Being the world&#;s largest rubber importer, policies in China can have far-reaching effects on the global rubber industry. In late the government of China decided to approve a new standard for compound rubber imports. The permitted crude rubber content in imported compound rubber was cut from -. percent to percent, implying that compound rubber imports into China became subject to a percent import duty (the same tariff as natural rubber import duties). China’s new policy is a blow to its rubber suppliers in Indonesia as it results in declining usage of compound rubber in the world’s second-largest economy.

Rubber, known for its elastic quality, is a commodity that is used in many products and applications around the globe (from industrial to household products). There are two types of rubber, to wit natural rubber and synthetic rubber. Natural rubber is made from the juice (latex) of the rubber tree, whereas the synthetic type is made from petroleum. Both types are interchangeable and as such influence each other&#;s demand; when the price of petroleum rises, demand for natural rubber will increase. But when supply disruptions of natural rubber cause its price to rise, then the market tends to turn to synthetic rubber. This section discusses Indonesia&#;s natural rubber sector. Indonesia is one of the largest producers and exporters of natural rubber.

Like most other key commodities, international rubber prices have been under pressure after amid weak global economic activity (which impacted negatively on the automotive industry) as well as a natural rubber supply glut. Moreover, low crude oil prices made synthetic rubber very competitive, hence the natural rubber price sunk significantly between early and late . Meanwhile, advances in the development of bio-based tires also pose a threat to the rubber industry.

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Back at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center from to March , The th International Plastics & Rubber Technologies and Materials Exhibition for Vietnam organized by Informa Markets Vietnam in conjunction with Messe Düsseldorf Asia promises to provide a potential trading platform for plastic and rubber manufacturers and processors to introduce products, build brand image, expand new cooperation opportunities as well as identify economic potentials in the market of Vietnam.