Lok Sabha Question No. 2798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Production of Natural Rubber
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2798 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th JULY, 2019

## PRODUCTION OF NATURAL RUBBER

## 2798. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the total production of natural rubber in the country during the last three years and the current year, year and State/ UT-wise;
- (b) whether the increase in rubber imports has caused a decrease in the rates of natural rubber produced domestically causing economic hardship for small and medium rubber growers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  will  address  the  problem  by  reducing  the  quantum  of  rubber imports or through moratorium on imports to address the crisis in domestic market and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y )

## THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) The total production of Natural Rubber (NR) during 2018-19 is provisionally estimated at 648000 tonnes.  The production of NR during April-May 2019 is provisionally estimated at 74000 tonnes.  Statewise production of NR upto 2018-19 is given in the Annexure.
- (b) & (c): The Natural Rubber prices have been at relatively low levels during the past few years in domestic and international markets.  However, the rubber prices started increasing during the recent weeks and the average  price  for  the  RSS4  grade  in June,  2019  was  150.29  per  kg.    The  Natural  Rubber  prices  are determined by market forces and a range of factors which inter-alia include trends in economic growth in major consuming countries, oil/synthetic  rubber  prices,  weather  conditions  and  developments  in  future markets. The domestic NR market generally follows the trend in world market with occasional divergences due to region specific and seasonal factors.  No quantitative restrictions can be imposed on the import of NR under WTO commitments.  The domestic NR price is sensitive to import of NR.  Therefore, to regulate the import of NR, the Government has increased the duty on import of dry rubber from '20% or Rs. 30 per kg whichever is lower' to '25% or Rs. 30 per kg whichever is lower' w.e.f 30.4.2015. The Government has also reduced the period of utilization of imported dry rubber in January 2015 under advance licensing scheme from 18 months to 6 months. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has imposed port restriction on the import of Natural Rubber by restricting the port of entry to Chennai and Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) since 20 th January, 2016.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2798 for 10.7.2019

| State-wise production ofNR (Tonne)   | State-wise production ofNR (Tonne)   | State-wise production ofNR (Tonne)   | State-wise production ofNR (Tonne)   |             |
|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------|
| State                                | 2015-16                              | 2016-17                              | 2017-18 (P)                          | 2018-19 (P) |
| Kerala                               | 438630                               | 540400                               | 540775                               | 490460      |
| Tamil Nadu                           | 19495                                | 21140                                | 21110                                | 21500       |
| Traditional Total                    | 458125                               | 561540                               | 561885                               | 511960      |
| Tripura                              | 44245                                | 50985                                | 50500                                | 53050       |
| Assam                                | 14560                                | 19970                                | 23300                                | 24300       |
| Meghalaya                            | 7360                                 | 8950                                 | 9050                                 | 9100        |
| Nagaland                             | 3020                                 | 4320                                 | 4820                                 | 4930        |
| Manipur                              | 1660                                 | 2090                                 | 1790                                 | 1850        |
| Mizoram                              | 595                                  | 742                                  | 742                                  | 750         |
| Arunachal Pradesh                    | 360                                  | 478                                  | 428                                  | 450         |
| North East Total                     | 71800                                | 87535                                | 90630                                | 94430       |
| Karnataka                            | 29400                                | 38800                                | 38300                                | 38200       |
| A&N Islands                          | 240                                  | 240                                  | 240                                  | 275         |
| Goa                                  | 640                                  | 645                                  | 575                                  | 625         |
| Maharashtra                          | 925                                  | 1185                                 | 1185                                 | 1250        |
| Odisha                               | 315                                  | 400                                  | 450                                  | 480         |
| West Bengal                          | 325                                  | 335                                  | 335                                  | 380         |
| Andhra Pradesh                       | 230                                  | 320                                  | 400                                  | 400         |
| Others Total                         | 32075                                | 41925                                | 41485                                | 41610       |
| Non Traditional Total                | 103875                               | 129460                               | 132115                               | 136040      |
| Grand Total                          | 562000                               | 691000                               | 694000                               | 648000      |

Source:  Rubber Board

## P: Provisional

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