The production of natural rubber (NR) decreased 5.4 per cent to 88,500 tonnes in November compared to 93,500 tonnes during the same month last year. The decrease in production was due to excessive rain during the month that affected the tapping and processing. Acute labour shortage also dampened production, according to growers of Kottyam and Ernakulam districts.
Growers had projected 5-10 per cent decline in production for November. The cumulative production during April-November was 546,150 tonnes compared to 530,900 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year, recording a growth of two per cent.
The consumption of NR during November was 82,000 tonnes compared to 80,500 tonnes during November 2009. The aggregate consumption during the first eight months of the year 2010-11 was 632,550 tonnes as against 614,815 tonnes, registering a growth of 2.9 per cent, according to the provisional estimates of the Rubber Board.
Import of NR registered a marginal growth during April-November at 143,468 tonnes against 139,321 tonnes in the same period last year. Imports increased as a result of a sharp rise in the domestic price for sheet and block rubber during the first half of the year.
Rubber exports suffered a setback. Cumulative exports in April-November dropped to 4,734 tonnes from 8,030 tonnes in the same period of the last financial year.
Increased local demand coupled with high prices in India affected exports. According to the latest data of the board, India has a total stock of 265,304 tonnes as on November 30, while this was 244,870 tonnes in November, 2009.
