Growers seek status quo on import duty on natural rubber

admin — Sat, 09 May 2026 15:58:00 +0000

A tapper collecting latex from a rubber tree at a plantation in Kanjirappally, Kottayam.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) has urged the government to maintain status quo on the import duty on natural rubber as a section of the rubber user industry has sought reduction of the import duty on key inputs and raw materials.

Ajoy Thipaiah, the Association president, said in a statement that the rubber plantation sector sustains nearly 13.2 lakh growers and provides employment to around 4.2 lakh workers. India currently has about 9.4 lakh hectares under natural rubber cultivation, with production in FY26 estimated at approximately nine lakh tonnes.

The domestic rubber prices have shown a ‘modest upward trend’ in recent months due to geopolitical developments and production shortages both, globally and domestically. However, Indian rubber prices remained subdued in comparison with international prices over the last two years. The prices of major inputs such as fertilisers, plant protection chemicals, and skilled labour have increased at 8-12% over the past decade.

Santosh Kumar, chairman, Rubber Committee of the Association, added that imports of natural rubber and compound rubber have increased considerably over the years. Of particular concern is the growing share of compound rubber imports, accounting for nearly 40% of total rubber imports. Most of this is imported from ASEAN countries duty free, he said.

Published – May 09, 2026 09:28 pm IST

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Indian exports up 1.07% in April; trade deficit expands by 32.3%

admin — Wed, 15 May 2024 09:57:31 +0000

Representational image of an onion farmer with his produce in Beed, Maharashtra. There has been frequent imposition and lifting of bans on the export of onions
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

India’s merchandise exports rose 1.07% to hit almost $35 billion in April while imports jumped 10.25% to $54.1 billion, as per Commerce Ministry estimates. The goods trade deficit for the month was 32.3% higher than a year ago, at $19.1 billion.

Gold imports more than tripled in April to $3.11 billion from $1.01 billion in the same month a year ago. Gold imports stood at $1.53 billion in March 2024.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said he hoped the rise in merchandise exports in the first month of financial year 2024-25 is a good omen for the coming months.

The ministry also raised its estimates for total exports in 2023-24 to $778.2 billion from $776.7 billion estimated last month, reflecting a 0.42% uptick over the record figure of $776.4 billion achieved in 2022-23.

This revision was based on services exports numbers which are now pegged at $341.1 billion in 2023-24, compared with $325.3 billion in 2022-23. Goods export estimates for 2023-24 remained unchanged at $437.1 billion, 3.1% below the record $451.1 billion tally a year earlier.

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Growers seek status quo on import duty on natural rubber

Indian exports up 1.07% in April; trade deficit expands by 32.3%