“Euronews Business” examines the factors that influence the rubber market this year, while exploring like sustainable agricultural practices, such as agrosilviculture, can have an impact on the rubber industry.
It is expected that in 2025 the production of eraser Natural sea lower than the question For the fifth consecutive year. According to the association of natural rubber manufacturers (ANRPC), world production of this type of polymer will be likely to increase by 0.3% in 2025. However, world demand will be expected to exceed this figure, with an estimate of 1.8%.
Rubber is widely used in numerous products, such as car, industrial goods, pileBelts of the conveyor, Medical teams and land, among others. The material is especially appreciated by his durationelasticity, water resistance e low maintenance.
THE World rubber market reach a little 60.3 billion eurosin 2030according to a relationship of Grand View Research. Internationally, they are mainly marketed Two types of rubber: He syntheticwhich is produced with sources of natural and petrochemical gas and the naturalwhich is obtained from tropical trees.
Some of the main countries Natural rubber manufacturers son Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Other countries such as China, India, Ivory Coast, Sri Lanka, Cameroon and the Philippines are also great producers.
The rubber futures dropped by 4% this weekCiting 195 cents per kilogram on Friday morning, even if it fell by 4.8% in monthly terms. This is the lowest level since mid -February, since operators weigh the concern for the offer and the effects of commercial rates.
Why has the production of natural rubber fell?
One of the main reasons for the difference between the offer and the offer of natural rubber in 2025 is the production delay In several key countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia, for several years.
The main cause was the constant adverse meteorologyand extreme of recent years. This was the case of Thailandwho suffered a heat wave At the beginning of last year, which means that the low production season that rubber crops are usually recorded between February and May will last. The very hot climate causes a Delay in the growth of trees rubber.
In addition, Thailand suffered, after the heat wave at the beginning of 2024, important Very intense floods and rains This also stopped the production of rubber in the high season. These frequent extreme weather phenomena can significantly reduce latex production.
ChinaWhich is the fifth rubber manufacturer, he faced the same problem with the adverse climate. THE Fans And the torrential rains have significantly damaged vital areas of rubber production such as Cheng Mai and Lin Gao, on the island of Hainan.
Threats to the current rubber production
According to him European Forest InstituteThe total rubbing surface climate warmer, limited availability of the soil, natural catastrophes, increase in Work costs and the general impact of Foglia flow diseasewhich can reduce trees productivity.
Him change towardsMore profitable cropslike the Palm treesWhich can therefore be used to produce palm oil, it has also influenced rubber production in different countries of the South -est Asia. In several cases, low rubber production, mainly caused by death of different trees of rubber, can push farmers to other crops.
Other problems, such as deforestation and the Exploitation of workas well as the volatility of prices and the competition of the synthetic rubber, continue to devastate the worldwide natural rubber industry.
Could agrosilviculture be the key to increasing rubber production?
THE Agrosilviculturewhich is the process of Plant trees and collected on the same landIt can substantially increase rubber production. This is mainly because Improve soil healthIn turn, it translates into healthier and healthier rubber trees. Plants like him bambooHim Café or the haThey can be planted together with rubber treesfruit or wood.
This practice can also help crops to be more resistant to weather conditions Extreme and climatic changes. In turn, this helps to protect the income of farmers, Diversification of sources of income reducing the dependence of a single harvest. If farmers feel safer economic, they are more likely to continue producing some rubber, instead of moving on to more profitable crops.
Agrosilviculture also helps to increase soil productivity already Reduce dependence on pesticides And chemical fertilizers, since it improves the cycle of nutrients and the natural control of parasites. In addition, this practice increases the useful life of rubber trees.
ADVERTISINGTHE Global platform for sustainable natural rubber (GPSNR), an agency in the sector whose goal is to help develop a more sustainable rubber supply chain, recently revealed that it would have provided loans for Form to 1,000 Thai farmers to Agrosilvoltura for the whole 2025.
