Shipping- Grudging Palliatives

inst this, a total of 33,000 tonnes, is estimated to have been. imported. Together with an opening stock of 39,700 tonnes, this left a closing balance of 45,000 tonnes at the end of 1982-83, Apart from seasonal factors, speculation of a fall in rubber production this year following the severe drought in Kerala, would appear to have been responsible for the recent spurt in prices. The Rubber Board had estimated that production of natural rubber would rise to 1.75 lakh tonnes in 1983-84, while consumption would be in the range of 1.98 lakh-2.03 lakh tonnes. Together with the opening stock of 45,000 tonnes, overall supply would be of the order of 2.20 lakh tonnes. Taking into account users' stock requirements at a conventional three months' consumption, total demand for rubber in 1983-84 would work out to between 2.47 lakh and 2.59 lakh tonnes, leaving a gap of 27,000-34,000 tonnes to be met by imports.