Rubber, tyres and Africa’s conundrum

Rubber, tyres and Africa’s conundrum

International demand for natural rubber is on the increase and Africa could benefit.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.

Global demand for rubber, particularly natural rubber, continues to rise due to its use in various industries such as automotive (tyres), healthcare (gloves), and consumer goods (footwear, sports equipment).

As the market grows, Africa could tap into this demand and increase its share of the global rubber supply.

However, for rubber plantations to be profitable you need large tracts of land, and it could have negative environmental and social impacts. Several African countries are looking at rubber with renewed interest. The question is: will the benefits outweigh the risks?

Increased demand for rubber         

About around 70% of natural rubber is used in the production of tyres for vehicles, including cars, trucks (large mining equipment), and motorcycles.

As global automobile production continues to rise, especially in emerging markets like China, India, and Southeast Asia, demand for rubber, particularly high-quality natural rubber, has increased.

The rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs) has also contributed to rubber demand. While EVs use fewer tyres than conventional vehicles, the overall growth in vehicle production still adds to the rubber demand.

The amount of rubber used in a typical car tyre varies depending on its size and type, but on average, a standard passenger car tyre contains about 7 to 10 kilograms (15 to 22 pounds) of rubber.

Rubber is used in the tyre’s tread, sidewalls, and inner layers. While rubber is the main component, most of the tyre’s weight comes from other materials, such as steel belts and fabric layers used for reinforcement. The exact proportion of rubber in a tyre will depend on the tyre’s design and intended use.

Should Africa invest in rubber plantations?

While Africa does have an indigenous rubber tree in Funtumia africana, the commercial rubber industry on the continent is predominantly based on the introduced Hevea brasiliensis, which has much higher rubber yields.

Africa could consider investing in rubber plantations for several reasons, including economic growth, diversification of agriculture and job creation.

However, to maximize the benefits, there must be strategic planning, research and development, and sustainable practices to ensure the industry’s long-term success. Additionally, African governments and businesses would need to work together to build the necessary infrastructure and systems to compete effectively in the global rubber market.

The rubber sector in Africa

The rubber sector in Africa, particularly focused on natural rubber, has seen significant growth, although it is still relatively small compared to other regions like Southeast Asia.

The continent’s rubber production is mainly concentrated in countries with suitable tropical climates. The most notable producers in Africa include Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Malawi

Africa’s natural rubber production is still small compared to Asia (especially Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam). In 2020, Africa’s production of natural rubber was estimated at around 700,000 metric tons, a relatively modest share of the global market.

During the 2024 WhyAfrica Road Trip we had a look at the Vizara rubber plantations in the Nkhata Bay District of Central Malawi. Malawi’s exports of natural rubber are expected to reach around USD5-million by 2026.

In 2022, Malawi exported USD4.19-million in rubber. The main destinations of Malawi exports for rubber are South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania.

The Vizara Plantation in Malawi

The Vizara Plantation is the only commercially viable rubber plantation in Southern Africa. The founders of this company, the Moir brothers, started planting seedlings on the north-western shores of lake Malawi in the early 1880s.

Rubber was first planted here at the turn of the last century, by African Lakes Corporation (ALC), a company registered in Scotland. A major programme to expand this enterprise began in the early 1970s. In 1985, ALC acquired Chombe Tea Estate from Guthries, uprooted the tea bushes and replanted the area with rubber.

In 2004, after over 120 years of ownership, ALC sold the estate to Nyasa Investments, the new owners.

Nyasa Investments has also expanded significantly and invested in large scale new plantings and re-plantings and a new timber mill. The Estate now comprises 2,656 hectares of area under rubber plantation, rubber processing factories and a timber mill.

The rubber trees in this area provide an abundance of crude rubber, a superb material for football-crafting. The locals in and around Nkhata Bay produce great rubber balls, which are very bouncy and fun to play with.

The rubber balls are made with a bladder inside, and then hundreds of long thin strips of rubber are latticed around it.

On the downside the negative impacts of rubber plantations are complex and multifaceted, spanning environmental degradation, social issues, and health concerns.

Balancing the economic benefits of rubber production with sustainable practices is critical to reducing these adverse effects. Sustainable rubber production techniques, such as agroforestry and better land management, can help mitigate some of these challenges.

Rubber, tyres and Africa’s conundrum