World NR Production up 5.8% in H1 2017

World natural rubber (NR) production increased by 5.8 per cent year- on-year to 5.729 million tonnes during the first half of 2017, says the latest ANRPC report. As a result, ANRPC expects that the world supply during 2017 will be at 12.797 million tonnes, up 5.9 per cent from the previous year.

Despite the production growth in all other ANRPC countries, the production in Thailand has fell 2.9 per cent due to the severe flood took place in the first two months. The production in Thailand in June 2017 was 1.82 million tonnes whereas the production was 1.87 million in the same period a year ago.

However, the Natural Rubber Trends and Statistics report of ANRPC in June stated that World supply is anticipated to slowdown during the coming months.

“World production, including non-ANRPC countries, during the first nine months (January-September 2017) is anticipated at 9.227 million tonnes, up 5.2 per cent from the same period a year ago. This is based on actual figures up to March, preliminary estimates for April to June and anticipated figures for July onwards,” the report said.

India has produced 347,000 tonnes of NR, up 35 per cent, from the same period in previous year. It has registered the fastest growth in production among ANRPC member countries in response to the efforts made by local government to make rubber cultivation activities remunerative. With the positive production growth recorded in June, India has revised upwards the country’s production outlook for 2017 to 800,000 tonnes from the earlier figure of 750,000 tonnes.

Apart from India, NR production in Cambodia was also increased by 32.6 per cent. Production in Non-ANRPC countries also increased by 7.3 per cent.

The raining season during May and June 2017 has affected the tapping activities in Sri Lanka. As a result, the production during the first half fell by 5.2 per cent over the same period last year.