BANGKOK, 12 April 2013 Thailand and Malaysia will collaborate in setting up rubber industry zones on both sides of the common border in order to create jobs and income for citizens of both nations. On the 2nd day of the ASEAN Rubber Day 2013 convention in Phuket, Deputy Agriculture Minister Yutthapong Charassathien announced the collaboration between Thai and Malaysian state and private agencies in developing twin rubber cities along the two countries’ common border. The…

AGARTALA: Immature rubber plants of two-four years are drying up in India’s northeastern region owing to prolonged dry weather, leaving the growers worried about their produce, an official said here on Tuesday. The symptoms begin with yellowing of leaves and eventually branches of the rubber trees becoming partially or completely dry. “Contemplating this as disease, the anxious growers have been using chemicals on their rubber plants under the influence of a section of unscrupulous traders,”…

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (April 15, RM3.66) Maintain buy at RM3.68 with a target price of RM4.12: Kossan aims to gradually increase its production capacity by 67% to 25 billion pieces per year in the next four to five years, with production lines catering to a production mix of natural rubber, nitrile and surgical gloves. Kossan is the third largest domestic rubber glove producer (after Top Glove Corp Bhd and Supermax Corp Bhd) by installed…

NOKIA, Finland—Nokian Tyres P.L.C. plans to add a third factory in Europe, probably in eastern Europe, to meet the expected rising demand for its products, according to a top executive. Hannu Teininen, Nokian vice president of sales and logistics, said company management has approved funding for a third plant, which will be built “whenever it is needed.” It would take about two years from committing to the project to initial production at the site, he…

SINGAPORE—The secretary-general of the International Rubber Study Group predicts strong global demand for tires through the coming decade. “Following two years of disappointing economic growth, in response to the European sovereign debt crisis, the weak U.S.A. economic recovery and budget issues, plus the economic slowdown in China, our latest forecasts point to a period of sustained growth and strong demand for new vehicles and tires through the coming decade,” said Stephen Evans, principal guest at…

Rubber climbed as data in the U.S. yesterday showed companies in the world’s largest economy were expanding capacity, potentially boosting demand for the commodity used in tires. The contract for delivery in September, the most-active by volume, gained as much as 1.3 percent to 283 yen a kilogram ($2,992 a metric ton) before trading at 281.3 yen on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange by 10:41 a.m. local time. Orders for U.S. durable goods climbed more than…

NOKIA, Finland—Nokian Tyres P.L.C. plans to add a third factory in Europe, probably in eastern Europe, to meet the expected rising demand for its products, according to a top executive. Hannu Teininen, Nokian vice president of sales and logistics, said company management has approved funding for a third plant, which will be built “whenever it is needed.” It would take about two years from committing to the project to initial production at the site, he…

Rubber demand in China, the world’s largest auto market, may be unchanged this year as consumption by the heavy-truck sector slows while tire output for passenger vehicles climbs, according to Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Demand for tires for large trucks will slow this year as the country shifts from heavy industries to a more consumption- driven growth model, Chairman Shen Jinrong said in an interview in Qingdao yesterday. China’s tire industry will use 3.25 million…

SINGAPORE/MUMBAI (Commodity Online): Natural rubber prices may remain depressed on expanding global rubber stocks which is expected to improve margins for tyre makers as natural rubber accounts fo 50-60% of raw material costs, according to Macquarie Equities Research. Macquarie’s Soft Commodity team suggests that rubber price will stay lacklustre due to an expanding surplus in 2013. “Our Global Oil & Gas team‟s forecast of US$106/b 2013 Brent oil price vs US$110/b in 2012 also gives…

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is planning to launch a second edition of strategies for the local rubber industry within the next few months in view of the new challenges and prolonged issues in the thriving industry, according to director-general Datuk Dr Salmiah Ahmad. The local rubber industry has shown tremendous growth over the years. In 2011, the industry contributed RM39.8bil in terms of export earnings, 200% higher than RM13.27bil in 2000 reflecting…