Thailand and Cambodia keep the peace
After weeks of border tension, the governments of Thailand and Cambodia confirmed the maintenance of the ceasefire agreed in Kuala Lumpur. Support from the United States was key to the deal. With stability restored, rubber plantations in the region have resumed operations, significantly reducing the risk of supply disruptions.
The U.S. government has implemented a new round of tariffs impacting more than 90 nations. India was particularly hit, with rates raised to 50% due to purchases of Russian oil. While the immediate market impact was moderate, there is potential for indirect effects on rubber prices if oil prices rise.
Rains have eased in producing countries such as Thailand, favoring harvesting and raising supply forecasts. The improved weather pushed prices down in key Asian markets, although alerts remain for possible flash floods in the coming weeks.
Demand for maritime transport fell after recent trade changes, lowering freight rates even on routes to South America. Despite port bottlenecks, shipment reliability has been rising for five consecutive months, reaching the highest level since the pandemic and offering greater predictability for the rubber supply chain.
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