Sumitomo Rubber Launches Study on Low-Frequency Tapping to Boost Natural Rubber Quality and Sustainability

Japanese tire giant Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has inked a joint research pact with Thai institutions to probe low-frequency tapping systems for natural rubber (NR) trees. The initiative, announced on 19 August 2026, aims to slash tapping frequency to enhance both rubber quality and internal structure while tackling productivity and labor shortages plaguing Southeast Asia’s NR sector. The project unites SRI with Thailand’s Rubber Authority (RAOT), France’s CIRAD, Khon Kaen University, and Kasetsart University under the newly formed Hevea Research Platform in Partnership (HRPP). SRI highlights that Thailand’s rubber industry is grappling with plummeting prices, climate volatility, and a critical shortage of tappers—especially among smallholders who rely on an aging workforce and migrant labor. Low-frequency tapping cuts the number of latex harvests, directly reducing labor demands. Early findings suggest that tapping once every three days, combined with plant growth regulators to boost latex output, can match the productivity and quality of the conventional two-day cycle. SRI points to peer-reviewed studies backing this claim, though it notes that tapping intervals of four, six, or even ten days remain under investigation, with rubber quality and properties still not fully mapped. The research will also dissect adoption barriers, including cost shifts and labor dynamics for farmers, while identifying levers to ease uptake. SRI vows to apply the project’s insights to advance sustainable NR sourcing across its supply chain.