NR production down, while import increased

India’s natural rubber production for the month of January 2016 decreased by 3.45% to 56,000 tonnes compared to 58,000 tonnes during January 2015. While the consumption during the month decreased by 2.21% to 82,000 tonnes compared to 83,850 tonnes during the same period of 2015. Natural rubber stock decreased by 2.42% to 242,000 tonnes from 248,000 tonnes in January 2015.

Natural rubber imports in January 2016 increased 20.70% to 35,174 tonnes from 29,141 tonnes in January 2015. Import of natural rubber was mainly from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.94.50 a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.87.62 a kg at Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.75.24 a kg. On National Multi Commodity Exchange March 2016, the futures closed at `.97.39 a kg, April at `.100.40 and May 2016 closed at `.102.72 a kg. Tokyo Commodity Exchange February 2016 futures series closed at ¥141 a kg, March at ¥144.4, April at ¥147.3, May 2016 at ¥150.6, June at ¥152.7 and the contract for delivery in July 2016 closed at ¥153.2 a kg.

To read Rubber4U – 1st March 2016 issue: http://rubber4u.com/Public/Abcd.pdf

For 2015-16 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf