The country’s natural rubber production increased by 1.3 per cent to 98,800 tonnes in January this year from 97,500 tonnes a year ago buoyed by favourable weather.

“October-January period is considered as the peak season for rubber production in India. January production is up because of favourable weather conditions,” a Rubber Board official told PTI.

The official said that the rubber production is also likely to be better in February compared to the same month last year, but it might not match the level of the reporting month.

The board had earlier projected 893,000 tonnes of rubber production for the 2010-11 fiscal, but had to bring down the target to 851,000 tonnes as the output dipped as a result of prolonged monsoon this year.

During April-January this fiscal, natural rubber production stood at 749,950 tonnes against 729,250 tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

India had produced 831,400 tonnes natural rubber last fiscal. Consumption has also marginally gone up during January this year to 81,000 tonnes vis-a-vis 80,500 tonnes in the same month last year.

According to the Rubber Board, consumption of natural rubber, led by higher demand from automobile sector, would reach 948,000 tonnes in the current fiscal against 930,565 tonnes in 2009-10.

During April-January, India has consumed 789,230 tonnes against 775,565 tonnes in the same period last fiscal.

Natural rubber imports in January this year, however, increased to 8,643 tonnes from 7,051 tonnes in the same month last year. Exports also rose to 4,663 tonnes from 2,906 tonnes.

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