KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Global demand for natural rubber (NR) rose 5 percent to 12.9 million metric tons in the first 11 months of 2018, according to the latest Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) data.
The growth in demand compares with a 5.4-percent rise in production to 12.8 million tons, the ANRPC said.
The association described the NR market as "volatile" in November amid a "bearish" crude oil market, U.S.-China trade tensions, rising interest rates and the development of regional rubber futures markets
While prices for SMR-20 fell to a 10-month low during November 2018, prices closed slightly higher to around $1.23/kilogram over the final week in November, it noted.