Global natural rubber (NR) production increased in 2025 while consumption fell marginally during the year, latest figures published by the association of natural rubber producing countries (ANRPC) show.

In its December 2025 monthly NR report, ANRPC said it estimated that global NR production will be 14.9 million tonnes in 2025, indicating a modest year-on-year increase of 1.4% compared to 2024.

According to data from ANRPC member countries, global NR consumption is projected to decline slightly by 0.7% in 2025, to around 15.34 million tonnes, compared with 15.44 million tonnes in 2024.

"These figures underscore the shifting dynamics within the natural rubber industry, shaped by various internal and external influences", said the Kuala Lumpur-based association.

Output data, it said, show the effects of factors such as adverse weather conditions, inadequate investment in replanting, and sudden changes in market perceptions stemming from the volatile global economy.

The marginal reduction in demand, said ANRPC, partially reflects revisions across major consuming countries, especially China, India, and the US, driven by the developments in the automotive sector.

In December 2025, ANRPC data showed, NR production fell significantly by 10.8% year-on-year to 1.41 million tonnes.

The downturn, said the association, reflects a combination of falling grower prices and heavy rainfall in late November and early December.

The rainfalls caused flooding across major producing countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

In terms of demand, December saw consumption grow 2.9% year-on-year to 1.3 million tonnes.

Despite the growth, demand was influenced by US tariffs and anti-dumping duties affecting China's tire exports, leading to "diminished trade flows and a deceleration in tire production in China".

"Consequently, these developments signal increasing pressure on demand and underscore the vulnerability of the global supply chain to shifts in policy", ANRPC noted.