ANRPC, IRSG issue outlooks on natural rubber

Singapore – World supplies of natural rubber (NR) fell 5.1% in the first four months of 2019, to 3.95 million tonnes from 4.16 million in the first four months of 2018, according to the latest figures from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.

During the same period, world NR consumption increased 1% to 4.59 million tonnes from 4.54 million, the ANRPC said in the April 2019 issue of Natural Rubber Trends & Statistics, which released 30 June.

Seasonal shortages of raw material during the wintering season, together with reductions in exports under the Agreed Exports Tonnage Scheme developed by Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, strengthened NR prices in key markets, ANRPC Secretary General Nguyen Ngoc Bich said.

"Moreover, the NR prices were also supported by the possibility of an interest rate cut this year signalled by the US Federal Reserve," Nguyen said.

The International Rubber Study Group issued its World Rubber Industry Outlook 16 July, in which the IRSG said it expected slower growth in NR demand in 2019 than 2018.

World NR demand increased by 4.2% to 13.78 million tonnes in 2018, according to the IRSG report. Demand growth will slow to 2.3% and 14.1 million tonnes in 2019, it said. Growth in 2020 will decelerate further, to 1.8%, it said.