India’s natural rubber production declined 3.8 per cent in the fiscal 2009-10 to 8.31 lakh tonnes while domestic consumption soared 6.7 per cent to 9.30 lakh tonnes as against 8.71 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

According to a data compiled by Rubber Board of India, the country produced 831,400 tonnes of natural rubber in the fiscal year that ended March 31, down from 864,500 tonnes in the 2008-09 fiscal, a Commodity Online report said.

The total stocks for the current year were at 2.48 lakh tonnes against 1.96 lakh tonnes reported last year. Sharp decline was also seen in total exports as shaved off by almost 50 per cent to 23,746 tonnes while total imports increased to 1,70,048 tonnes from 77,762 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the prices are expected to surge further in the coming month with a series of new cars are impending to launch in the country. Tyre makers constitute about 60 per cent of India's rubber consumption and the demand-supply gap is expected to widen in coming months with car companies expecting double-digit sales growth in 2010-11.

Imports during 2009-10 doubled to 170,048 tons as international prices have been quoting lower than domestic prices. Consequently, exports halved to 23,764 tonnes, said Rubber Board.