Kuala Lumpur – While natural rubber prices experienced a weak quarter in the first three months of 2018, global NR demand grew 7.6% year-on-year to 3.361 million tonnes for the period.
According to the latest figures published by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), NR supply also rose 3.3% to 3.152 million tonnes on a year-to-year basis.
However, the favourable supply-demand fundamental did not reflect in rubber-price movements in physical market or in futures market, ANRPC added in a 12 April note.
“This may result from the uncertain outlook over trade tension between China and US, worries of rising inventories in the futures market and a strong yen,” the association explained.
