Global natural rubber association to study reasons behind falling yields

Taking a serious note on the declining average yield of rubber since 2014 and related problems associated with the sustainability of the natural rubber industry, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) — representing 11 major rubber producing countries — will conduct a series of studies relating to these issues in its member countries.

The study on declining average yields, which is to be conducted next year, will analyse the trends in average yield of rubber (annual production per hectare of area tapped), factors behind the declining yield and likely trends in future. Based on the conditions prevailing in each member country, the study will identify appropriate policies to reverse the trend.

A decision to this effect was taken at the closed session of the 39th ANRPC Assembly held in Guwahati last October.

On the outcome of the meeting, sources in the ANRPC told BusinessLine that the association would formulate further action in its efforts to support farmers reeling under low rubber prices by convening a meeting of the expert group on NR price stabilisation in July 2017.

The expert group is to also identify appropriate measures to strengthen ANRPC’s industry information and reporting system.

To forecast long-term global supply and demand for natural rubber, ANRPC will also organise a workshop on “supply-demand and modelling” in June/July next year, which is to be attended by statistical experts in all member countries. The Philippines will host the workshop.

To understand long-term trends in crude oil prices and its implications on synthetic rubber price, the association will conduct another study, which will cover substitution between natural rubber and synthetic rubber in relation to relative prices.

According to sources, the association will also look into the effectiveness of roads, including promotion of cup-lump modified bitumen, as a measure to generate additional demand for natural rubber. Member governments of the ANRPC will attempt to use rubberised bitumen in at least 50 per cent of roads to be newly constructed and in maintenance of existing roads in the next three years.

Besides India, delegates from Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam attended the session. The governments of Brazil, Myanmar, as well as International Rubber Study Group–Singapore, International Tripartite Rubber Council–Bangkok and International Rubber Research and Development Board–Kuala Lumpur attended the session as observers.

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