Natural rubber output to fall behind estimates

BEIJING (Commodity Online) : Natural rubber output from the rubber producing nations would lag behind the projected estimates, according to a report from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.
But high prices are prompting farmers to tap rubber in the off-season, reported Peoples Daily of China.
The output from rubber producing nations is expected to grow by 4.8% to reach 9.77 million tons, down from a projected 8% output which pegged figures at 10 million tons.
Supply from key growers is expected to climb 6% in the first quarter even as demand is surging in China (3.6 million tons), India (991,000 tons) and Malaysia (490,000 tons).
In fact, natural rubber price have been surging across the globe.
Rubber futures in Tokyo have gained 15 % in 2011where as last year the rally added 50 percent to prices. The growth story that is India and China, reflected in their rising car sales have fuelled this price rise.

(Source: http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Natural-rubber-output-to-fall-behind-estimates-36804-3-1.html)