The United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI) has urged the government to maintain status quo on the import duty on natural rubber as a section of the rubber user industry has sought reduction of the import duty on key inputs and raw materials.

Ajoy Thipaiah, the Association president, said in a statement that the rubber plantation sector sustains nearly 13.2 lakh growers and provides employment to around 4.2 lakh workers. India currently has about 9.4 lakh hectares under natural rubber cultivation, with production in FY26 estimated at approximately nine lakh tonnes.

The domestic rubber prices have shown a 'modest upward trend' in recent months due to geopolitical developments and production shortages both, globally and domestically. However, Indian rubber prices remained subdued in comparison with international prices over the last two years. The prices of major inputs such as fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, and skilled labour have increased at 8-12% over the past decade.

Santosh Kumar, chairman, Rubber Committee of the Association, added that imports of natural rubber and compound rubber have increased considerably over the years. Of particular concern is the growing share of compound rubber imports, accounting for nearly 40% of total rubber imports. Most of this is imported from ASEAN countries duty free, he said.