Better Stock Up: Rubber Shortage To Jack Up Prices On Condoms AND Tires

Bridgestone Corp., the largest tiremaker by sales, is raising European prices for the second time this year and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is charging more as rubber gains on prospects for the biggest shortage since 2007.

“Drought earlier this year and heavy rains later on hampered tree-tapping across Asian plantations,” said Pongsak Kerdvongbundit, managing director of Phuket, Thailand-based Von Bundit Co., the largest natural-rubber producer and exporter in the world’s biggest supplier. “Global production will lag behind soaring demand for at least another two years.”

Stockpiles of the raw material, also used in gloves and condoms, will drop 12 percent to 67 days of demand next year, the lowest level in at least a decade, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.



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supercarguy - 9/22/2010 1:41:46 PM

+1 Boost

condoms are made out of latex.

Agent009 - 9/22/2010 2:08:44 PM

+1 Boost

Latex is made from rubber.

Agent009 - 9/22/2010 4:36:22 PM

0 Boost

Good call Patrick, the point is that rubber tree harvests are way down, so we have a teenage boy's worst nightmare.

Both of the things he uses when the "rubber meets the road", (condoms and tires) are going up. The prospect of Chinese condoms or tires is a bit scary, no matter how you look at it.

M_Motorsport - 9/22/2010 2:15:33 PM

+1 Boost

Not good, especially for us that have ZR tires.

TauronB2G - 9/22/2010 2:20:38 PM

+3 Boost

Ooops there goes another rubber tree plant!!!

LexSucks - 9/22/2010 3:06:39 PM

-1 Boost

Its all Obama's fault!

LexSucks - 9/22/2010 5:09:46 PM

+1 Boost

I'm glad he didn't wear a Condom. Harvard Professors aren’t born everyday. Neither are U.S Presidents. His cheating father has some good traits, or did Obama get all of that from his mom's side of the family? Either way I'm not sure why you would have a problem with a law abiding productive member of society.

Whelan - 9/22/2010 3:16:40 PM

+2 Boost

Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone are all overpriced anyways.

Agent009 - 9/22/2010 4:40:08 PM

+1 Boost

And your fav choice? Primewell,Shandong Yongsheng, or Qingdao Au-Shine?

In general you get what you pay for. I would NEVER trust a Chinese ZR tire.

r15mohd - 9/23/2010 8:05:17 AM

+1 Boost

your car meets the road first with the tires, then suspension and brakes control your stopping. 3 things I would never cut-costs on!

toolatetorace - 9/23/2010 10:02:43 AM

+1 Boost

Now why isn't anyone helping this poor girl change her tire ?