MUMBAI, Dec 17 (Reuters) – India’s natural rubber imports inNovember jumped 19 percent to 33,156 tonnes from a year earlier,the state-run Rubber Board said, as a drop in local output andlower prices in the world market prompted tyre makers toincrease overseas purchases.
The country’s production in the month fell by a quarter onyear to 64,000 tonnes as some farmers skipped tapping afterprices fell to their lowest level in five years.
India’s natural rubber consumption in the month rose nearly12 percent on year to 85,000 tonnes, the Board said in astatement on Wednesday.
“Even in coming months we will see higher imports. Tyrecompanies have already signed import deals for shipments in nextfew months due to lower price in Thailand and Indonesia,” saidGeorge Valy, president of the Indian Rubber Dealers’ Federation.
The south Asian country imports natural rubber fromThailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Anand Basu)
