The leading African rubber producer, Côte d’Ivoire, once again recorded an increase in production in 2020 to reach 950,000 tonnes, 21% more than in 2019 (783,000 tonnes), according to a statement by ‘Eugène Krémien, President of the Association of Natural Rubber Professionals (Apromac) at the’AFP. Between 2018 and 2019, it had increased by 25%. If the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the sector, especially in the second quarter of 2020 with the fall in demand and prices, Côte d’Ivoire finally ended the year 2020 with a 35% increase in exports to more than a million tonnes in January-November 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Exports which have shifted from Europe to Asia. «60% to 80% of our rubber now goes to Asia », car «the majors of the sector (Michelin, Continental, Goodyear et Bridgestone) refused to take our orders, it was China that bought us everything»Indicated Eugène Krémien, who wishes to be less dependent on foreign markets and therefore to transform more and focus on the local market.
A desire for transformation which is timidly starting to bear fruit. At the beginning of March, the subsidiary of the SIFCA group, the International Company of Hévéas Plantations (SIPH) obtained a loan of € 85 million allocated in part to the construction of a new factory in Côte d’Ivoire (Read : A loan of € 85 million to SIPH for the processing of rubber in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana). Last year, twelve conventions investments with factory workers were also signed (Read: The Ivorian bet on rubber, in particular latex, reinforced).
–
