KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — While natural rubber prices experienced a weak first quarter, global NR demand during the three-month period grew 7.6 percent to 3.36 million metric tons, according to the latest figures published by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC).
The supply of NR also increased during the quarter, the ANRPC said, rising 3.3 percent to 3.15 million tons.
However, the favorable supply-demand fundamental did not reflect in rubber-price movements in physical market or in futures market, the ANRPC added in an April 12 statement.
"This may result from the uncertain outlook over trade tension between China and (the) U.S., worries of rising inventories in the futures market and a strong yen," the association said.
The impact of natural rubber prices on the global tire market will be among the issues discussed and debated at Future Tire Conference 2018, taking place May 30-31, during the Tire Cologne international trade fair in Cologne, Germany. Additional information about the conference, including a speaker agenda and registration information, can be found at tyre-conferences.com/futuretire2018.