China's rubber industry sustains sharp growth.

China's rubber industry has sustained a trend of sharp growth, with all economic indicators having a big increase in the first half of the year. According to the latest statistics released by the China Association of the Rubber Industry (CARI), its 252 member enterprises generated 34,588 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) of gross industrial output value in January-June of this year. Their industrial added value amounted to 9,002 billion yuan, up 13.67% from last year: sales revenue, 32,051 yuan, up 28.96%; and export value of products for delivery, 8,677 billion yuan, up 38.49% and making up 26.65% of the sales revenue.

The thriving foreign trade has obviously become an important foundation for the rapid development of China's rubber industry, and China-made products becoming more competitive. With production growing fast, rubber consumption also set a record high of 900,000 tons in the first half, up 35.01% for the year.

At present, China's rubber industry has steered rapidly into the maturity stage from the growth stage. The country is undertaking a study to formulate a rubber industry development plant.

China's consumption of rubber is forecast to reach 4.20 million tons this year, including 1.70 million tons of natural rubber, according to industry experts.

China's tire output reached 130.37 million in the first seven months of 2004, rising 17.9% from last year's tire output.