Perspective: India’s rubber sector examined

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Perspective: India’s rubber sector examined

September 17, 2026

RubberWorld

2026, September

by Anay Gupta, All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA)

The All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) is a not-for-profit organization, located in Mumbai, India, serving the rubber industry and trade with the objectives of safeguarding and promoting interests of the rubber sector in India. AIRIA was established in 1945, and as the leading organization for the industry, it works to advance its interests and facilitate cooperation, growth, innovation and development within the sector. The following interview with newly appointed president, Anay Gupta, explores the current state of the rubber industry in India.

From supply shortages to price spikes, how would you assess the current state of India’s rubber ecosystem? India’s rubber ecosystem remains fundamentally strong from the demand perspective, but it is operating under significant raw material pressure. In 2024-25, India produced 8.75 lakh tons of natural rubber, while domestic consumption stood at 14.10 lakh tons. This created a production-consumption gap of approximately 5.35 lakh tons.

To bridge this gap, natural rubber imports increased by 11.8%, from 4.93 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to 5.51 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. These imports were valued at around €9,021 crore. Domestic production increased by only 2.1%, which was not sufficient to keep pace with the country’s structural demand.

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*Source: Rubber World. For reference only.