KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Global natural rubber demand rose 5 percent to about 12.9 million metric tons in the first 11 months of 2018, according to a new report from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries. This, the association said, compares with a 5.4 percent rise in production to about 12.8 million tons.
The association described the NR market as "volatile" in November amid a "bearish" crude oil market, U.S.-China trade tensions, rising interest rates and the development of regional rubber futures markets
While prices for SMR-20 fell to a 10-month low during November 2018, prices closed slightly higher to around $1.23 per kilogram over the final week in November, ANRPC noted.