Rubber Output up

The production of natural rubber during May 2008 increased by more than 27% to 59,000 tonnes against 46,485 tonnes recorded a year ago.  According to the Rubber Board’s provisional figure, the consumption of rubber by the tyre and non-tyre sectors increased by 7.74% to 71,000 tonnes in May against 65,895 tonnes recorded last year.

According to rubber Board official, “It’s a seasonal mismatch in production and consumption; the production would be significantly higher during October-January session. The increase in production is due to favourable climate conditions, increase in production is due to favourbale climatic conditions, increase in tapping days and better prices.  The projection relating to production of natural rubber during the current fiscal is estimated to be 8.75 lakh tones, while the consumption is estimated to be at 8.99 lakh tones in 2008-09.”

During 2007-08 fiscal, the production of natural rubber declined by 3% to 8.25 lakh tones from 8.52 lakh tones in the previous fiscal.  Consumption increased by 5% to nealy 8.6 lakh tones during 2007-08 against 8.2 lakh tones in the year-ago period.

The official said that the slight mismatch between production and consumption is due to presence of a disease in rubber trees in some parts of Kerala, one of the major producer of rubber in the country.  The short fall is unlikely to impact the prices of rubber as more than 1.57 lakh tones of opening stocks of rubber are with manufacturers, dealers and processing units.

During May 2008, the export of natural rubber declined to 2,800 tonnes from 4,141 tonnes, while import dipped to 7,500 tonnes from 7,978 tonnes in the same period.  “There is decrease in import and export due to marginal difference in domestic and international prices,” he said.

India exported 51,381 tonnes during 2007-08 against 56,545 tonnes in the previous fiscal.  The imports stood at 87,219 tonnes against 89,699 tonnes in the review period.  The exports and imports are estimated at 50,000 tonnes and 80,000 tonnes respectively during 2008-09.

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