Output declines on dry weather

Natural rubber production in India, the world’s fourth-biggest producer, dropped 7.3 per cent last year after dry weather lowered yields in the main growing region, the state-owned Rubber Board said.

Production was 817,395 tonnes, compared with 881,290 tonnes in 2008, said G Mohana Chandran, joint director at the board. Imports almost doubled to 152,650 tonnes from 81,020 tonnes a year earlier, he said in a phone interview.

The driest monsoon since 1972 lowered latex yield in rubber plantation in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Chandran said. Production also dropped because of intense harvesting and ageing plantations, Rubber Board Chairman Sajen Peter said on November 4.

Stockpiles jumped 26 per cent to 261,400 tonnes at the end of December after exports last year slumped to 14,752 tonnes from 77,004 tons in 2008.

India’s natural rubber consumption totalled 904,080 tonnes last year, 2.6 per cent more than in 2008, Chandran said. Output in December was 98,000 tonnes, 2.2 per cent less than a year ago.