China will consume 2.3 million tons of natural rubber annually by 2010, according to a forecast made by the China Rubber Industry Association.

 

Whereas, the annual rubber output in China is 750,000 tons. Nearly two thirds of natural rubber have to be imported from abroad, according to the association.

 

As a major rubber consumer in the world, China used up last year 3.4 billion tons of rubber, which included 573,300 tons of home-made products and 1.28 million tons of imports.

 

By 2010, China needs to import 1.55 million tons of natural rubber to meet its annual growth, according to the association.

 

China grew natural rubber on 696, 2000 hectares of land last year, including 411,000 hectares of state-owned and 285,200 hectares of privately-owned.

 

Ju Hongzhen, chairman of the China Rubber Industry Association, advised the government to adopt new policies to lure private and foreign funds into the rubber industry to increase China's output of natural rubber and processing capacity.

 

Currently, Hainan and Yunnan provinces are two major rubber producers in China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2005)