Source: sumatra.bisnis.com and sumsel.akurat.co In North Sumatra (Indonesia), natural rubber exports in February 2026 remained nearly flat, with only a slight increase from the previous month and still at a low level compared to many years' norms. The main reasons are disruptions in sea transportation, unstable shipping schedules, and slow delivery due to global logistics fluctuations. Additionally, the slow recovery of global demand has prevented exports from breaking through. Nevertheless, natural rubber prices tend to rise due to increased synthetic rubber production costs amid the energy crisis, thereby increasing the attractiveness of natural rubber. In terms of the market, Japan and the United States remain the largest destinations, while South Korea is emerging as a market with increasing demand signals, mainly from the tire manufacturing industry. Exports to the European Union maintain a significant share but are dispersed across many countries, with no dominant market. ...