Thailand floods disrupt rubber output

Bangkok – Heavy rainfall and flooding across southern Thailand have halted natural rubber tapping across large parts of the region, according to a social-media update by the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT).

In a 28 Nov post, RAOT said more than 4.1 million rai (656,000 hectares) of rubber-growing areas across nine southern provinces have been affected since 18 Nov.

With farmers unable to tap, RAOT estimated that over 43,000 tonnes of rubber production had “disappeared from the system” between 18–27 Nov.

The authority said the disruption is expected to continue until conditions improve, warning of short-term pressure on supply from Thailand’s main producing region.