Synthetic rubber imports rise by 51.6% in April

Imports of synthetic rubber rose by 51.6 per cent to 25,885 tonnes in April on strong demand mainly by the tyre industry, the Rubber Board said today.

Synthetic rubber imports stood at 17,065 tonnes in the corresponding period last fiscal, the board said.

The production of synthetic rubber in the country increased marginally to 8,180 tonnes in April this year against 8,169 tonnes in April, 2009.

During the month under consideration, the total consumption of synthetic rubber grew up by 24.7 per cent to 78,250 tonnes compared to 73,470 tonnes in the comparable month period last fiscal.

The consumption of synthetic rubber by the automotive tyre sector, which accounts for more than half of the rubber use in the country, increased by 31.6 per cent to 22,872 tonnes in April, 2010 against 17,373 tonnes in the corresponding period last year.