National Natural Rubber Days: Rubber Production Reaches 1.6 Million Tons in 2023, Up from 164,138 Tons in 2005

Natural rubber production in Côte d'Ivoire has reached 1.6 million tons in 2023, a significant increase from 164,138 tons in 2005, representing a tenfold growth over 18 years. This information was announced by Charles-Emmanuel Yacé, President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Natural Rubber Professionals of Côte d'Ivoire (APROMAC), during the first edition of the National Natural Rubber Days held on October 25, 2024, in Abidjan.

According to Yacé, there are currently 180,000 village producers and 40 functional first-stage processing factories. He attributed the success of Ivorian rubber cultivation to government initiatives and a collaborative effort among producers, processors, traders, and both national and international partners.

Yacé expressed optimism for the future of the rubber sector in Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting that natural rubber production is expected to continue growing in the coming years, driven by high agricultural yields and the expansion of cultivated areas.

The Minister of State and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, noted that improvements in the business environment and tax agreements signed between the government and companies have increased the total processing capacity to over 2.2 million tons per year.