China's imports of natural and synthetic rubber have decreased by 13 per cent in value during the first quarter (Q1) of this year. However, the imports showed a positive trend in terms of volume, with the quantity of natural and synthetic rubber increasing by 10.7 per cent in the same period, as per the General Administration of Customs of China. 

China's imports of natural and synthetic rubber decreased to $3,027 million in Q1 2023, compared to $3,478 million in the same period of last year. However, the volume of imports increased to 20,590,000 MT during January to March 2023, compared to 18,600,000 MT in the same period of 2022. 

In March 2023, China imported rubber worth $1,082 million, with a volume of 7,300,000 MT. As the world's largest consumer of rubber, China imports the commodity to secure a supply of raw materials for its domestic rubber-based industries.