Saving the natural rubber industry

OTPIONAL PIC, NO CAPTION, MUST USE CREDIT: Photo: AFP

AT a recent International Rubber Research & Development Board meeting in Bangkok hosted by the Rubber Authority of Thailand, representatives from rubber producing countries met to discuss the future of the rubber products industry.

It became clear from the meeting that the percentage of rubber used in the producer countries remains low, at less than 20%. Much of the raw rubber produced is exported instead of being used domestically to produce finished rubber products. Yet the same rubber producing countries import large quantities of finished rubber products.