The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) has said that the production of synthetic rubber in the country has gone up a few metric tonnes than previous years.

The petrochemical sector including manufacture of synthetic rubber has been de-licensed and decontrolled, the DCPC said.

The manufacture of various types of synthetic rubber ? styrene butadiene rubber, poly butadiene rubber and nitrile butadiene rubber ? is being done in the country.

According to the DCPC, the production of synthetic rubber during the previous years is as follows:

2007-08: 105556 MT
2008-09: 96093 MT
2009-10: 105730 MT

The investment by entrepreneurs for the manufacture of various petrochemical items including synthetic rubber depends on the techno-economic viability, demand and supply scenario, feedstock, raw materials prices and international prices, etc.

The DCPC is concerned with the manufacture of synthetic rubbers only. Natural rubber and manufacture of products from natural rubber (including synthetic rubber) falls under the purview of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).