Natural rubber (NR) production in India increased by 23 per cent during the last fiscal year (2016-17), said A Ajith Kumar, Chairman and Executive Director, Rubber Board. He was delivering the presidential address in the 174th meeting of the Rubber Board, at Kottayam on Friday. Production of NR increased from 562,000 tonnes in 2015-16 to 691,000 tonnes in 2016-17.

NR consumption during the same period increased from 994,415 tonnes to 1,043,075 tonnes, rising 4.9 per cent. Over the same period productivity increased from 1,437 kg per hectare to 1,563 kg per hectare.

Import of NR, which had been increasing consistently from 2008-09, reached 458,374 tonnes in 2015-16. But in 2016-17, import of NR declined for the first time by 7 per cent to 426,434 tonnes. Exports stood at 20,920 tonnes inn 2016-17. The stock at the end of March 2017 was 2,64,000 tonnes, he informed the Board.

Production in the April-May 2017 period is provisionally estimated to be 85,000 tonnes and consumption at 1,70,525 tonnes. Production and consumption of NR for the current fiscal year is projected at 8,00,000 tonnes and 10,70,000 tonnes, respectively, with a deficit of 270,000 tonnes.

World production and consumption of NR in 2016, according to a report from the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), is 12.40 mt and 12.60 mt respectively. They forecast world production and consumption of NR for 2017 at 12.93 and 12.88 mt, respectively.

Gobal production up

World NR production and consumption during the first quarter of 2017 increased by 7.2 per cent and 4.9 per cent respectively. Generally, bearish sentiments weigh on the NR market in the near future but there are positive indications suggesting an increase in consumption, mainly on the basis of hopeful growth projections.

The Rubber Board had taken several measures to increase rubber production during the recent past.

Steps were taken to harvest untapped areas. Specific targets given at Regional Office and Field Office levels to improve production and productivity. A mass contact programme was conducted in the traditional rubber belt to popularize low frequency tapping.

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