Rubber growers may see profits bounce back
Rubber growers may have another chance to make money from the crop, but may have to wait a few years to reap profits. This was the prediction made by Chinese experts in the rubber trade on December 26 when they revealed the results of their analysis of the industry to rubber growers and business operators in Laos. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Lien Thikeo presided over the meeting that was convened to discuss the issues surrounding the rubber industry in Laos and the associated business opportunities. Dr Lien reminded participants about the fall in the price of rubber latex which led to rubber remaining unsold and out-of-pocket farmers who wanted to use their plantations for other purposes. Laos had 900 hectares of rubber trees in 2003, which soared to 28,800 ha in 2007 and 234,000 ha three years later. Plantations covered 282,000 ha in 2014, with 59 percent being in the north, 23 percent in central regions, and 18 percent in the southern provinces.
