India’s natural rubber (NR) consumption hit a record high of 13.5 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 financial year, despite a 3.2% drop in imports during the year. This can be largely attributed to the rise in NR production, which exceeded expectations, with a provisional estimate of 8.39 lakh tonnes produced in 2022-23, compared to 7.75 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. The increase in yield, tappable area, and area tapped during the year contributed to the rise in production. Exports were up slightly, totaling 3,700 tonnes in 2022-23, compared with 3,560 tonnes in 2021-22. Speaking at the 184th meeting of the Rubber Board, Sawar Dhanania, Chairman, highlighted the need to focus more on improving the quality of rubber latex and sheets and to explore opportunities in the MSME sector to boost exports.
The Rubber Board is an Indian government agency responsible for administering policies for the development of the rubber industry in India. The agency’s main functions include promoting research and disseminating information on all aspects of rubber cultivation, processing, and marketing.
M. Vasanthagesan is the Executive Director of the Rubber Board. He spoke at the 184th meeting and provided an overview of NR production and consumption during the 2022-23 financial year. He noted that production exceeded expectations and was provisionally estimated at 8.39 lakh tonnes, while consumption reached a record high of 13.5 lakh tonnes.
