IN SHORT: Thai Hua sells 180,000 tons of rubber to China

A major Thai rubber exporter, Thai Hua, has sold 180,000 tonnes of smoked rubber sheets and block rubber to three Chinese companies, its CEO said on Tuesday. The deal was likely to help support Tokyo rubber futures as the volume was deemed relatively large and comes at a time when exporters were worried about slowing demand from China and over possible defaults, dealers said.
"The rubber was sold at $3.50 per kg and shipment could run from January to September 2012," Luckchai Kittipol said. He gave no further details on the buyers.