The natural rubber production in India is likely to drop as much as 15 percent to its lowest in nearly two decades on account of suspended tapping by farmers due to falling prices.

Rajiv Budhraja, director-general of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) said, “Production will fall since some farmers have suspended tapping.”

“This year we are expecting a 12- to 15-percent drop over last year’s production.”

He also estimated that the output of this year could drop to its lowest since 1996/97 at 557,000 tonnes.

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