Japan may boost RI rubber imports<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Reuter): Japan is likely to boost natural rubber
\nimports from Indonesia as a result of delayed shipments and
\nhigher prices from Thailand, traders said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We are considering buying Technically Specified Rubber (TSR)
\nfrom Indonesia, instead of Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) from
\nThailand,\" an official of a major tire maker said.<\/p>\n
Japan imported 61,611 tons of rubber in March, of which 48,224
\ntons came from Thailand and 9,486 tons came from Indonesia,
\naccording to Finance Ministry statistics.<\/p>\n
Shipments of RSS 3 rubber from Thailand have been delayed by
\nup to one month, as rainfall has halted rubber tapping.<\/p>\n
There have been no shipment delays from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A widening price gap, with TSR 20 about 15 cents per kg
\ncheaper than RSS 3, is also likely to encourage Japanese end-
\nusers to buy TSR, the traders said.<\/p>\n
\"Although Japanese tire makers have some preferences as to
\nwhich grades to use to make their tires, they will have to
\nconsider buying TSR in light of the widening price gap,\" a
\ntrading house trader said.<\/p>\n
\"In quality, there is not much difference between TSR and RSS
\ngrades, and Japanese makers are able to overcome any quality
\nproblems,\" the trader said.<\/p>\n
Japan consumed 692,000 tons of natural rubber in calendar
\n1995, according to the Rubber Trade Association of Japan.<\/p>\n
Sheet rubber (RSS) accounted for 68 percent while TSR was
\nabout 31 percent, the association said.<\/p>\n
Nearly 100 percent of the RSS comes from Thailand.<\/p>\n
The offer price of Thai benchmark RSS 3 to Japan has firmed to
\n152 cents per kg on a FOB basis, compared with about 138-139
\ncents at the end of April.<\/p>\n
The delayed shipments from Thailand have not affected Japanese
\nrubber production so far, but it has affected Japanese rubber
\nstocks.<\/p>\n
Japanese rubber stocks at designated warehouses fell to 35,056
\ntons as of May 20, against this year's peak of 35,850 tons in
\nmid-April.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-may-boost-ri-rubber-imports-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}