India's natural rubber production has slipped in March.

The hot and dry climatic conditions which prevailed over rubber producing regions in the country during last month resulted in low productivity, sources in the Rubber Board said.

While total production for the month fell by 0.7 per cent, the fall in productivity was higher at close to four per cent, the sources pointed out.

The fall in production could be contained as gross tapped area grew from 4.77 lakh hectares to 4.91 lakh hectares – a growth of 14,000 hectares.

While production for March registered a marginal decline, consumption grew at a far faster clip of 5 per cent to 84,500 tonnes (80,010 tonnes). There were also reports of isolated disease outbreak of powdery mildew on rubber trees.

Large areas are also put to rest during March and April, which would also have contributed to the lower production. Most trees would be brought back to tapping operations by May – June period.

There was an increase in the volume of imports while exports declined during March.

Provisional production and consumption figures for the financial year 2011-12 indicate that it was not a similar trend for the year as a whole.

Tyre industry

During the April-March 2011-12 period, production of natural rubber in India was on the higher side. This was mainly on account of the growth in tapped area.

Although there was a growth in consumption, it was on a lower scale. But the tyre industry seems to be on the path of revival and demand was of a far higher order in March and the same trend is expected this month as well, sources in the trade said.

While natural rubber production grew by 4. 3 per cent during last fiscal, consumption growth was more muted at 2 per cent. Stocks closed at 2,30,000 tonnes at the end of the year, down from 2,88,300 tonnes recorded at the end of last year.

The shortfall in rubber stocks was more to do with a change in tabulation exercise, sources said.

> cj@thehindu.co.in

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