The surge in natural rubber planting and the implications for supply potential

A new report assessing the surge in natural rubber planting over the past five years, following the high prices for natural rubber, and the implications this surge in new planting is likely to have for future natural rubber supply potential, is now available from the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG). A detailed analysis is presented in this report for eleven countries in Asia, together producing 92% of world natural rubber production in 2008.

The report describes the dramatic increase in total new planting in the eleven countries during 2005–2008. In 2008 total new planting is estimated to have reached around six times the level of 2000. The consequences for total area are significant: more than one million hectares have been added during the period 2005–2008. Supply potential will show significant increases: the levels in 2015 and 2020 are expected to be around 30% and around 50% higher than in 2008, respectively.