IRSG predicts lower export demand in 2001

VERACRUZ, Mexico (Feb. 13)—A predicted slowdown in North American and Western European economies, due to rising oil prices, may result in lower export demand from recovering Asian economies and a decrease in global growth of elastomer consumption, according to the International Rubber Study Group´s 2001 forecast for the rubber industry. The group predicts natural rubber production will improve in 2001, while global NR output will increase faster than consumption, pushing stocks up in the latter part of 2001. Synthetic rubber output is forecast to increase at a lower rate than consumption, resulting in a fall in global stocks, the report said. The rise in SR prices should have a positive effect on NR, but there is still uncertainty regarding the International Natural Rubber Organization stocks and also those in producing and consuming countries, particularly Thailand and Japan, the IRSG said.