Rubber exports up 36.5%,imports down

India's natural rubber exports were up 36.5 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal, compared with the same period last year. During this time, imports were down 6.36 per cent, according to estimates made by the Rubber Board.

Total rubber exports in April-September 2005 were at 18,091 tonne, compared with 13,247 tonne for the same period in 2004.

Imports fell 2,466 tonne to touch 36,344 tonne, compared with 38,810 last year.

If the current trend persists, the country is likely to cross the year's export target of 40,000 tonne, board officials said.

The bulk of the exports occurred during August-September 2005, traders said. Exports during April-July 2005 were around 5,528 tonne, they said.

High global prices have triggered the surge in exports during the last two months, traders said. They also contributed to the drop in imports, they added.

Most of the natural rubber imports were contracted during the first quarter of the current fiscal when Indian prices were higher, compared with international prices, traders said.

According to information in trade circles here, major Indian tyre makers contracted nearly 50,000 tonne of imports during the period. No fresh import orders were placed, since international prices started moving up late June, they said.

The international price of RSS-3 grade at Bangkok, the equivalent of the domestic RSS-4 grade, was at Rs 74.63 per kilogram on Monday, higher by Rs 11.88 per kg, compared with the domestic prices on the same day.