Rubber is an elastic substance obtained from the exudations of certain tropical plants (natural rubber) or derived from petroleum and natural gas (synthetic rubber). Because of its elasticity, resilience, and toughness, rubber is the basic constituent of the tires used in automotive vehicles, aircraft, and bicycles.

More than half of all rubber produced goes into automobile tires; the rest goes into mechanical parts such as mountings, gaskets, belts, and hoses, as well as consumer products such as shoes, clothing, furniture, and toys. The biggest producers of rubber are China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Others include Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India.