India's natural rubber production in March stood at 54,000 mt, down more than 5% from 57,100 mt in February, and down 0.7% from 54,400 mt in March 2011, provisional data released by the state-run Rubber Board late Thursday showed.
With the provisional March data, the country's production for fiscal year ended March 2012, stood at 899,400 mt, up more than 4% from 861,950 mt in the previous fiscal.
Hot and dry weather conditions in Mach led to the lower production figures, the Rubber Board said.
Rubber consumption in March reached 84,500 mt, up from February's 80,500 mt and March 2011's 80,010 mt.
Consumption in fiscal 2011-2012 (April-March) totaled 966,215 mt, up 2% from 947,715 mt in the previous fiscal.
Rubber stocks at the end of March totaled 230,000 mt, down from 288,300 mt at the corresponding month-end in 2011.
India is the fourth-largest producer of natural rubber, after Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
