Japan Rubber Stocks Up 3 Pct To Jan 31 Vs Jan 20

Japan's crude rubber inventories rose nearly 3 percent by Jan. 31 from Jan. 20, Rubber Trade Association of Japan data showed on Tuesday (February 8).
Crude rubber stocks totalled 8,122 tonnes as of Jan. 31, up 219 tonnes or 2.8 percent from 7,903 tonnes as of Jan. 20. Inventories rose on Jan. 10 for the first time in two months.
The latest level was also up 11 percent from a year earlier, when crude rubber stocks stood at 7,288 tonnes.
Crude rubber stocks fell late last year, raising concerns over supply shortages as bad weather in rubber producing countries disrupted output.
They marked a record low of 2,628 tonnes on July 20, 2010.
Rubber inventories hit a 2010 peak of 8,222 tonnes on Feb. 28, the highest since July 20, 2009.
Following are details of the association's data (in tonnes):

(Reuters, February 8, 2011)