The country's natural rubber production may decline by 10 per cent in October, as heavy unseasonal rains have adversely affected tapping, according to the industry association.
"As heavy rains have affected the tapping of rubber (rubber collection) across the state and this may result into lesser production to the tune of 10 per cent in the current month," Indian Rubber Dealers Association President George Valy told PTI
The total production of natural rubber stood at around 90,000 tonnes, according to the Rubber Board.
Valy said, although heavy rains had disrupted the collection of rubber in most part of the month, sunny weather in the remaining period can minimise the production loss.
"Six days are still left in October and if there is no rain during these days, production loss could be restricted to five per cent. Actual figure about the rubber production would only be available towards the end of the month," he said.
The disruption of production have also pushed the prices of the commodity in the domestic market.
Since the beginning of this month rubber prices have constantly soared and touched a year high of nearly Rs 190 per kg level.
Rubber prices in the domestic market had touched a high of Rs 186 per kg in August in the wake of increased demand from tyre manufacturers. Later in September, it declined to Rs 167 per kg following the government's announcement to cap import duty on rubber at Rs 20.6 per kg.
According to the Rubber Board estimates, India is likely to produce 8.93 lakh tonnes of rubber in the current fiscal, while consumption would be around 9.78 lakh tonnes.