By Supunnabul Suwannakij
Sept. 10 — Production this year estimated at 4.58m metric tons vs 4.38m last year as tapping areas increase in the country’s northern and northeastern provinces, the Office of Agricultural Economics says in statement today.
* Tapping areas rise to 17.4m rai (6.26 rai = 1 hectare) vs 16.48m rai last year
* NOTE: Office earlier forecast 2014 output at 4.03m mt vs 3.86m last yr; latest forecast based on revised data to reflect increased tapping areas
* Q4 output estimated at 1.44m mt, or 31.5% of annual production
* Prices in 2H expected to drop as production from key growers coming onto market
* Demand in Thailand expected to improve as govt encourages rubber processing
Source: BloombergSource:
