The International Rubber Industry Convention and Expo (IRICE) 2025, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 26–28 August, marked a significant step for Malaysia’s tyre and rubber sectors. Promoted as the only dedicated exhibition for the country’s rubber product industry, IRICE 2025 brought together manufacturers, suppliers, and retreaders under the banner “Driving Innovation, Connecting World Opportunities”. Organisers estimated more than 3,000 buyers would attend, underscoring the scale of ambition behind the event.
A Call to Unity
The opening keynote, delivered by Yeaw Kok Kwey, President of the Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers’ Association (MRPMA), set the tone by urging closer collaboration between government, academia, and industry. He highlighted the legacy of Malaysia’s rubber sector, positioning SMEs as the backbone of the economy, and called for the industry to maintain its course on sustainability and innovation. His remarks underscored the long journey from Malaysia’s origins in latex tapping through to modern manufacturing and exports that contribute directly to GDP. The message was clear: Malaysia’s rubber story is still being written, and its future depends on collective effort.
Retreading in Focus
While IRICE was broad in scope, retreading companies used the event to emphasise their role in a sustainable and competitive tyre ecosystem.
Steven Gan, Executive Director of SunRubber, was cautiously optimistic, describing IRICE 2025 as “much better than many previous years.” For his company, the show provided a valuable platform to reconnect with customers and suppliers. “It’s a good opportunity, a place for everybody to be,” he said, adding that the next step would be to attract greater international attention. While Gan acknowledged the challenges of internationalisation, he noted that IRICE had already succeeded in drawing a number of overseas suppliers, creating a useful base for broader exposure.
Gan’s comments reflected SunRubber’s long-standing reputation as one of Malaysia’s leading retread and tread rubber producers. With extensive operations in Seremban and a growing international footprint, the company exemplifies Malaysia’s ambition to match operational excellence with export growth.
A Mixed Experience
Randy Wong, Technical Manager for Eversafe, observed that while the company participated in supporting the event and providing visibility around retread tyres, most enquiries at their stand came from suppliers rather than customers. “Our product is not actually related to daily essentials,” he explained, “so for us it was more about showing support and seeing what’s happening.” He noted that industry events often take time to attract the right balance of visitors and expressed hope that future editions would draw a more international customer base.
This perspective highlights a central reality of IRICE 2025: the event is still finding its footing. For companies directly aligned with the retreading and rubber products sector, the show delivered networking value and renewed visibility. For others, the return on participation may depend on how the event evolves in future years.
Looking Ahead
Despite the mixed reception, IRICE 2025 succeeded in positioning Malaysia’s rubber and retreading industries on the international stage. It offered a platform for dialogue at a time when Malaysia is seeking to recover ground lost to regional competitors such as Thailand and Indonesia.
For retreading, the event demonstrated both the resilience of established players and the untapped potential for export growth. With quality standards in place and decades of expertise, Malaysian retreaders believe they can compete with producers in Europe and the United States. What remains is to scale awareness, attract investment, and deepen international engagement.
As Yeaw Kok Kwey reminded delegates in his opening keynote, the future of Malaysia’s rubber industry lies in unity, innovation, and sustainability. IRICE 2025, modest in size but ambitious in scope, showed the first steps of that journey. Its real test will be whether it can return in 2026 as a stronger, more internationally recognised platform for Malaysia’s retreading and rubber sectors.
