Natural rubber production declining as demand grows

Global production of natural rubber (NR) fell 6.5% through the first five months of 2019 to 4.93 million metric tons, according to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).

At the same time, world NR consumption for the same period rose 0.9% to 5.8 million tons, creating a shortfall of just under 860,000 tons, the ANRPC stated.

This favorable market fundamental, the group said, "has kept the sentiment in NR market strong despite the tension between China and the U.S."The ANRPC, an inter-governmental organization comprising 13 NR-producing nations accounting for about 90% of the world's NR supply, will hold its 12th annual rubber conference Oct. 7 in Indonesia. There, it will focus on sustainability measures within the industry.The conference will include 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 are: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.