Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (“STA” or “the Company”) reaffirms its position as a global leader in the natural rubber industry by upholding principles of transparency and fairness in its rubber procurement process and operating in accordance with good corporate governance practices. The Company recently welcomed representatives from government agencies for an on-site visit to assess the rubber purchasing situation across three provinces. During the visit, STA reiterated its commitment to supporting and cooperating with the government in combating the illegal rubber trade, while striving to elevate Thailand’s natural rubber industry toward sustainable global competitiveness.

Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA) a global leader in integrated natural rubber and Thailand’s largest rubber glove manufacturer. stated that, in response to the government’s initiative to deploy special task forces to inspect rubber and oil palm purchasing centers—aimed at ensuring fairness and building trust among farmers and agricultural cooperatives—the Company welcomed inspection teams from the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), Ministry of Commerce. The visiting delegation included officials from the Provincial Commerce Office, the Department of Internal Trade’s Bureau of Weights and Measures, as well as relevant agencies such as the Provincial Office of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Rubber Authority of Thailand. They conducted visits to three of STA’s purchasing facilities: STA Phitsanulok Branch, STA Narathiwat Branch, and Sri Trang Buying Center, Bua Chet Branch in Surin Province. The inspections found that all sites clearly and accurately displayed current purchasing prices consistent with actual buying rates and utilized standardized weighing equipment that had been certified by official inspectors from the Bureau of Weights and Measures. Additionally, STA emphasized its environmentally conscious procurement practices. These include measures to prevent deforestation, regulated transportation processes, and safeguards to prevent latex spillage during transit, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

The Company operates a business in compliance with principles of good corporate governance, placing a strong emphasis on fair treatment for all stakeholders throughout the supply chain, including every natural rubber raw material supplier. To ensure equal, fair, and transparent access for all suppliers, the Company utilizes the Sri Trang Friends Application, a digital platform designed to allow raw material suppliers to instantly view real-time purchasing prices via the application. In addition, the application features various tools developed to promote the quality of life for farmers and rubber traders across all regions. The Company has also implemented a traceability system to verify that all sourced raw materials originate from legally certified plantations. This initiative aims to elevate Thailand’s natural rubber industry and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global market. "We welcome inspections at all STA rubber purchasing sites nationwide," stated Mr. Veerasith.

Furthermore, the Company is fully committed to cooperating with and supporting government initiatives and policies aimed at the comprehensive development of Thailand’s rubber industry. This includes strong efforts to combat the illegal trade of rubber. STA has consistently and unequivocally declared our stance against the purchase of illegally sourced rubber and has implemented a strict non-procurement policy for such materials. In addition, the Company actively promotes the production and trade of high-quality rubber through various initiatives, including on-site outreach programs and regular online educational events designed to provide knowledge and support to farmers and rubber traders. The Company remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting business with transparency and fairness, while continuously supporting the sustainable growth and global competitiveness of Thailand’s natural rubber industry.