Natural rubber production falls over 7%
Date: 15-05-2012The production of Natural rubber in India has decreased by over 7 percent for the month of April as compared to the corresponding month of the previous fiscal. The figure stood at 52,700 tonnes against 56,800 tonnes in April 2011. Shortage of manpower and incessant rains seems to be the reasons for drop in production.
Moreover, the consumption of natural rubber too declined by around 5 percent in April to 80,500 tonnes compared to 84,500 tonnes during the month of March while, consumption declined by over a percent in April as compared to 81375 tonnes during the same month previous year, according to the figures available from the Rubber Board.
| Production | Consumption | Import | Export | Closing stock | |
| April'11 | 56,800 | 81,375 | 6,518 | 2,214 | 2,68,781 |
| April'12 (Provisional) | 52,700 | 80,500 | 17,509 | 755 | 2,26,000 |
| 2011-12 (Provisional) | 8,99,400 | 9,66,750 | 2,05,433 | 27,145 | 2,30,000 |
(in tonnes)
N Radhakrishnan, Advisor, Cochin Rubber Merchants Association said that, “man-days for tapping of rubber were reduced to a reasonable extent because of rains”.
“The re-plantation activity in Kerala is on the lower side for the last few years. Majority of the planters are reluctant to cut aged trees for re-plantation purpose, as the prices of rubber are ruling high” Radhakrishnan added.
This phenomenon was seen in many of the estates, the advisor said adding that age old trees are giving lower yield. In addition, drop in consumption is on account of low off take in replacement markets as well as in original equipment markets.