Tyre industry hit as Q1 output of natural rubber falls to 6-year low

Industry body Atma wants nil rate of duty on imports to the extent of the gap between domestic production and consumption

The country's output of natural rubber (NR) in this financial year's first quarter stood at a six-year low of 126,000 tonnes, while consumption was 302,000 tonnes.    

The output stood at 42 per cent of consumption, compared to 54 per cent a year before for the same period. Data from the Rubber Board of India show production contracted by 12 per cent, while consumption rose 14 per cent. Despite domestic prices being more than those abroad, the output was below 45,000 tonnes in each of the three months under review. Consumption crossed 100,000 tonnes in both May and June.