As natural rubber (NR) production declines in Kerala, India’s traditional rubber heartland, the country’s north-eastern states are becoming critical suppliers to the tyre industry. Tripura has now overtaken all but Kerala in NR yield, and the region’s contribution is growing, helped by direct investments from major tyre manufacturers.
Tripura has recorded a significant jump in NR output over the past decade, rising from 39,000 tonnes to 91,500 tonnes, according to the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA). This positions the state as the second largest NR producer in India, behind Kerala, which saw its yield decline from 648,220 tonnes to 609,600 tonnes during the same period.
Assam's output has increased more than threefold—from 13,600 to 46,500 tonnes—while Meghalaya has also shown a steady rise. The north-eastern region now contributes around 15% of the total NR used by India's tyre industry.
To reduce reliance on imports and improve supply resilience, tyre manufacturers are actively supporting the Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development (INROAD) project. The initiative, funded by Apollo Tyres, CEAT, JK Tyre and MRF, aims to develop 200,000 hectares of NR plantations across the North East and parts of West Bengal. So far, 125,000 hectares have been planted across 94 districts since FY22.
“This is our fifth year in reckoning and out of 2 lakh hectare planned, we are at around 70,000 to 75,000 hectare,” said JK Tyre Managing Director Anshuman Singhania, noting increased procurement from the region.
Apollo Tyres has also increased sourcing from Tripura and Assam, with quality improvements making the rubber more suitable for industry use.
India's domestic NR production is currently around 850,000 tonnes, but total demand stands at 1.45 million tonnes. The INROAD initiative is critical to bridging this gap, especially as Kerala’s production reaches saturation.
“The North East has the potential to expand significantly,” said AIRIA President Shashi Singh. Before INROAD, the region accounted for 23% of India’s NR plantation area. Upon completion, this figure is expected to rise to 38%, with its share of national NR output projected to double from 16% to 32%.
Tagged with: natural rubber, INROAD project, Tripura rubber production, tyre raw materials, Apollo Tyres, JK Tyre, Assam NR, Rubber Board of India, sustainable tyre sourcing, tyre industry India
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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