Commerce Ministry is actively finding markets for rubber products

NONTHABURI, July 10 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry is trying to find more markets for natural rubber and rubber products to help rubber growers. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said commerce authorities were planning business matching events and her ministry would send representatives to other countries to secure rubber orders. The representatives targeted Bangladesh, China, Iran and Latin America, she said. “Such movements have been going on since 2015 and have been successful in increasing export and local rubber prices,” the commerce minister said. Pending the organization of business matching events and the trips of commerce representatives, Ms Apiradi ordered commercial attachés in other countries to meet potential buyers and present Thai natural rubber and rubber products. The export promotion attempts focused on natural rubber, automotive parts, rubber gloves, latex disposable gloves, tires, mattresses, pillows, shoes, and furniture parts, the commerce minister said. Her officials would also arrange for the exhibition of Thai rubber products at relevant international events in the United States and Germany, for example. According to the minister, in the first five months of this year Thailand exported 1.48 million tons of natural rubber. The volume dropped 0.82% year on year. The export value stood at US$2.83 billion, rising 63.55%. The export of rubber products was estimated at US$4.07 billion, increasing by 58.98%. The commerce minister expected the rubber export to grow due to external demands. (TNA)