India's natural rubber production rose by 14 per cent to 57,500 tonnes in July due to an increase in the tapping area by farmers on anticipation of higher realisation, according to Rubber Board data.
The country produced 50,250 tonnes of rubber in the same month last year, the data said.
However, natural rubber consumption declined by nearly 2 per cent to 77,500 tonnes in July this year from 78,910 tonnes in the same month last year. Imports fell by 50 per cent to 14,906 tonnes from 29,702 tonnes during the period under review.
During the April-July period, production of natural rubber grew by 6.5 per cent to 2,23,250 tonnes compared to the year-ago period.
"Production increased last month on account of an increase in the tapped area (and) increased percentage of rain guarding during 2010-11, anticipating attractive price in the monsoon season," a senior Rubber Board official said.
According to the information available, there has been an increase of 11,000 hectares in the tapped area in the country. In the April-July period, the consumption grew by 3.3 per cent to 3,07,550 tonnes.
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The official attributed the rise in consumption to an increase in tyre production and exports.
Imports of natural rubber decreased to 53,139 tonnes in the first four months as the international price of sheet rubber was higher than the domestic price.
In the entire 2010-11 fiscal, the Rubber Board has projected production of 8,93,000 tonnes, consumption of 9,78,000 tonnes, imports of 70,000 tonnes and exports of 50,000 tonnes of rubber.