Rubber import drops 7% in FY17

Imports are expected to drop further to 3,20,000 tonnes in FY18

Import of natural rubber (NR) fell seven per cent in 2016-17, due to rise in production in India.

Speaking to Business Standard at the sidelines of the 124th Annual Conference of the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI), N Rajagopal, secretary in-charge of the Rubber Board, said import of NR had risen consistently since 2008-09, reaching 458,374 tonnes in 2015-16. In 2016-17, it declined for the first time, by seven per cent to 426,434 tonnes, and was expected to come down to 320,000 tonnes in 2017-18.

The value of import in 2016-17 was Rs 4,521 crore, compared to Rs