Thailand begins to cut rubber export hinh anh 1Thailand will begin reduce the export of natural rubber as from January 2018. (Photo: thaipbs.or.th)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand will begin reduce the export of natural rubber as from January 2018 to counter declining world rubber prices, according to the country’s agriculture ministry.

The move is in line with agreement reached at the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC)’s meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in mid December 2017. The council comprises of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Thailand’s deputy minister of agriculture Luck Wajananawat, the ITRC meeting agreed to cut rubber export by 350,000 tonnes in the three first months of 2018 amidst concerns over strong drops in world rubber prices. Thailand will slash its exports by 230,000 tonnes, Indonesia – 95,000 tonnes and Malaysia – 20,000 tonnes. The three countries produce nearly 70 percent of the world’s natural rubber output.

In addition, the Thai Government also instructed the rubber authority to suspend the sale of 140,000 tonnes of rubber from its stocks, and allocate money from the budget to buy 200,000 tonnes of domestic rubber for use by governmental agencies in order to stimulate consumption.-VNA 

VNA