Natural rubber

What it is

Latex tapped from rubber trees, sold as sheet, block rubber or concentrated latex. About two-thirds goes into tyres; the rest into belts, hoses, footwear, gloves and foam.

RSS 4 / RSS 5 (ribbed smoked sheet)ISNR 20 / TSR (block rubber)Centrifuged latex (60% DRC)

Where India produces it

1. Kerala

   Kerala produced 490,460 tonnes of 2018-19 output (provisional).

2. Tripura

   Tripura produced 53,050 tonnes in 2018-19 (provisional).

3. Assam

   Assam produced 24,300 tonnes in 2018-19 (provisional).

4. Tamil NaduKanniyakumari

   Tamil Nadu produced 21,500 tonnes in 2018-19 (provisional).

Where imports come from

Production 875,000 tonnes against consumption of 1,410,000 tonnes in 2024-25; imports were 550,918 tonnes (Rubber Board, provisional).

• Côte d'Ivoire
• Indonesia
• Vietnam
• Malaysia
• Thailand

Rules before you buy or sell

• Rubber dealers, processors and manufacturers deal with Rubber Board licensing and returns; confirm the current requirement with the Rubber Board.
• Since 20 Jan 2016, natural rubber imports have been allowed only through Chennai and Nhava Sheva (JNPT) ports (PIB, 2019); check the current ITC(HS) policy before importing.

Storage and handling

Store sheets and blocks in a cool, dry, shaded godown on pallets; keep latex in closed drums with ammonia preservative.

Businesses that use it

Tread Rubber (Pre-cured Tread) Making →Tyre Retreading Unit →Rubber Latex Foam →Rubber Balloons →Rubber Bands →Rubber Hot Water Bags and Ice Bags →Moulded Rubber Parts for Industry (Bushes, O-Rings, Seals) →Bicycle Tyre and Tube Manufacturing Unit →Latex-Backed Coir Matting →