Sri Lanka rubber regains bounce

April 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan rubber prices have bounced back as demand picks up and tapping slows down during the off-season, industry officials said. “So rubber manufacturing companies have got new orders as a result of which they have to buy the natural rubber raw materials from producers.

“Also, supply is now lower as this is the leaf falling season when tapping is reduced.
” Exports of raw rubber have increased but domestic manufacturing industries are still operating under capacity.

Rubber production in January and February 2009 was up 0.
9 percent to an estimated 25.4 million kilos from a year ago but officials said it was too early to forecast annual output.

Wimal Rubasinghe, director-general of the Rubber Development Department, said production of natural rubber had been rising in recent years and hit 129.
2 million kilos in 2008, up from 117.
6 million kg in 2007.

Natural rubber production in the island had fallen to as low as 90.
5 million kilos in 2002.

Rubasinghe said production is expected to trail off during the February-April off season when tapping is reduced.

“Today rubber prices are good. At this week’s aucti