The ASEAN Rubber Business Council, formerly known as the ASEAN Rubber Business Club was founded on 23 October 1992 in Jakarta, Indonesia under the sponsorship 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 objectives of ARBC are as follows: to establish a forum for members to freely and frankly exchange views on matters of mutual interest; to establish closer rapport through exchanges of market information, trade visits, organizing of seminars and marketing forum to broaden the outlook and enhance the professionalism of members; to consult and discuss common trade practices and problems with a view to reach consensus and eventually influence the respective governments to make the necessary policy and strategy adjustments for the common good of the members; to monitor the progress and development of the natural rubber industry in member countries, to foster closer co-ordination, co-operation and goodwill amongst member organizations; to maintain an Executive Committee within the Council to decide on administrative and financial matters; to maintain an Economics and Statistics Committee to be responsible for trade matters and the collection, analysis and dissemination of market information and statistics.

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, the Malaysian Rubber Exchange served as a host organization of the 21^st Assembly of the ASEAN Rubber Business Council on 10 October 2015 at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia preceded by MRE Annual Dinner on 9 October 2015. 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 officers.

The 21^st ARBC Assembly meeting came out with these important matters: 1) the meeting adopted ARBC – revised IRA Contract for TSR; 2) invitation to Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association to join ARBC is in progress; 3) reproduction of RSS samples based on Green Book, whereby the meeting proposed that TRA present new RSS3 samples with reference to RSS Master Samples 1968 to IRA Management Committee meeting; 4) ARBC Press Release on the current protracted low rubber prices dated 10 September 2015; 5) cooperation between ASEAN and China on the exchange of economic and rubber trade information; 6) data on rubber statistics, FOB price and market outlook. In addition, the meeting agreed that TRA host the next Assembly of the ARBC scheduled on 14 May 2016 in conjunction with TRA Annual Dinner 2016.

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.