Quake to have small impact on rubber demand - ANRPC

ERJ staff report (DS)

Kuala Lumpur - “The disaster in northeast Japan on March 11 and subsequent nuclear plant meltdowns and explosions will not have significant impact on rubber demand from the country.” According to a press release from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).

In the statement, the group said, “Japan accounts for seven per cent of the global demand for natural rubber. The closure of a handful of auto-tyre plants in the country's northeast region for a few days cannot impact on the commodity's global demand in a significant way. If at all there is any marginal impact, it will be for a short-term only.”

ANRPC referred to news reports saying, “Production has already been partly resumed in one of the five plants closed. Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. confirmed that buildings or facilities in any of its plants in the region have not been damaged although a plant has been temporarily shut down due to power outage. No damage has been reported for Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. and Michelin which are the three other auto-tyre manufacturing companies running plants in Japan.”

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Press release from ANRPC