and global competitiveness, aligning with Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030). IRICE 2025 unites the entire rubber ecosystem, from government and academia to the SMEs that form the backbone of Malaysia’s success, acting as a hub for regional collaboration. This gathering occurs against a backdrop of a resilient trade outlook; despite global challenges, Malaysia’s dry rubber exports remained strong at RM2.89 billion in the first half of 2025, with exports of industrial rubber goods surging 18.5% year-on-year.
In his keynote address, YB Datuk Seri Johari bin Abdul Ghani emphasised Malaysia’s pivotal role in the global supply chain, stating that the nation’s growth will be accelerated through strategic shifts in land use, import dependency, sustainability standards, and economic diplomacy. MRPMA President, Mr. Yeaw Kok Kwey, highlighted IRICE as a global stage for Malaysia's high-value dry rubber products, while the Organising Chairman, Mr. Loh Yoon Hon, underlined the importance of building linkages across the ecosystem to create opportunities that will strengthen the industry across the region. As the industry looks ahead to the next edition in August 2027, IRICE 2025 is not just about today, but about carrying this momentum forward. The event runs from 26–28 August 2025; for more information, please visit www.irice.com.my.
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