India needs to increase the area under rubber cultivation on a war footing to meet the domestic demand, reduce the dependence on imports, and restrict the outgo of foreign exchange, urged Dr Sawar Dhanania, Chairman, Rubber Board.

NR production in India will not be sufficient to meet the consumer industry's demands as consumption is expected to reach 1500,000 tonnes by 2025-26. Imports presently meet the production-consumption gap, and that involves a huge amount of foreign exchange outgo, said Dr Dhanania during his presidential address at the 181st meeting of the Rubber Board held at Kottayam.

As per Dr K N Raghavan IRS, Executive Director, NR production in the country improved to 775,000 tonnes during 2021-22 compared to 715,000 tonnes during 2020-21, recording a growth of 8.4 percent compared to an increase of 0.4 percent registered during the previous year. An increase in yield, tappable area and area tapped during the year contributed to the rise in NR production.

India is already exploring non-traditional areas, including North East and traditional regions, to increase rubber cultivation. The                             

Board has identified a vast stretch of land in North East and West Bengal for rubber cultivation.

Under the'NE-MITRA project, ATMA and Rubber Board signed an MOU to develop 2 lakh hectares of rubber plantations in North East India with an approved outlay of INR 10 billion and spend INR one billion for quality improvement of rubber produced. Meantime, the efforts for extra income generating activities like beekeeping, intercropping etc., should be continued. Dr Raghavan added that promoting the rubber wood industry and carbon trading is the need of the hour to make a green environment and bring sustainability to the rubber sector.     

The area under rubber during 2021-22 was 826,660 ha. Though the tappable area under rubber was 718,800 ha during 2021-22, only 526,500 ha (73.2 percent) has contributed to the NR production during the year. The average yield, measured in terms of production per hectare of the tapped area increased to 1,472 kg/ha in 2021-22 from 1,442 kg/ha in the previous year.

India consumed 1,238,000 MT of NR in 2021-22, an increase of 12.9 percent from 1,096,410 MT consumed in 2020-21. The auto tyre sector registered 15.9 percent growth during 2021-22, against 3.2 percent recorded during 2020-21. At the same time, the general rubber goods sector registered 5.6 percent growth during 2021-22 compared to a high negative growth of 16.4 percent recorded during 2020-21. Auto-tyre manufacturing sector accounted for 73.1 percent of the total quantity of NR consumed in the country during 2021-22. The projection of NR production and consumption for 2022-23 is 850,000 tonnes and 1290,000 tonnes, respectively.

Import of NR increased to 546,369 tonnes during 2021-22 compared to 410,478 tonnes during 2020-21. 60 percent of the import was through duty paid channel. 87.5 percent of import was in the form of block rubber. The primary reason for importing huge quantities of this commodity is the gap between the quantity of NR produced within the country and that required by the consuming industry.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for October 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

According to the report, the global natural rubber market in October was characterised by a distinct bearish trend in pricing. This decline can primarily due to a significant surge in production and export activities, which were initially stimulated by the higher prices seen earlier in the year. Meanwhile, overall demand has remained relatively subdued.

Looking ahead to the full year, projections indicate a modest 1.3 percent increase in global production for 2025, a figure that follows a recent downward revision for Indonesia. On the demand side, consumption is anticipated to grow by a slight 0.8 percent, influenced by an upward adjustment to Indonesia's consumption data. Despite the current price pressures, market sentiment shows some mixed signs of improvement, particularly within the tyre trade of certain specific markets.

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DuPont commenced construction on a new MOLYKOTE speciality lubricants production facility in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, East China, on 18 November 2025 with a groundbreaking ceremony that was attended by Senior DuPont leadership from the MOLYKOTE business and the Asia-Pacific region, alongside government officials and key customers. This strategic investment, situated within the Yangtze River International Chemical Industrial Park, is projected to be fully operational by the beginning of 2027. The initiative is a key component of the brand's global expansion, designed to significantly enhance its responsiveness to regional market needs and foster local innovation.

The new plant will primarily focus on meeting the robust and growing demand for advanced lubricant solutions across several critical sectors in China, including transportation, industrial manufacturing, energy and electronics. By establishing a local manufacturing presence, DuPont aims to create a dynamic platform for collaboration with regional customers. This will enable the company to deliver next-generation lubricants with greater speed, precision and agility, ultimately shortening lead times and strengthening supply chains.

The MOLYKOTE brand, with a legacy spanning over 75 years, is globally recognised for its expertise in solving complex lubrication challenges and improving energy efficiency. Its comprehensive product portfolio, which includes greases, oils, anti-friction coatings and pastes, serves the automotive and industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul markets worldwide. Supported by a global network of manufacturing and research facilities, the brand continues to build on its reputation for performance and reliability.

Eugenio Toccalino, Vice President and General Manager, DuPont MOLYKOTE, said, “Today’s groundbreaking is the beginning of a new chapter in our journey to better serve our customers in China, innovate faster and to be a partner of choice for solving wear and friction challenges across industries. This facility will boost local capabilities for application and new formulation development, empowering customer collaboration and response in real time.”

Yi Zhang, Global VP and Regional President, DuPont Asia Pacific, said, “We are thrilled to be breaking ground on the MOLYKOTE China production facility in Zhangjiagang. This manufacturing unit will enable us to address current needs and future trends for speciality lubricants. It reflects our confidence in the long-term potential of customers in China and Asia-Pacific region and reinforces our commitment to deliver faster, more resilient and locally tailored solutions.”

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In a significant move to formalise and advance its environmental strategy, Bekaert has launched 'inhera., a new sustainability label. This initiative underscores the company's dedication to a net-zero future by identifying its most impactful innovations that help industrial customers decarbonise more rapidly. The label serves as a mark of performance and trust, spotlighting solutions that meet stringent, externally validated criteria aligned with frameworks such as the EU Taxonomy Regulation.

The core purpose of inhera is to provide clarity and assurance, demonstrating how specific Bekaert products enable tangible progress in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing resource efficiency and promoting circular economic models. This is increasingly critical in a business landscape where demonstrable sustainability is a strategic necessity rather than an optional consideration. The label currently features a curated selection of eight high-performing solutions across sectors like construction, energy and automotive.

These labelled innovations illustrate a practical path toward cleaner industrial processes. For instance, Ampact magnet wire for electric motors cuts direct CO₂ emissions by 10 percent, while Flexisteel hoist ropes for elevators can reduce daily energy consumption by up to 36 percent. Other products, such as Elyta Ultra tyre reinforcements, deliver significant CO₂ savings per tyre and support circular reuse. Material efficiency is another key focus, exemplified by high tensile steel cores for power lines that use over 30 percent less steel and a next-generation Hose Wire that requires 28 percent less wire. Further offerings, including Bezinal Vineyard Plus and subsea cable armouring wire, utilise low-carbon materials and recycled content to achieve CO₂ reductions exceeding 50 percent.

The name 'inhera' was chosen to reflect the company's belief that sustainability is an inherent component of its corporate identity, deeply embedded within its innovation processes and overall mindset. Bekaert positions the label as more than a certification; it represents a partnership with customers to create measurable environmental impact. Ann-Françoise Versele, VP Sustainability, explained, “Sustainability is inherent in everything we do at Bekaert. Through our products and processes, we aim to leave a legacy of sustainability for future generations. Our partners who choose inhera solutions are choosing to accelerate sustainability and create real impact.”

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Nynas has played a pivotal role in a landmark achievement for Croatia's energy sector by supplying its advanced NYTRO BIO 300X insulating liquid. This fully renewable fluid has been used for the first time in the Croatian market to fill a 630 kVA distribution transformer. The unit, manufactured by KONČAR – Distribution & Special Transformers, was recently installed in Zagreb for HEP ODS, the national Distribution System Operator.

This collaboration marks the inaugural deployment of a ‘Green Transformer’ in Croatia, representing a significant advancement for the country's distribution network. The project underscores a unified drive towards greater sustainability and a reduced environmental footprint for critical power infrastructure. For Nynas, this milestone highlights the practical application and reliability of its bio-based product portfolio.

NYTRO BIO 300X is engineered to provide a drop-in solution that combines high oxidation stability and superior cooling performance, allowing operators to enhance their ecological standards without compromising on operational reliability or transformer longevity. The successful installation stands as a testament to how industry partnerships are actively accelerating the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Ivanka Radić, responsible for transformer oils at KONČAR - D&ST, said, “The thermal and dielectric tests on the transformer filled with NYTRO BIO 300X were successfully completed, and the unit is now fully operational. As expected, all test results were within the required limits, confirming the reliability and stability of this innovative fluid.”

Daniele Frustagli, General Manager Italy & the Balkans at Nynas, said, “We are very proud to have been entrusted with this project by KONČAR - D&ST and HEP ODS Zagreb, allowing us to showcase to them and the entire electrical industry the advantages of this fully renewable, bio-based hydrocarbon liquid. In addition to meeting and exceeding the IEC 60296 ed. 5 (2020) specification, the product is readily biodegradable, fully bio-based and has ultra-low viscosity.”

Vanja Burul, President of the Management Board at KONČAR - D&ST, said, “This project reflects our ongoing efforts to explore more sustainable insulating fluids. We see great potential for further use of NYTRO BIO 300X in future applications.”

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