Natural rubber market
Global production of natural rubber is close to 14.4 million tons
From January to November 2022, the global production of natural rubber reached 14.38 million tons, an increase of 2.3%. Due to the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic, the production of natural rubber in Southeast Asia has been disrupted to a certain extent, but overall, it still maintains a growth trend. It is expected that the global natural rubber production in 2023 will be 14.107 million tons, an increase of 1.64%. With the relaxation of epidemic prevention and control measures and the recovery of economic activities, global demand for natural rubber has rebounded.
Global consumption of natural rubber reached 14.975 million tons
With the acceleration of vaccine roll-out, the global epidemic is gradually under control in 2021, but regional outbreaks still occur. Local control measures are relatively relaxed, superimposed policy stimulus to promote the global economy as a whole has recovered, rubber demand is also picking up. In 2022, the global consumption of natural rubber increased, increasing by 2.9% year-on-year to reach 14.975 million tons. However, in 2023, due to the global economic recovery and supply chain constraints and other factors, the global consumption of natural rubber is likely to decline slightly, is expected to be 14.916 million tons, a decrease of 0.4%.
Thailand produces 34% of the world's natural rubber
Natural rubber has strict requirements on natural conditions such as geographical environment, soil, climate and humidity, and the suitable rubber area is mainly concentrated in Southeast Asia, and the planting area accounts for about 90% of the world. The main producers are Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Among them, the total output of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia has remained above 70% in the global natural rubber production in recent years.
Conventional theory holds that natural rubber cannot grow north of 15 degrees north latitude. In addition, as a long-term crop, rubber trees can generally be cut after 6-9 years of planting. Therefore, the growth rate of natural rubber supply is more difficult to increase rapidly, limited by its own and natural conditions, the growth rate of natural rubber planting area in the world has slowed down.
The main producing areas of natural rubber in the world are in Southeast Asia, from the perspective of major producing countries, in 2022, Thailand's natural rubber production reached 4.673 million tons, accounting for 34% of the global total, ranking first; It was followed by Indonesia, which produced 3.122 million tons, accounting for 22%.
China's natural rubber consumption accounts for 42% of the world
In 2022, the global consumption of natural rubber increased, increasing by 2.9% year-on-year to reach 14.975 million tons. From the perspective of major consumer countries, in 2022, China's natural rubber consumption is 5.949 million tons, accounting for 42% of the global total, ranking first; This was followed by India with 1.24 million tonnes, or 9 per cent.
Kotayam RSS4 rubber in India has the highest price
From 2015 to 2022, the rubber futures of many major varieties in the world showed a fluctuating upward trend. Latex rubber in Malaysia has the lowest price at $131.59/100kg; Kotayam RSS4 rubber from India has the highest price at $206.84/100kg.
