In January 2017, India’s natural rubber
production increased by 26.92% to 66,000 tonnes from 52,000 tonnes output in
January 2016, as farmers increased tapping to cash in on the price rally. While
the consumption of natural rubber declined marginally by 1.03% to 84,000 tonnes
from 84,875 tonnes in January 2016.
Imports fell by 39.02% to 24,093 tonnes from 39,512
tonnes in the same month of 2016, as tyre makers trimmed overseas purchases due
to a rally in global prices. Natural rubber prices in the domestic market
jumped to their highest levels in three years following a surge in overseas
prices due to supply disruptions in Thailand.
The stocks at the end of January 2017 stood
at 2.77 lakh tonnes.
The benchmark RSS4 grade rubber closed at `.158.50
a kg at Kottayam, while RSS3 grade closed at `.175.18 a kg at
Bangkok and Malaysian SMR20 closed at `.144.24 a kg. On
National Multi Commodity Exchange futures series closed for March 2017 closed at `.155.99
a kg, April at `.163.07 and May at `.168.52 a kg. Tokyo
Commodity Exchange March 2017 futures series closed at ¥302.6 a kg, April at ¥289.7,
May at ¥283.3, June at ¥275.2, July at ¥269.7 and the contract for delivery in August
closed at ¥269.4 a kg.
For 2016-17 Rubber Forecast: http://rubber4u.com/Public/RForecast.pdf
