NEW DELHI: Natural rubber production in India fell by 13.5 per cent last month to 50,000 tonnes, increasing the country’s dependence on imports.
The domestic consumption of rubber, on the other hand, increased to 82,500 tonnes in February from 79,375 tonnes a year ago.
“Production of NR (natural rubber) decreased by 13.5 per cent to 50,000 tonnes during February from 57,800 tonnes during February 2014,” Rubber Board said in a statement.
Import of natural rubber increased to 28,806 tonnes last month from 20,300 tonnes in the same month last year. Exports also increased to 273 tonnes from 8 tonnes during the month under review.
The rubber production has declined by 14.6 per cent to 6.2 lakh tonnes in the April-February period of this fiscal, compared to 7.26 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the last financial year.
However, natural rubber consumption grew by 3.9 per cent to 9.28 lakh tonnes during April-February period of 2014-15 from 8.94 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.
– India Times
