Sri Lanka Rubber Smallholders Abandon Plantations as Prices Fail to Cover CostsSri Lanka's Rubber Development Department reported 15,000 hectares of rubber plantations abandoned in 2025 as farmgate prices of LKR 350/kg failed to cover rising labor and input costs.
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FatimaWhen smallholders abandon rubber for oil palm or other crops, that capacity is lost permanently.
MaterialIRSG · 8d ago
Global Natural Rubber Deficit Widens to 1.2M Tonnes as EV Tire Demand SurgesThe International Rubber Study Group reported a 1.2 million tonne global natural rubber deficit in 2025, driven by surging EV tire demand. EVs require 20% more rubber per tire due to heavier vehicle weight.
score 91
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MariaEV tire demand is the structural story. Each EV uses 20% more rubber and wears tires 30% faster.
MaReuters · 8d ago
Halcyon Agri Acquires Three Rubber Processing Plants in Ivory CoastHalcyon Agri completed acquisition of three crumb rubber processing plants in Ivory Coast with combined capacity of 120,000 tonnes/year, expanding its African footprint.
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FatimaWest African rubber quality is improving rapidly. Ivory Coast and Cameroon are the ones to watch.
ResearchContinental AG · 8d ago
Continental AG Develops Dandelion Rubber for European Tire ProductionContinental published pilot results showing dandelion-derived rubber (Taraxagum) achieves 95% of natural rubber performance in passenger tire applications, with 500-hectare cultivation trials in Germany.
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JamesFascinating technology but 500 hectares is tiny. Europe would need millions of hectares to replace tropical rubber.
RegulationJakarta Post · 8d ago
Indonesia Restricts Raw Rubber Exports to Boost Domestic Processing IndustryIndonesia's Ministry of Trade imposed a 15% export tax on unprocessed natural rubber to incentivize domestic value-added processing, affecting 3.5 million tonnes of annual exports.
score 82
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ChenIndonesia is following the nickel playbook: restrict raw exports to force domestic industrialization.
CertificationMichelin · 8d ago
Michelin Achieves 30% Sustainable Natural Rubber in Tire ProductionMichelin announced that 30% of its natural rubber procurement now meets its Responsible Natural Rubber policy standards, up from 18% in 2023, covering 150,000 smallholder farms.
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JamesMichelin is leading the industry. But 30% means 70% is still uncertified. Long way to go.
RegulationEuropean Commission · 8d ago
EU Proposes Deforestation-Free Certification for Natural Rubber ImportsThe European Commission added natural rubber to the EUDR commodity list, requiring importers to prove zero-deforestation compliance for rubber plantations from January 2027.
score 84
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FatimaSmallholder rubber farmers in Indonesia and Cambodia lack resources for GPS mapping and compliance documentation.
PanoramaSICOM · 8d ago
SICOM RSS3 Rubber Futures Rally 12% on Thai Production ShortfallSingapore Commodity Exchange RSS3 rubber futures surged to $2.15/kg as Thailand's Rubber Authority reported a 15% production decline due to fungal leaf fall disease spreading across southern provinces.
score 88
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MariaLeaf fall disease has been spreading for two years. This is not a one-season event.