** India’s natural rubber imports are expected to climb by nearly 17 pct to 350,000 tonnes this year from 300,000 tonnes shipped in 2016, traders say
** “Indian demand is rising rapidly and the production has also not recovered fully after drought,” said a trader on the sidelines of an industry event in Singapore
** A second trader said there were quality issues with Indian rubber. “Tyre manufacturers want a certain quality which is lacking,” the trader adds
** India consumes around 1 mln tonnes of rubber – traders (Reporting by Naveen Thukral)
