Friday, May 29, 2015

Bull on the run


Rubber prices continued to rise as demand from the world's biggest consumer China picked up, while supply constrain from Thailand aided the rally. The joint efforts by major natural rubber producing countries to curb output and boost prices have started to show its results. SICOM benchmark was trading near a nine-month high of 164.90 U.S. cents per kg, and was on track for its biggest monthly gain since September 2012.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.127 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.121.20 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.103.04 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange June 2015 futures closed at `.127.32 a kg, July at `.130.99 and August at `.131.77 a kg. On Tokyo Commodity Exchange, June 2015 futures series closed at ¥229.5 a kg, July at ¥230.2, August at ¥232, September at ¥234.7 October at ¥238 and the contract for delivery in November 2015 closed at ¥241.2 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st June 2015 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Weaker yen boosting NR prices


The major natural rubber producing countries agreed earlier this month to explore ways to strengthen prices, including a common trading platform. The world’s largest natural rubber supplier – Thailand is working on ways to reduce supply to boost prices. Inventories tracked by the Shanghai Futures Exchange have dropped 15% this year and this month touched the lowest since September 2013.

Japan’s currency fell to the lowest level since 2007 against the dollar, boosting the appeal of contracts denominated in yen. Optimism about Chinese demand and a weaker yen supported rubber prices. Rubber in Tokyo advanced by the most since May 2013 as Japan’s currency plunged. The contract for November delivery on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange surged 6.3% to settle at ¥231.2 a kg, the highest since April 2014.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.125.50 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.118.78 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.97.79 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange June 2015 futures closed at `.127.43 a kg, July at `.129.53 and August at `.129.89 a kg. On Tokyo Commodity Exchange, June 2015 futures series closed at ¥220.1 a kg, July at ¥221.9, August at ¥223.5, September at ¥226.5 October at ¥229.3 and the contract for delivery in November 2015 closed at ¥231.2 a kg. On Wednesday, most probably Tocom futures contract for delivery in November 2015 may trade in the range of ¥228 & ¥236 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st June 2015 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Proposal to strengthen natural rubber price


Association Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) Assembly which was held in Kuala Lumpur recently agreed to submit concrete proposals to strengthen the price structure for natural rubber. The issue will be reviewed again at next annual ANRPC Assembly to be held in October 2015.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.125 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.117.78 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.96.51 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange June 2015 futures closed at `.126.31 a kg, July at `.128.62 and August at `.129.02 a kg. On Tokyo Commodity Exchange, May 2015 futures series closed at ¥208.4 a kg, June at ¥210.2, July at ¥212, August at ¥213.1, September at ¥215.2 and the contract for delivery in October 2015 closed at ¥217.7 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st June 2015 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Will there be a negative impact due to hike in duty


There has been a mixed reaction to the increase in the import duty on natural rubber to 25% from 20% by the Union government. The rubber consuming sector has protested against the decision while producers have welcomed it.

Growers are of view that the increase in import duty will help shore up domestic rubber prices at least on medium term. In the last five days, the price of RSS-4 grade rubber has touched `.127 per kg. With the hike in duty, the landed price of TSR grade rubber will be higher against the domestic material. The current price differential between international and local price should hold good. Otherwise, the rubber consuming sector might be tempted to stock up through import.

The decision to increase import duty will cause a severe blow to the value addition within the country and Make-in-India initiative of the government. Indian rubber goods manufacturing industries fear they will be badly hit. Increase in the import duty on natural rubber will worsen the inverted duty structure. Finished rubber goods can be imported at 10% while the raw material can be brought in only at 25%. The industry has termed the decision as unfriendly and a dampener on future investments. Already many manufacturing units have closed down due to competition from cheaply imported rubber goods. Many of them are shunning manufacturing in favour of trading of rubber goods imported from China and other countries. If this trend continues then what will happen to consumption of natural rubber.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.126.50 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.117.98 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.96.35 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange May 2015 futures were trading at `.124 a kg, June at `.128.49 and July at `.130.63 a kg at 16.10 IST. On Tokyo Commodity Exchange, May 2015 futures series closed at ¥214 a kg, June at ¥215.8, July at ¥216.2, August at ¥217.3, September at ¥219.9 and the contract for delivery in October 2015 closed at ¥222.4 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 15th May 2015 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf
Published on 7th May 2015