China 2012 Rubber Demand to Grow at Slower Pace, Okachi Says

Natural rubber demand in China, the world’s largest consumer, may slow in 2012 and prices may extend the biggest annual decline in three years as economic growth and auto sales ease, an executive at Okachi & Co. said.

“There’s growing concern that the whole economic situation will face downward pressure in the first quarter next year because of weak economies in both emerging and developed countries,” said Lizhi Tang, president of Okachi’s greater China region. Okachi is the largest broker for rubber contracts on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, he said.