SW China rubber harvest delayed by drought

Kunming (CNS) -- Continuous drought has delayed, and is very likely to reduce, the spring rubber harvest in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a local agricultural official told CNS on Tuesday.

The province usually yields about 35 percent of the country's total production, but droughts have plagued the big rubber producer for three years.

Thirst is extremely hazardous for rubber tree growth during budding season, which is currently taking place. Add to that fact that rubber leaves are slower to fall without rainfall, and the tapping schedule for more than six million mu (400,000 hectares) of rubber farms is forced into suspension, according to Sales Manager Lin at a local rubber company.

Influenced by a prospective contract yield, the price of rubber futures climbed at the Shanghai Futures Exchange on Monday and has not reached its ceiling yet, said a futures analyst.