Natural rubber output up 5.9% in May

Natural rubber production (NR) increased 5.9 per cent in May compared to the same period last year. Though the growth slowed in April, output increased 6.2 per cent compared to April 2010.

Production in May increased to 59,700 tonnes as against 56,400 tonnes in the same month last year. In April, NR production was 56,800 tonnes as against 53,500 tonnes in 2010. For the first time during the past year, domestic NR consumption registered a fall in May.

Consumption in May was 81,000 tonnes as against 82,500 tonnes, a fall of 1.8 per cent. Consumption had increase 1.2 per cent in April.

The slowdown in automobile sales has badly hit tyre production. In India, around 55 per cent of total NR consumption is by automotive tyre manufacturers.

Also, both import and export of rubber registered a marginal increase in May, according to the latest provisional data of the Rubber Board.

Imports increased to 16,293 tonnes from 15,372 tonnes in last May. Around 1,742 tonnes of rubber was exported in May as against 1,478 tonnes in May 2010.

The cumulative production of rubber in April-May period was 116,500 tonnes as against 109,900 tonnes last year, a growth of six per cent.

Total consumption during the first two months of 2011-12 was 163,500 tonnes as against 157,400 tonnes, cloaking 3.9 per cent growth.

In April-May, 22,811 tonnes of rubber was imported as against 26,248 tonnes in the same period of 2010-11. A total of 3,849 tonnes were exported as against 3,705 tonnes.

According to the Rubber Board data, by the end of May, the country had a total stock of 249,470 tonnes as against 187,750 tonnes in May 2010.