RubberCrisis

15 DECEMBER 2014 - CHUM SAENG, RAYONG, THAILAND: WIN, a laborer on a large rubber plantation in eastern Thailand, taps a rubber tree. Rubber trees are tapped at night and the latex collected from the base of each tree in the morning. Thailand is the second leading rubber exporter in the world. In the last two years, the price paid to rubber farmers has plunged from approximately 190 Baht per kilo (about $6.10 US) to 45 Baht per kilo (about $1.20 US). It costs about 65 Baht per kilo to produce rubber ($2.05 US). Prices have plunged 5 percent since September, when rubber was about 52Baht per kilo. Some rubber farmers have taken jobs in the construction trade or in Bangkok to provide for their families during the slump. The Thai government recently announced a "Rubber Fund" to assist small farm owners but said prices won't rebound until production is cut and world demand for rubber picks up. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: RubberCrisisContinues008.jpg
Copyright: © 2014 Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 5760x3840 / 18.4MB; 121614 Agriculture Economy Farm Labor Manual Labor Rubber ThaiRubberCrisis ZUMA
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All), Thai Rubber Crisis Deepens

15 DECEMBER 2014 - CHUM SAENG, RAYONG, THAILAND: WIN, a laborer on a large rubber plantation in eastern Thailand, taps a rubber tree. Rubber trees are tapped at night and the latex collected from the base of each tree in the morning. Thailand is the second leading rubber exporter in the world. In the last two years, the price paid to rubber farmers has plunged from approximately 190 Baht per kilo (about $6.10 US) to 45 Baht per kilo (about $1.20 US). It costs about 65 Baht per kilo to produce rubber ($2.05 US). Prices have plunged 5 percent since September, when rubber was about 52Baht per kilo. Some rubber farmers have taken jobs in the construction trade or in Bangkok to provide for their families during the slump. The Thai government recently announced a "Rubber Fund" to assist small farm owners but said prices won't rebound until production is cut and world demand for rubber picks up. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ