David Fickling, Columnist

Fixing a Flat Tire Will Cost More Thanks to Climate

The world needs more natural rubber than it will be able to produce over the coming years.

January 22, 2025 at 9:00 PM UTC

David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change and energy. Previously, he worked for Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times.

Heavier cars mean faster wear and tear on tires, and more rubber than we can grow.
Photographer: Taylor Weidman/Bloomberg

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If you’re looking for a bounce in commodity markets, you could do worse than focus on rubber.

Tokyo-traded futures have gained about 40% over the past year, making it one of the best-performing agricultural products alongside two other tropical forest crops, cocoa and coffee. Despite selling off after hitting a seven-year high in October, since November the contracts climbed another 10% to put them within range of a fresh record.