African rubber is likely to gain traction in the US, and the European market over Asian rubber as Suez Canal Authority (SCA) increased the canal tolls from May 01, 2022, for "Containerships" transiting in the northbound direction. The move came as a blow, especially for the Asian rubber industry, adding to the cost while China's COVID-19 lockdown and tire manufacturers' closure of Eastern Europe factories weighed on demand and supply chain.