Global natural rubber supply will be hit by Covid-19 spread in producing nations: ANRPC
June 14, 2021
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Local restrictions will affect the availability of workforce, transportation network and supply-chain logistics, says the ANRPC report The rising Covid spread in producing countries is likely to limit the seasonal rise in global natural rubber supply, which will remain constrained unless the pandemic infections flatten, and the situation markedly improves.
With the wintering season of rubber trees having already ended, the global supply is expected to increase in the wake of resumption of tapping by farmers. But the restrictions imposed by respective governments will affect the availability of workforce, transportation network and supply-chain logistics, says the Rubber Market Intelligence report prepared by Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).
Natural rubber supply and demand continue to rise
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Kuala Lumpur – The world production and consumption of natural rubber (NR) continued to rise over the month of April, reflecting a global recovery from Covid-induced declines last year.
NR production reached 903,000 tonnes during the month, up 22.5% from 737,000 reported last April, said a 20 May monthly update by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).
China’s production in March and April was “lower than expected”, following an outbreak of white powder mildew disease found in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China’s third biggest NR producing province after Hainan and Guangdong.
For the second quarter, the ANRPC expects production in some member countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka to be lower than the first three months of the year, due to potential Covid lockdowns and plant diseases.