Cote d'Ivoire's natural rubber industry has reached a critical juncture, fifty years after the creation of the Association of Natural Rubber Professionals of Côte d'Ivoire (APROMAC). The sector has experienced significant growth, with production reaching 2.5 million tons in 2025. However, the industry's expansion has led to a mismatch between installed industrial capacity and the availability of raw materials.
The rapid growth of the industry has encouraged the installation of new industrial units, with international groups joining local operators. According to Lamine Sanogo, president of the Association of Natural Rubber Producers and Processors of Côte d'Ivoire (AUPCN), this development has significantly strengthened the country's processing capacity. Nevertheless, the sector now faces a new challenge: ensuring a regular supply of raw materials to meet the demands of the expanding industrial capacity.
The aging of plantations has exacerbated concerns about the availability of raw materials. Approximately 90% of the country's rubber production is affected by issues related to plantation age and declining yields. The Urbanization has reduced agricultural land, further complicating the situation. To address this issue, the Emergency Program for the Renewal and Extension of the Rubber Plantation (PURE) was launched in 2025, aiming to renew and extend the plantation area to 500,000 hectares by 2035.
The PURE program focuses on two main areas: replacing plantations that have exceeded their economic lifespan and extending rubber cultivation to areas previously considered marginal. To support this initiative, infrastructure for producing plant material will be developed, including 60 hectares of grafting gardens and 60 hectares of nurseries in the East, West, and Central regions.
Beyond ensuring a stable supply of raw materials, industry professionals aim to add value to natural rubber production. The goal is to move beyond mere production and processing of raw materials to developing industrial activities that capture more value in Côte d'Ivoire. This involves diversifying products derived from rubber, such as producing biodiesel, oil, or soap from seeds, and developing latex concentrate, gloves, and other products.
The National Agronomic Research Center (CNRA) will support this development by developing new clones suitable for various applications. The center's representative, Michel Amani Kouakou, emphasized that previously developed varieties were primarily intended for natural rubber production. The new industrial requirements necessitate plant material adapted to the valorization of other rubber tree resources.
The industry's stakeholders must address multiple challenges, including plantation renewal, yield improvement, supply chain security, and the development of new outlets. The question of labor, particularly for tappers, and the valorization of end-of-life plantations also need to be addressed. The discussions during the 50th anniversary of APROMAC highlighted the need to evolve the Ivoirian rubber industry's development model, focusing on research, innovation, and second-stage processing.
Key points
- Cote d'Ivoire's natural rubber industry faces challenges in balancing production, industrial capacity, and plantation renewal.
