Data from a new sample survey for reassessing age of plantations and production and stock of natural rubber that was started in July will be available by October-end, said Ms Sheela Thomas, Chairman, Rubber Board. She was delivering the presidential address at the 166th meeting of the Rubber Board held at Rubber Research Institute of India.

The field survey covering around 15,000 growers is over. The survey was conducted to ensure maximum accuracy of the statistics collected. She also reported that the institute had established a GIS (geographic information system) facility to map rubber-plantation distribution in traditional areas using remote-sensing and bring in all the information related to rubber plantations for analysis, visualisation and interpretation.

The statistics on rubber area published by the board and estimated through the GIS facility varied by 3.7 per cent only.

Production and consumption of natural rubber for 2011-12 are projected at 9,02,000 tonnes and 9,77,000 tonnes, respectively.

Import and export of natural rubber for 2011-12 are projected at 1,20,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes, respectively. Based on these projections, the carryover stock at the end of March 2012 is projected at 2,72,600 tonnes.

Ms Sheela Thomas said import and export of natural rubber during April to August 2011 were 79,661 tonnes and 12,413 tonnes, respectively. Around 70 per cent of the import was through duty-free channels.

She also observed that during the recent months developments in the global economy, trends in rubber and related sectors, currency fluctuations, etc, had been pulling down prices of natural rubber.

However, those factors did not have a substantial effect on prices because of tight supplies. Global stocks of natural rubber were around 12 lakh tonnes and stock-consumption ratio was as low as 0.11.

Mr Jose K. Mani, Member of Parliament, and Mr S. Ramachandran, Vice-Chairman, Rubber Board, were also present at the meeting.

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