Kottayam, India – The International Rubber Study Group reports the world production of NR during April to December 2012 increased by 3.2 percent, whereas consumption of NR declined marginally by 1.1 percent. Consumption of NR in the U.S. and EU countries declined considerably during the period. Consumption of NR in Japan and South Korea also declined. Growth in NR consumption in China also remains slow.
According to ISRG projections, world production and consumption of NR would be at 11.41 and 10.95 million metric tons, respectively, with a surplus of 460,000 metric tons during the year 2012. World NR production and consumption in 2013 would be 11.77 and 11.59 million metric tons with a surplus of 179,000 metric tons, the chairman added. India’s production of NR during April-December 2012 is estimated provisionally as 693,200 metric tons.
Consumption during this period was 742,330 metric tons with a growth of 3.2 percent over the corresponding period in the previous year. However, consumption of NR during November and December declined by 4 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Import and export of NR during April to December 2012 were 168,686 and 10,608 metric tons, respectively. Import of NR through duty free channels accounted for 46 percent of the total during the period. Production and consumption of NR for the year 2012-13 are projected at 920,000 metric tons and 970,000 metric tons, respectively. The projected closing stock of NR in 2012-13 is 290,000 metric tons.
Source: Rubber World
