ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 1980 : The International Natural Rubber Organisation formed by NR producing and consuming countries, come into being to operate a buffer stock scheme to prevent violent fluctuations in NR prices. 1995 : the Occupational Safety Health and Administration (OSHA) urge healthcare facilities to address the latex allergy issue, generating a large market for medical gloves that do not induce allergy. 1998 : The Standard Malaysian Glove Scheme (SMG) is launched to offer NR latex gloves processed to standards prescribed in the US, Europe and the Asia/Pacific. 2001 : Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia organise ITRO (International Tripartite Rubber Organisation) to ensure remunerative price for NR. Also, at the initiative of the three, ARGMA (ASEAN Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association) is founded to take steps to secure a fair price for NR gloves. 2002 : China emerges as the top rubber (both SR and NR) consumer with 3060800 tonnes, displacing the US, which consumes only 3006000 tonnes in a year. 1.6. CONSUMPTION OF RUBBER IN BRITAIN AND AMERICA NR is a high performance industrial raw material. It is indispensable in many industrial uses, and accordingly there is a strong relationship between demand and level of economic activity. Rubber products are part of our daily life. Rubber occupied a place in history even before Columbus. The following table explain the consumption of rubber before 19th century by Britain and America. Table 1.1 Year 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 Consumption of Rubber (in tonnes) Britain 23 307 385 2152 7656 8479 13200 25644 America NA NA NA 750 4296 8109 15336 22026 Source: Rubber Research Institute of India – Kottayam. From the above table it can be seen that the consumption of rubber increased considerably. In Britain, it increased from 23 tonnes in 1830 to 25644 tonnes in 1900. Similarly, the consumption in America had up to 22026 tonnes in 1900 from 750 tonnes in 1860. 19
26 Publizr Home