Despite a drop in exports in 2014, Thailand continues to lead the way in the global natural rubber and gum trade, according to a study.
In 2014, Thailand exported 3,409 thousand tonnes of natural rubber and gums totaling US$ 6,022 millio, 27 percent under the previous year. Its primary trading partner was China, where it supplied 46 percent of its total natural rubber and gum exports in value terms, accounting for 56 percent of China’s total imports.
From 2007 to 2014, Thailand was a net exporter of natural rubber and gums. Over this period, exports consistently exceeded imports in value terms. In physical terms this difference was even more pronounced in 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2014. In 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, high export prices made this difference less notable.
Indonesia and Malaysia were among the other main global suppliers of natural rubber and gums in 2014. However, the fastest growing exporters from 2007 to 2014 were Luxembourg (+89 percent per year) and Germany (+16 percent per year).
Thailand’s top 5 trading partners in 2014 were China, Malaysia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the U.S., with a combined 79% share of Thailand’s natural rubber and gum exports. The share of China increased significantly (+18 percentage points), while the share of Japan illustrated negative dynamics (-7 percentage points).
“World: Natural Rubber And Gums – Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2020” provides an in-depth analysis of the global market for natural rubber and gums. It presents the latest data of the market size and consumption, domestic production, exports and imports, price dynamics and turnover in the industry.