Over 785,000 tons of rubber sold out from Thai stocks

BANGKOK, March 21 (TNA) - The Thai government reports that over 785,000 tons of Para rubber have been sold out from stocks to assist local farmers. Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists that the sale amount has exceeded an earlier target, as Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has urged government agencies to use local Para rubber to help local growers from low rubber prices. Besides, promotions were also launched with local manufacturers and exporters to boost domestic rubber consumption. The spokesman said that the Ministry of Commerce had, therefore, organized two business matching events for rubber suppliers and manufacturers and outcomes were satisfactory, with the first event held in Surat Thani Province in the Thai South in 2015, where 58 foreign buyers came from 17 countries to discuss trade and placed orders for Thai Para rubber and products worth 33.74 billion baht, and the second event held in Bangkok last month, drawing 147 foreign buyers from 28 countries with their purchase orders estimated at 19.66 billion baht. According to the spokesman, both events raised the consumption of Para rubber by 785,450 tons, including block rubber STR20 and natural rubber ribbed smoked sheet No. 3 (RSS3), while there were also orders for 22,000 (40-foot) containers of rubber wood, 100,000 items of rubber pillows and mattresses and a lot of auto parts, rubber gloves and tires with buyers coming from China, neighboring nations in the ASEAN Community (AC), India, South Korea, Japan, the Europe Union (EU), the United States, the Middle East and Africa. The spokesman stated that the prime minister has ordered relevant ministries to promote local rubber consumption, namely for the construction of roads, sports fields, playgrounds and equipment. The spokesman stressed although rubber prices have been rising in general, the Thai government wants to solve problems on a sustainable basis. (TNA)