By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, July 13, GNA – The Rubber Processors Association of Ghana (RUPAG) has said early industry indicators suggest that the temporary restrictions on raw natural rubber exports are beginning to support increased domestic market activity, industrial growth and value addition within Ghana.
The Association said recent procurement figures indicate growing domestic demand for raw rubber and improving opportunities for actors across the rubber value chain.
A statement by RUPAG and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said, local processors purchased approximately 30,967 tonnes (dry) of raw rubber between January and June 2026, compared to approximately 21,627 tonnes (dry) during the same period in 2025.
This represents an increase of approximately 43 per cent in domestic purchases.
Mr Perry Acheampong, Secretary of RUPAG, said the figures suggest that concerns that farmers, traders and aggregators would lose market opportunities following the temporary export restrictions had not materialised.
He explained that purchases from traders and aggregators increased significantly from approximately 5,987 tonnes (dry) during January-June 2025 to approximately 13,431 tonnes (dry) during the same period in 2026, representing an increase of approximately 124 per cent.
Similarly, purchases directly from farmers increased from approximately 15,640 tonnes (dry) to approximately 17,535 tonnes (dry), representing an increase of approximately 12 per cent.
“The early data indicate that domestic market activity is expanding and that opportunities continue to exist for farmers, traders and aggregators,” Mr Acheampong stated.
He said local processors had continued purchasing raw materials while maintaining competitive prices above the monthly minimum factory gate prices announced by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA).
According to him, the emerging trends demonstrated the importance of retaining strategic raw materials to support domestic industrial growth.
Mr Acheampong said the temporary export restrictions should be viewed within the broader context of Ghana’s industrialisation agenda and the Government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy.
He noted that local processing generated significantly greater economic benefits than exporting raw materials.
“Every additional tonne processed locally supports jobs in factories, transport, logistics, freight forwarding, warehousing and other ancillary services while also generating taxes and foreign exchange earnings for the country,” he said.
Industry projections indicate that local value addition could generate approximately US$1.36 billion in additional foreign exchange earnings and approximately GHS326 million in additional tax revenues between 2026 and 2031.
Mr Acheampong explained that local processors were already increasing production and preparing to progressively expand operations in line with the Government’s vision of a 24-hour economy.
“The long-term objective should be to ensure that Ghana derives maximum value from its natural resources by processing more of its rubber locally rather than exporting raw materials,” he said.
He said Ghana’s policy direction was consistent with international developments in the rubber industry.
He noted that several producing countries had adopted measures to prioritise domestic processing and value addition.
Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia have introduced measures restricting exports of raw rubber to support local industries, while Nigeria processed virtually all its natural rubber into Technically Specified Rubber (TSR) before export.
He also cited market intelligence published by Helixtap, a Smartkarma Group company, indicating that Malaysia increasingly relied on imported raw rubber, including from Ghana, to sustain its downstream manufacturing industries.
According to Helixtap, Ghana currently accounted for approximately 15.2 per cent of Malaysia’s natural rubber imports.
“The lesson from other producing countries is clear. Countries that process their raw materials create more jobs, generate more foreign exchange and build stronger industrial economies,” he said.
Mr Acheampong called for continued engagement and collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure that the transition towards increased domestic value addition benefits all actors within the value chain.
He said farmers, traders, aggregators, processors, transporters, freight forwarders, nursery operators and regulators all had important roles to play in building a competitive and sustainable rubber industry.
“The early indications are encouraging. While implementation challenges remain and stakeholder concerns must continue to be addressed, the available evidence suggests that the policy is moving in the right direction and should be given the opportunity to mature,” he stated.
He added that strengthening domestic processing would ultimately contribute to job creation, increased exports, enhanced foreign-exchange earnings, and greater national economic resilience.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba