The rubber price situation in the second half of 2017 is expected to improve in line with the recovery of world economy, especially China, coupled with an increase of investment in developed countries. International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated world GDP growth at 3.5% in 2017 and 3.6% in 2018 respectively. However, with lower oil and commodity price and volatility of yuan and China rubber stock, rubber price stayed in its low zone, pushing some farmers to cut down the trees and resort to other more lucrative sources of income.

Amid the situation of rubber price crisis, it is a good opportunity which we could seize to turn the crisis into sustainable development with the knowledge of science, technology and innovation to process rubber raw material into value-added finished products to increase the domestic consumption, which is an important policy of the government to bring about sustainability in rubber industry. Based on this approach, National Metal and Materials technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Ministry of Science and technology in association with Rubber Innovation Network,  including Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) organized a conference on rubber technology research and development cooperation on 13-14 July 2017 at Thailand Science Park Convention Center, Pathumthani, aiming to create a platform of assembling, exchanging and brainstorming and pushing forward further research cooperation for commercialization.

Among interesting rubber research and development presentations from modern automotive, transport and aviation sector led by MTEC-NSTDA in line with Thailand 4.0 policy were tyre’s wet grip, low rolling resistance tyre and noise efficient tyre. In addition, the presentations also involved products in other sectors, namely latex polymer pad for pressure sore prevention, fabric paint made from rubber, rubber nipple for calf, rubber-mixed concrete block and rubber briquette contained in netting mesh for oil absorption in sea and other water resources. These outstanding science and technology-related projects were attributed to the consolidation of network in conducting research and creating sustainability- driven innovation which would bring about more export products as well as an increase of domestic consumption.

The Thai Rubber Association sees the great importance of change and adaptation amid the rubber price crisis. I would like to take this opportunity to urge all relevant sectors to further improve, develop and add more value to rubber by applying innovation in the processing of rubber into finished products for both domestic and international market.