Carryover import surplus is enough to mop up any rubber production shortage, according to Rubber Board. All apprehensions on domestic stock availability are baseless, Rubber Board has explained.
On July 31, 2007, there are rubber stocks to the tune of one lakh tonne in the country, said Rubber Board chairman Sajan Peter, in a statement. He points out that on the corresponding period on 2006, the domestic stocks was only 60,000 tonne. This would show that there is, in effect, an increase in the domestic stock position, compared to the previous year.
From 1.6 lakh tonne on April 1, 2007, the stock position has come down to one lakh tonne by July. The Board does admit that there has been production shortfall. The extra stocks in April, 2007 was because of large-scale import during last year, said chairman, Rubber Board .
Since the majority of rubber tapping workers in Kottayam and Pattanamtitta were down with viral fever, the shortfall in production runs to over 50,000 tonne. The estimated production in 2007-2008 was 8.74 lakh tonne against 8.53 lakh tonne last year.