Indonesian rubber exports in 2008 expected to grow by 7% in China demand

One industry official said Thursday, Indonesia in 2008 natural rubber exports is expected this year than the growth rate of 7%, China and the United States by the ever-increasing demand. Indonesia's natural rubber exports this year forecast to 2,400,000 tons. Chairman of the Indonesian Rubber Association, Suharto Honggokusomo said, but bad weather this year, Indonesia rubber output increased by only 5% in 2006, when output grew by 13%. He said: "This year's unusually wet weather, so to decrease the frequency of tapping." But he said Indonesia will still be able to meet export demand are full of confidence. Honggokusomo said that China's demand for rubber to benefit from Indonesia. With the advent of the 2008 Olympic Games, the world's largest rubber importer - China is expected to increase rubber imports. Tire rubber consumption in China accounted for 60% in the past few years, radial tire production in China increased by more than 20%. Honggokusomo expected 2007 exports to China's natural rubber last year, the number will be increased by 40% to 470,000 tons. Last year, Indonesia exported to China 337,220 tons of rubber, a 35% increase in 2005. Indonesia is expected to rubber largest export market - the United States will also increase the import of rubber. Honggokusomo said: "Last year, Goodyear (Goodyear) tire company events to strike Indonesia's rubber exports to the United States the number down, but this year the export volume will increase as a result of strong U.S. economic growth." Honggokusomo this year, said the United States is expected to rubber exports More than 669,000 tons. Last year, Indonesia's rubber exports to the United States is not the number of over 600,000 tons, mainly the United States by Goodyear Tire Company (Goodyear) the impact of the strike. Honggokusomo said that Indonesia will invest 2 trillion rupees on 250,000 hectares of small farmers to carry out replantation of old rubber plantations, and by 2010 will be small-scale farmers to expand rubber plantation 50,000 ha. It is expected that in 2020, the Indonesian natural rubber production will double to 4,120,000 tons, will replace Thailand as the world's largest natural rubber producing countries. Thailand's natural rubber production in 2020 is expected to 3,680,000 tons. Honggokusomo said: "The rubber tree plantation farmers in Indonesia have been extremely warm and support, especially since the past few years the price of rubber has been rising since." Currently TOCOM rubber futures prices for about 250 yen per kilogram, more than 2001 kilograms of 60 yen per Four times.