ANRPC: Rubber demand grows in volatile market

Kuala Lumpur – Global natural rubber (NR) demand rose 5% to 12.852 million tonnes in the first 11 months of 2018, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has reported

The year-on-year growth in demand, compared to a 5.4% rise in production to 12.816 million tonnes, according to a 26 Jan ANRPC update.

The association described the NR market as “volatile” in November amid a “bearish” crude oil market and US-China trade tensions.

While SMR-20 fell to a 10-month low during November 2018, prices closed slightly higher to around $1.23/kg over the last week, it noted.