Question : Production and Import of Natural Rubber

(a) the details of total production, consumption and import of natural rubber in the country during the last three years;
(b) whether there is a sharp rise in the import of natural rubber during the said period and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Rubber Board has data about the cost of production of 1 kg natural rubber and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether there are any differences in the production of rubber in various States and if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b) Thedetails oftotal production, consumption and import of Natural Rubber (NR) in the country during the last three years are as under:

Year Production
(Tonne) Consumption
(Tonne) Import
(Tonne)
2013-14 774,000 981,520 360,263
2014-15 645,000 1020,910 442,130
2015-16 562,000 994,415 458,374

The increase in import of NR into the country can be primarily attributed to the gap between production and consumption of NR in the country and lower prices of block rubber in international markets as compared to the sheet rubber in domestic market.

(c) Cost of production of rubber varies from region to region and depends upon a number of factors such as labour wages, value of land, input costs, etc. Rubber Board has undertaken a study to work out the cost of production of Natural Rubber. However, final report has not yet been submitted.

(d) The details of production of NR in different states are as under :

State-wise production of NR (Tonnes)

State
2013-14
2014-15 2015-16 (provisional)
Kerala 6,48,220 5,07,700 4,38,630
Tripura 39,000 47,000 44,245
Karnataka 35,230 34,560 29,400
Tamil Nadu 25,000 23,785 19,495
Assam 13,600 17,310 14,560
Meghalaya 7,570 8,510 7,360
Nagaland 1,900 2,390 3,020
Manipur 1,065 1,150 1,660
Maharashtra 380 395 925
Goa 595 630 640
Mizoram 310 360 595
Others 1,130 1,210 1,470
Grand Total 7,74,000 6,45,000 5,62,000



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