Report: Thai rubber planters form new body

Bangkok – In Thailand, 15 groups representing natural rubber growers have merged to create the Rubber Planters Assembly, the Bangkok Post has reported.

The move, said the report, is in response to a request from the Thai government that planters form a joint front to help reverse the sharp decline in rubber prices of recent years.

The report went on to list a series of measures – including commitments to purchase rubber and soft loans - being introduced to support both rubber prices and hard-hit growers.

These measures, according to a quote from a Thai official, would help bring prices up to Baht80/kg, from around Baht60/kg currently.