Rubber price above Rs 100/kg

April 14, 2009: With the auto industry showing signs of recovery, the demand for rubber by tyre companies has increased.

Along with tight supplies, this has led to a 37 percent increase in rubber prices over the past month, to over Rs 100 per kg. Tyre companies have also stepped up rubber imports, with local prices quoting at a premium to international prices.

Indian Rubber Dealers Federation president George Valy said, "Earlier, due to low demand tyre companies were not keeping much of inventory and were running at close to 75 percent capacity. However, they are now running at higher capacities, with demand picking up especially by original equipment manufacturers."

After negative growth for the past six months, the commercial vehicle industry posted a marginal growth in March this year. Even the passenger vehicle market showed positive growth after being in the negative zone for three months (December 2008 to February 2009). Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association director general Rajiv Budhraja said the industry faced problems since rubber was not being released in the local market.

He added that there was some demand from the auto industry but that it was not the major reason for a price rise. "With all the tyre plants running, companies will double imports in 2009-10 to 1.6 lakh tons, compared to the previous year, as rubber is not available locally," said Budhraja.

Valy said that with imports expected to increase, local prices would correct as growers will start bringing their stocks to the local markets. He added that growers were holding back between 75,000 and 100,000 tons of rubber since prices were rising daily.

Despite the Rubber Board figures showing ample stocks of over 200,000 tons, compared to lower stocks last year, they are not being supplied in the local market, supporting prices. At present, Indian rubber prices are at Rs 15 to 18 per kg premium to the international prices being quoted at Singapore which is the main rubber trading centre.

Rubber is produced mainly in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.

The futures May contract on the NMCE opened higher at Rs 101.95 per kg and moved up to Rs 103.75 before closing marginally lower to its previous close at Rs 99.45. Indian markets opened firm, following the positive global markets which rallied with Japanese stimulus package reviving the equities and crude oil prices, according to Geojit Comtrade senior analyst Anand James.

"I am positive on the prices as key producing centres will not let the prices come down below a certain levels while demand is also looking up," he added.

Source: The Economic Times