Alappuzha: Rubber growers in Kerala now have a reason to cheer up as the steady increase in rubber prices lifts hopes of bright days ahead amidst the current Covid-19 quagmire and upcoming Onam. 

On Thursday, the price of RSS-4 grade rubber was Rs 173 per kilogramme. Experts say, there won’t be a price fall soon in view of favourable conditions in international market.

The rise in transportation costs and unavailability of containers during the Covid-19 period reduced demand for imported rubber. After all, depreciation of currencies in major rubber exporting countries forced traders to resort to local rubber.

The price of rubber latex has also increased from Rs 180 to Rs 185. This helps farmers to sell latex directly sans making rubber sheets from it. By selling latex directly, farmers get high prices by avoiding the extra burden of making rubber sheets. The Covid-19 pandemic led to mass production of gloves; automatically, the demand for latex, the raw material for making gloves, has also gone high. Normally, syntax is used for making various rubber items other than tyres.

The incessant rain blocked supply of rubber in the market resulting in rise in price. However, continues rain may affect tapping and it prevents farmers from making use of the available extreme favourable situation in the market.