Imports hurting domestic industry

As there is evidence suggesting that, for decades, imports from abroad have eroded domestic auto industry, U.S. Commerce Department said it will open a so-called Section 232 investigation into whether imports of vehicles and auto parts harm national security.

The Department of Commerce will conduct a thorough, fair, and transparent investigation into whether such imports are weakening our internal economy and may impair the national security, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement.

According to OPEC and oil industry sources, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may decide in June to lift output to make up for reduced supply from Iran and Venezuela and in response to concerns from Washington about a rally in oil prices, as Venezuela’s output has fallen amid an economic crisis, while Iran’s supply is threatened by U.S. sanctions.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.128 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.119.04 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.99.05 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange June 2018, the futures closed at `.130.91 a kg, July at `.134.36 a kg and August closed at `.135.79 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange May 2018 futures series closed at ¥182 a kg, June at ¥184.5, July at ¥188.1, August at ¥190.1, September at ¥192.1 and the contract for delivery in October closed at ¥193.8 a kg. On Friday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in October 2018 may trade in the range of ¥192 & ¥196 a kg. 

To read Rubber4U – 1st June 2018 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2018-19 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf

Oil slips, tyre price increases

US crude oil prices have slipped back after strong gains made as the White House prepared to announce a decision on whether it will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. If US president Donald Trump opts to reimpose sanctions on Iran it would probably entail reductions in the country’s oil exports and deliver a jolt to international markets.  West Texas Intermediate, the US oil benchmark, rose above $70 a barrel on 7th May for the first time in more than three years.

Domestic tyre prices have risen in the range of 2.5-3%, as manufacturers deal with an increase in input prices and a weaker rupee. Oil and its linked derivatives such as carbon black form an integral part of a tyre company’s raw material basket. In addition, a weaker rupee means imports become more expensive.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.121 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.117.84 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.96.53 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange May 2018, the futures closed at `.121.65 a kg, June at `.125.79 a kg and July closed at `.128.24 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange May 2018 futures series closed at ¥179 a kg, June at ¥183.6, July at ¥186.7, August at ¥189.3, September at ¥190.9 and the contract for delivery in October closed at ¥191.7 a kg. On Wednesday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in October 2018 may trade in the range of ¥189 & ¥193 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 15th May 2018 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2017-18 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf

Tricky days ahead

Oil prices fell as markets opened the week cautiously following western air strikes in Syria and as American drilling for new production continued to rise. The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on 14th April, targeting what they said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on 7th April. Asia began cautiously after the weekend stikes, while oil markets also came under pressure from a rise in U.S. oil drilling activity.

President Vladimir Putin warned on 15th April that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions. Investors continued to worry about the impact of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.120 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.111.95 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.91.39 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange April 2018, the futures closed at `.119.79 a kg, May at `.120.21 a kg, June at `.122.31 a kg and July closed at `.123.21 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange April 2018 futures series closed at ¥174.9 a kg, May at ¥178.7, June at ¥183.5, July at ¥185.4, August at ¥185.3 and the contract for delivery in September closed at ¥184.8 a kg. On Monday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in September 2018 may trade in the range of ¥180 & ¥185 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 15th April 2018 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2017-18 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf

Don’t expect much, its very shaky

Receding trade war fears after reports of possible trade negotiations between the US and China and government's announcement of lower-than-expected borrowing programme for the first half of the fiscal year 2019 have helped markets close higher during the week ended. 

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India will announce its resolution under the First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement for 2018-19 and is expected to keep rates unchanged for the rest of this year at its 5th April 2018 meeting but shift to a hawkish stance by the end of this year and increase in interest rates is not ruled out as inflation pressures build up.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.123 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.111.29 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.88.86 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange April 2018, the futures closed at `.119.67 a kg, May at `.122.23 a kg, June at `.125.01.54 a kg, July at `.128.18 a kg and August 2018 closed at `.125.60 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange April 2018 futures series closed at ¥170.6 a kg, May at ¥172.7, June at ¥178.1, July at ¥180.1, August at ¥179.8 and the contract for delivery in September closed at ¥179.6 a kg. On Thursday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in September 2018 may trade in the range of ¥174 & ¥180 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st April 2018 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2017-18 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf

Anti-dumping duty on import of bus, truck tyres

The Government of India has imposed anti-dumping duty on import from China for five years on certain type of radial tyres used in buses, trucks to protect domestic manufacturers. The anti-dumping duty has been imposed in the range of $245.35 -$ 452.33 per tonne, said a notification issued by the Central Board Excise and Customs (CBEC). For more detail visit: www.rubber4u.com / Under Statistic – Notice.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.134 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.116.34 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.98.94 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange October 2017, the futures closed at `.133.65 a kg, November at `.133.51 a kg, December at `.134.54 a kg and January 2018 closed at `.134.36 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange September 2017 futures series closed at ¥208.8 a kg, October at ¥211.2, November at ¥210.9, December at ¥210.8, January 2018 at ¥212.4 and the contract for delivery in February closed at ¥213.4 a kg. On Wednesday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in January 2018 may trade in the positive range of ¥208 & ¥214 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st October 2017 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2017-18 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf

Week ahead, lots of risk

Crude oil prices reached a two-month high and have posted their best weekly gains this year on efforts to curb production by the OPEC. Falling U.S. crude and fuel stockpiles and Saudi Arabia's promise to cut exports in August aided sentiment in the market.

The International Monetary Fund has kept India’s growth forecast for next year unchanged at 7.7% in its latest World Economic Outlook report. While IMF projected global growth at 3.5% this year.

Against the backdrop of a decline in factory output, with inflation at a five-year low and one has to wait and see whether Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will cut at least 25 basis points in the policy interest rate or keep it unchanged, the announcement is scheduled on 2nd August. Any rate cut has to act as a catalyst for spurring economic growth and not just to aid market sentiment.

The fall in inflation is not due to prudent fiscal management but because of a slowdown in the economy. While liquidity continues to flow unabated, when valuations are stretched and geopolitical tensions are rising, it is better not to risk.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.132 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.116.34 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.94.18 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange August 2017, the futures closed at `.130.96 a kg, September at `.129.85 and October 2017 closed at `.127.09 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange August 2017 futures series closed at ¥203 a kg, September at ¥204.1, October at ¥203.4, November at ¥204, December at ¥203.1 and the contract for delivery in January 2018 closed at ¥204.5 a kg. On Monday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in January 2018 may trade in the positive range of ¥202 & ¥208 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st August 2017 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2017-18 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf

Lots of expectations, but at risk

Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures jumped to a 2-week high as stronger Shanghai futures and an overnight gain in oil prices boosted risk appetite. Hopes were high for higher oil prices at the beginning of the year with the start of the OPEC cuts. Oil prices rose and hit a one-week high, boosted by a weaker dollar and short covering, although they slipped after an industry report said U.S. inventories increased.

The oil price recovery also faltered at some point as it became evident that the glut was not diminishing as fast as it was expected and that rising U.S. shale output and continued recovery of production from exempt Libya and Nigeria were offsetting a large part of OPEC’s cuts. And if Chinese demand growth is not as strong as OPEC and the market hope for, the glut could take even longer to clear, and oil prices could stay lower for even longer.

According to data from the Rubber Trade Association of Japan showed, crude rubber inventories at Japanese ports stood at 4,999 tonnes as of 20th June, up by 5.8% from the previous inventory date. While crude rubber inventories at Japanese ports stood at 6,723 tonnes as of 10th July, up by 5.9% from the last inventory date. According to exchange, rubber inventories in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 1.5% from the previous Friday.

Today, benchmark Tokyo rubber futures fell more than 2%. Rubber prices have come under pressure as higher inventories in both Japan and China prompted selling, while weaker oil prices and a stronger yen against the US dollar also weighed on market sentiment. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for December delivery closed 2.4%, lower at ¥209.3 per kg, after touching a low of ¥206.9 earlier in the session.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.139 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.116.51 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.98.92 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange August 2017, the futures closed at `.136.72 a kg, September at `.135.96 and October 2017 closed at `.133.26 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange July 2017 futures series closed at ¥202.4 a kg, August at ¥201.9, September at ¥205.3, October at ¥206.6, November at ¥208.3 and the contract for delivery in December 2017 closed at ¥209.3 a kg. On Tuesday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in December 2017 may trade in the positive range of ¥209 & ¥215 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st August 2017 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2017-18 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf