The ASEAN Rubber Business Council, formerly known as the ASEAN Rubber Business Club was founded in 1992 in Jakarta, Indonesia under the cooperation of four natural rubber producing and trading nations in the ASEAN region, namely Rubber Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO); the Malaysian Rubber Exchange (MRE); the Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS); and the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) in order to exchange market information, to consult and discuss common trade practices. Headquartered in Malaysia, ARBC currently comprises of 6 member countries, viz. Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam - the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) and Cambodia - the Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC).

The ASEAN Rubber Business Council is internationally recognized in rubber trade. Twice a year, the Council organizes its assembly. For the latest round of ARBC Assembly, Indonesian Rubber Association (Gapkindo) served as a host organization of the 22^nd Assembly of the ASEAN Rubber Business Council and 17^th Meeting of the Economics and Statistics Committee on 27 August 2016 at Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia preceded by Gapkindo Annual Dinner on 26 August 2016. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Suarni Sumormo, Deputy Director General of Malaysian Rubber Board on behalf of Dr. Mohd Akbar Md Said, Director General of MRB. The delegation of TRA was led by Mr. Supadetch Ongsakul, Deputy Secretary General together with Ms. Piyaporn Saelim, Manager and Mr. Prasit Petnoosed, TRA officer.

The 22^nd ARBC Assembly meeting came out with these important matters: 1) Proposal to establish better NR price discovery by enhancing existing price discovery mechanism and through industrial price and minimum price; 2)Proposal to publicize NR statistics, F.O.B. prices and market outlook in ARBC’s website for information of the public; 3) TRA’s proposal on SGX SICOM RSS3 prices which are considered unfair, affecting long term contracts. SGX replied with an explanatory letter and invited TRA members to participate in SGX price panel to determine better NR prices; 4) TRA’s proposal on Free Carrier (FCA) and Delivered at Place (DAP) in incoterms 2010 and obligation for Terminal Handling Charges (THC) to clearly indicate seller and buyer’s obligation for THC and ultimately for fairness in international trade; 5) Update on TRA’s preparation for RSS samples based on Green Book stipulation with reference to RSS Master Sample 1968. TRA is in the process of preparing the said samples and will present the samples at the next IRA Management Committee meeting; 6) Exchange of information on trade disputes. The meeting proposed that members exercise extreme cautions in dealing with defaulters; 7) Handover of chairmanship of the Council from Malaysian Rubber Exchange/Federation of Rubber Associations of Malaysia to the Thai Rubber Association. The meeting scheduled the ARBC Chairmanship for the tenure 2017-2018 on 10 December 2016 at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in conjunction with VRA Annual Dinner.

From the above data, it is clear that ARBC plays a significant role in establishing close rapport among rubber producing countries and it is an important part in the development of global rubber industry in the long term.