Indian Natural Rubber Production Rises

According to a senior Rubber Board official, India’s natural rubber production has risen 19.6 per cent during the first seven months of the 2008-2009 financial year, reports Reuters. The total output in this seven month period is 476,865 tonnes. At the same stage last year, the figure stood at 398,850 tonnes. India is the world’s fourth largest supplier of natural rubber, with peak season extending from September to February. Though this peak tapping period will see a drop off in the last two months of ‘08-’09, it is still predicted that 875,000 tonnes will be produced this year, 6 per cent up from last year’s figure of 825,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, this rise in production has seen the country’s natural rubber trade deficit close – imports are down 7.3 per cent to 48,799 tonnes, whereas exports are up 80 per cent at 32,760 tonnes. According to the Reuters source, total stocks were at 144,450 tonnes at the end of August.