Vietnam is the world's number five producer of natural rubber, with 724.000 tons in 2009.
According to figures released by the local Ministry of Agriculture, more than 600.000 tons were exported in January-October 2010 (90.000 just in last month), with an 8% increase in volume and 92% in value over the same period of 2009. In fact, there was a strong growth of prices, due to high demand at world level that two main producers (Thailand and Indonesia) were not able to meet, due to bad weather conditions which affected the raw material's harvest.
The main destination markets for the Vietnamese exports of natural rubber are the Asiatic ones but Europe and United States are considered strategic targets.