The rubber goods manufacturing industry, which a couple of years ago had cried foul of Chinese imports, has now turned to China to fulfil its needs for machinery.

At least 90 per cent of the machinery for the rubber goods manufacturers is now coming from China. "There is a tremendous growth in the rubber goods manufacturing industry in line with the growth the automotive industry is witnessing. In fact, we can say that we are witnessing a 100 per cent growth. If we have to meet the increasing demand, then we need to have good machinery and currently, only China can meet it, technically and price-wise," say entrepreneurs of the industry.

According to officials of the All-Indian Rubber Industries Association, machinery imports from China for the rubber goods sector increased to Rs 60 crore in 2005 from Rs 15 crore the previous year. Though figures for 2006 are not available, the association says it could have, at least, doubled.

Source:未知