Chinese tire exports decline due to U.S. high tariffs

Shanghai, March 30 (Gasgoo.com) Tianjin Port has seen a decline in the import volume of natural rubber this year. Customs statistics show that the January-February 2010 import volume of natural rubber in Tianjin Port is 9800 tons, down 13.2 percent from the same period in 2009.

However, the value of natural rubber had a comparatively high increase at the same time. It reached $19.73 million from January to February in 2010, up 21.1 percent year on year.

The decline of tire exports has led to the imports of natural rubber. Customs sources explained that China is a big country for tire manufacturing and exporting, with 40% of the products to be exported and one third of the exports going to the United States. Currently, U.S. is imposing high tariffs on China’s tires, which has hampered the exports severely, and directly caused a decline in the natural rubber exports.

 The increasing price of natural rubber in the international markets has curbed the imports of China’s natural rubber. Additionally, the international futures, exchange market and climate factor have also affected the exports, and the imports of natural rubber have been influenced consequently to certain extent.

Moreover, the increase of the domestic supply of natural rubber has also caused the decline. With the increasing output of China’s natural rubber and the synthetic rubber equipment being put into operation as a substitute for natural rubber, the market demand of the domestic natural rubber has been further eased, and the exports has thus dropped.