Rubber production and consumption in India witnessed a steady growth in the 2022-23 fiscal year compared to the previous year, according to the latest data released by the Statistics Consultative Panel of the Rubber Board.
The panel, consisting of representatives from various sectors of the rubber industry, convened in Kottayam to analyze the performance of the natural rubber (NR) sector both domestically and globally.
During the 2022-23 fiscal year, natural rubber production in India increased by 8.3 percent, reaching 839,000 tonnes compared to 775,000 tonnes in the previous year. Similarly, the consumption of natural rubber also witnessed a positive trend, rising by 9 percent from 1,238,000 tonnes in 2021-22 to 1,350,000 tonnes in 2022-23.
The demand for natural rubber within the country experienced significant growth of 9 percent during the mentioned fiscal year. The automobile tire segment remained the largest consumer of natural rubber, accounting for 70 percent of the total consumption in India. This segment also demonstrated a growth rate of 4.8 percent in 2022-23, further driving the overall increase in consumption. Additionally, the general rubber products sector experienced a substantial positive growth rate of 20.4 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.
On the global stage, India ranks sixth among major rubber-producing countries, contributing 5.8 percent to the world's total NR production as of December 2022. Furthermore, India retained its position as the second-largest consumer of natural rubber, accounting for 9.3 percent of global consumption in 2022.
To bolster natural rubber production, the Rubber Board has implemented various measures and initiatives. Rain guarding materials were distributed through Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPSs) to protect the rubber trees during the rainy season, enabling growers to harvest for an extended period. Additionally, the Rubber Production Incentive Scheme (RPIS) introduced by the Kerala Government has incentivized farmers to tap efficiently.
Efforts to control leaf diseases, encourage the adoption of rubber holdings for harvesting, and the formation of Rubber Tapper Groups (RTGs) have also contributed to the increased domestic rubber production.
