Indonesian rubber output to lift

10 August 1999

Indonesian rubber output to lift

INDONESIAS natural rubber production is expected to rise 20% in 1999 to 1.65 million tonnes, according to the Indonesian Rubber Association.

The association says the rise will be driven by tappers, hit by falling prices.

Not only has the rubber price dropped but the price of basics in the country has soared because of the economic crisis, sparked by the fall of the rupiah against the dollar.

Indonesia is the worlds second biggest rubber producer after Thailand. It exported 1.4m tonnes of rubber in 1997 and 1.64m tonnes in 1998. Exports are expected to rise to 1.65m tonnes this year.

• Financial Times 10/08/99 page 26 (News Digest)