Strategies to improve rubber industry in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Hevea brasiliensis is the main environmental friendly agricultural crop grown in Asia.At present the World demand for Natural Rubber is increasing at the rate of 300,000 metric tons per year and heading for a global deficit of 0.8 million metric tons by year 2000.Further there is also an indication that there will be a strong shift across the globe in the productin of rubber goods industries from "Industrial west"to "Developing Asia"within the next decade.A high growth rate of rubber products manufacture has been forecast for many Asian countries. At present, Sri Lanka produces 108,000 metric tons of rubber out of which nearly 65% is exported in raw rubber form while the balance 35% is converted into value added products.It has been planned to increase the rubber production to 126,000 metric tons by introducting new technology and also to convert 50% of this into finished products by the turn of the century. Sri Lanka will continue to produce highest quality latex crepe rubber specially made for food,pharmaceutical and adhesive applications and arrangements have already been made to present them in technically specified forms clearly indicating their physical properties.Action is being taken to obtain ISO 9002 registration for crepe factories. Rubber products industry in Sri Lanka started in 1936 have shown a sharp growth since 1990,with the highest development between 1992 and 1993.In addition to the low labour rates and cheap electricity,there are several incentives offered by the Government of Sri Lanka for new Investors to invest in rubber based industries. Sri Lanka is the leading solid tyre manufacturer in the world and is ranked among the top leaders in non medical glove production.In foot wear manufacture too Sri Lanka is in the forefront.Vast increase in rubber producrs manufacture specially in the area of outomotive components under South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA)are expected during the next few years thereby consuming 50% of the increased rubber production by year 2000.