Three Asian countries to reduce exports by 700,000 metric tonnes this year

rubberA grouping of Asia’s top three rubber-producing countries, the International Rubber Tripartite Council, will be reducing exports by an additional 85,000 tonnes from September to December this year, an Indonesian rubber industry official said on August 25.

Indonesian Rubber Association Chairman Moenarji  Soedargo also said that council members Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia will reduce their total exports in 2016 by 700,000 metric tonnes.

As a result of the La Nina weather phenomenon, Indonesia’s rubber output in 2016 is expected to reach 2.95 million metric tonnes, below an earlier estimate of 3.1 million metric tonnes, Soedargo said.

Indonesia’s rubber exports this year are expected to slip 6% to 2.45 million metric tonnes from 2.6 million metric tonnes in 2015, as a result of the tripartite council’s export agreement and lower output, he added.