Kottayam: After a long gap, the domestic price of rubber has surpassed its international price. For example, the grade RSS4 variety of rubber costs Rs 185 per kg in Bangkok, but the local prices of the same variety is somewhere around Rs 204 per kg. 

The ‘great’ harvest in Thailand and extensive availability of rubber in the market have lowered its price internationally. 

Over the past year, the trees in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia were affected by certain disease, causing the prices to plummet.   

The tyre companies are generally expected to cash in on such opportunities, but at the moment they are unable to accumulate rubber from across the world, owing to the shortage of ships and containers. 

Earlier in the month of March, the price of rubber had crossed Rs 200 per kg mark in the international market, after a gap of seven years. 

Back then, National Consortium of Rubber Producers' Societies (NCRPS) national general secretary Babu had criticised the state-central governments for not handling the situation properly.