Rubber is a significant economic crop in Thailand, correlated with more than 6 million people, including rubber farmers, laborers, government officials, and other related parties (estimated 1 million households). The primary-processed rubber exports generate income for Thailand of more than 200,000 million baht per year. Thailand has been the world's largest producer and +exporter of natural rubber and rubber-based products since 1991. In 2022, Thailand produced 5.14 million tons of rubber, 4.40 million tons (85% of the production) for export, and 1.04 million tons (20% of the production) for domestic consumption. Thailand mostly depends on export markets such as China, Malaysia, the US, Japan, Korea, and the EU. Most of the exports are primary-processed rubber. In 2022, Thailand exported 1.64 million tons of STR and unspecified block rubber, 1.58 million tons of compound rubber, 649,110 tons of latex, 454,317 tons of RSS, and 72,746 tons of others (source: Rubber Division, Department of Agriculture).

The significant issue in Thailand's 20-Year Rubber Strategy (2018 - 2037) consists of five strategies. The first strategy is to build strength for rubber farmers and rubber farmers' institutes. The second strategy is to increase effectiveness and improve quality and standards. The third strategy is the research and development of technology and innovation. The fourth strategy is to develop markets and distribution channels. Lastly, the fifth strategy is supportive factor development. Thailand's 20-Year Rubber Strategy established 5 working groups to drive the strategies as follows: 1) the working group on strengthening rubber farmers and farmers' institutes; 2) the working group on increasing effectiveness and improving quality standards; 3) the working group on research and development of technology and innovation and developing supporting factors; 4) the working group on market and distribution channel development; and 5) the working group on the scrutiny of the 20-year rubber strategy. The President of the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) was honored to act as a sub-committee of the 20-year Rubber Strategy Driving, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand. Moreover, the TRA president also joined the working group on market and distribution channel development, chaired by the Governor of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). The indicators of the 20-year rubber strategic plan in the years 2018-2037 consist of 5 indicators, as follows: 1). 18.4 million rai (2.9 million hectares) of rubber plantation area within the year 2037; 2). Rubber output is 360 kg per rai per year within the year 2037; 3). The share of domestic rubber consumption will be 35% within the year 2037; 4). The export value of rubber-based products is 800,000 million baht within the year 2037, and 5). Revenue from rubber plantations is 19,800 baht per rai per year within the year 2037, with 21 indicators and target values for each strategy. However, the outcome of the driving strategy is still very far from the goal due to a variety of factors. The sub-committee of the 20-year Rubber Strategy Driving will expedite the implementation through the working groups responsible for each strategy. Furthermore, representatives of the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) have presented sustainability issues, especially the Deforestation-Free Products Regulation or EU environmental, trade, and other relevant laws, to prepare to deal with exports to the EU, and it may continue to expand to other importing countries.

The Thai Rubber Association (TRA) hopes that the integrated cooperation between all relevant sectors, such as the government, the private sector, and rubber farmers, will result in the driving of the 20-year rubber strategy to achieve objectives in developing sustainable growth of Thailand rubber.

Mr. Chaiyos Sincharoenkul

President

The Thai Rubber Association