Rubber sector urges higher import duties

09 May 2024 CW Team

The All India Rubber Industries Association has reiterated its request for a higher import duty on rubber-finished products in order to advance the interests of local producers and farmers.

Shashi Singh, the President of AIRIA, stated that the decline in natural rubber prices is primarily attributed to oversupply on a global scale. He mentioned that countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India have substantially augmented rubber cultivation to meet the demands of the automotive industry.

Singh outlined various factors influencing rubber prices, including demand and supply dynamics, export and import patterns, currency fluctuations, the utilization of synthetic rubber, and the exploration of alternative materials. He noted that India presently holds the sixth position globally in natural rubber production, contributing to 5.8 percent of the total output.

Singh attributed the decrease in prices, which has proven advantageous for both the tyre and non-tyre sectors, to sluggish demand from China and the European energy crisis. He highlighted the challenges encountered by rubber cultivators, such as price fluctuations, climatic variations, issues related to trees, and shortages in labour.

Recently, the government took steps to bolster support to rubber plantations by increasing aid by 23 percent, amounting to Rs 7.08 billion, over a span of two years, aiming to stimulate cultivation.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..