NR production declines as demand grows

Kuala Lumpur – Global production of natural rubber (NR) fell 6.5% year-on-year to 4.93 million tonnes in the first five months of 2019, according to the latest figures released by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).

World NR consumption for the five months to end of May rose 0.9% to 5.789 million tonnes, creating a shortfall of just under 860,000 tonnes, ANRPC announced in a 20 Aug statement.

This favourable market fundamental, according to ANRPC, have kept the sentiment in NR market strong despite the tension between China and US.

The ANRPC will hold its 12^th annual rubber conference in October in Indonesia, where it will be focusing on sustainability measures within the industry.

The conference, to be held 7 Oct at Hotel Tentrem, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is structured into a keynote speech, five talks and a panel discussion represented by key policymakers of NR sector in the 13 ANRPC member countries.

The association’s member states include Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.