ANRPC Ups 2011 World Rubber Output Forecast To 10.06 Million Tonnes

* 2011 output seen up 6.2 pct from 2010 on higher yield
* Top producer Thailand's output forecast to rise 5.5 pct
Global natural rubber production is forecast to reach 10.06 million tonnes in 2011, up from a previous estimate of 9.7 million tonnes, driven by expansion of planting areas and higher yield, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries said on Monday (Mar 28).
"ANRPC's total production of natural rubber is now expected to reach 10.06 million tonnes during this year, up 6.2 percent from 9.47 million tonnes in the year before," the association said in a report.
"The anticipated growth for the current year closely matches with the 6.4 percent growth attained in 2010. The supply growth this year comes from expansion in yielding area by an expected 203,000 hectares and improvement in yield by 43 kg/hectare."
The ANRPC, whose members account for 92 percent of global natural rubber production, had estimated 2011 output at 9.7 million tonnes in February.
Output of top producer Thailand, which accounts for about 34 percent of global supply, is forecast to rise 5.5 percent to 3.43 million tonnes this year with planting area estimated to increase by 110,000 hectares, said the ANRPC.
"About 114,500 hectares of trees planted in 2004 and a portion of 173,000 hectares planted in 2005 are expected to have opened for tapping by now," it said.
"At the same time, a portion of existing aged trees would be uprooted this year for replanting."
ANRPC members include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia as well as Cambodia, China, India, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The group also accounts for 92 percent of global exports and 48 percent of global consumption of natural rubber.
Prices of tyre grade rubber have dropped more than 12 percent since striking a record above $6 per kg in February, as economic concerns triggered by the unrest in the Middle East and worries about the impact of a deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan on demand spurred selling on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.
(Reuters, March 28, 2011)