Natural rubber output rises 4.3% in Apr-Dec

Natural rubber (NR) production was up 4.3 per cent during the April-December period of the current financial year. Total production in the nine months was 679,100 tonnes as against 651,150 tonnes in the same period of the last financial year.

During April–December, 717,485 tonnes of rubber were consumed, up 1.2 per cent from 708,705 tonnes in the same period last year. A 320 per cent increase was recorded in exports, with 22,472 tonnes shipped during the period as against 7,293 tonnes earlier. There has been a slowdown in imports, as 133,693 tonnes were brought in compared to 166,463 tonnes in the same period last year.

There has been a fall in the total stock of NR. According to the revised estimates of the Rubber Board, the total stock was 262,000 tonnes at the end of December, against 314,890 tonnes last year. Production in December increased one per cent to 104,000 tonnes, compared to 103,000 tonnes during December 2010. Consumption in December also increased 2.4 per cent to 84,000 tonnes, compared to 82,000 tonnes during December 2010. Meanwhile, Tokyo rubber futures rose three per cent on Friday to their highest close in three months, bolstered by continued optimism about the global economy.