India natural rubber import fell 17% in August

India's import of natural rubber declined by nearly 17 per cent to 18,834 tonnes in August, 2010, compared to 22,640 tonnes in the same month last year, according to the Rubber Board

The total import of natural rubber, mostly consumed by tyre manufacturers, in first five months of current fiscal (April-August, 2010) period declined by nearly 28 per cent to 75,042 tonnes, the board said.

Import of natural rubber in April-August period of 2009, stood at 103,483 tonnes, the Board said.

During the month, the country's natural rubber production rose by nearly 12 per cent in August to 72,500 tonnes, compared to the same month last year on an increased acreage under rain guarding, a system which prevents rain from interfering with the tapping of rubber trees.

The country had produced 64,750 tonnes of rubber in August, 2009, the board said. During the April-August period, the production of rubber increased to 2.97 lakh tonnes from 2.74 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.

"Production of natural rubber up to August, 2010, increased by 8.5 per cent, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year due to the increased percentage of rain guarding, favourable weather conditions and attractive price," it said.

Rubber consumption in August this year, however, dipped slightly to 79,000 tonnes from 79,750 tonnes a year-ago. However, it recorded a 3.4 per cent growth in the first five months of the current fiscal vis-a-vis the same period last fiscal.

India consumed 3.9 lakh tonnes of rubber in the April-August period of the current fiscal, as against 3.77 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last fiscal.