Thecoronavirus pandemic has had a much-reaching impact on companies round the world and consequentially amongst the rubber industries as properly. Almost, all sectors across the globe stated decline in demand as containment measures got here into impact limiting economic sports and impacting livelihoods. In India, as elsewhere, the home rubber industry was hit difficult by using the onset of the pandemic.

Rubber product manufacturing is a labour-intensive enterprise and has almost 6,000 MSMEs that together appoint round 6 lakh humans without delay. Further 7 lakh people are employed not directly. Consumption of natural rubber is dominated by the automotive zone which money owed for nearly 60 according to cent of all income. Besides the car quarter, mining, scientific, aerospace, agriculture, creation, machinery, engineering and electric equipment manufacturing industries are fundamental drivers of the domestic rubber enterprise. In 2019-20, India’s rubber products exports stood at $3,193.Ninety seven million. With the onset of the Covid-19, these numbers will alternate drastically for the current fiscal 12 months.

Covid-19 impacted the rubber industry in a couple of approaches. On one hand, there was a supply disruption of uncooked substances. On the other hand, a delay in farming operations and latex series further compounded the issue. Due to disruption of world financial activities and restrictions on imports, crucial inputs such as carbon black and rubber chemical compounds had been in quick deliver. The postpone in farming activities additionally led to liquidity and working capital problems for a zone dominated via MSMEs which do no longer always have sturdy commercial enterprise continuity plans. They depend upon ordinary coins flows to fulfill running capital necessities and pay salaries. Volatility in worldwide markets in addition weakened the enterprise potential.

Rising over, once more
If the closing six months were a fantastic mastering duration, 3 things need to be done to reinforce enterprise in the post coronavirus world. For a start, we need to kind out deliver chain issues by assessing the robustness and forming plans to ensure uninterrupted operations in times of crisis. Inventory needs to be managed at the same time as production plans may additionally need to be re-evaluated as consistent with market situations. Organisations also can look at alternative resources of uncooked materials (each home and imported) at the same time as comparing newer markets for export. Trade advantages, concessions and regulations for one of a kind nations should be carefully evaluated. At domestic, groups have to examine the nice approaches to save on taxes.

The 2nd lesson became the want for liquidity management. A careful evaluation of the liquidity role coupled with making plans and prioritisation of prices and loans is vital. An effective hazard forecasting method is the need of the hour. The moratorium on loans announced by means of the RBI ends soon – groups must carefully look at dealing with their loan servicing duties and work closer to at the least achieving the pre-COVID production abilties. Lastly, the present workforces want to be marshalled properly. Proper making plans in personnel deployment, transforming of worker repayment and blessings coupled with effective control of Covid tremendous instances within the company are to be severely examined and redeployed to counter the changed enterprise environment.

Additionally, positive resolutions can be checked out, which include removal of Customs responsibility on import of herbal rubber, anti-dumping obligations on artificial rubber, carbon black, rubber chemical compounds & other key inputs. The authorities can installation Development Finance Institutions and incentivise entirely-owned subsidiaries of Indian devices which are set up abroad by means of funding their shares, provide interest-unfastened loans and tax holidays. The authorities also can don’t forget extending a provide of 20 in step with cent in lieu of the income tax paid over the past five years as to MSMEs. Given the changing international change situation, a whole lot of worldwide agencies are searching at India as the brand new manufacturing base. Lower hobby costs on capital loans toward new capex for the duration of this era will help the industry take bolder selections and put money into future capacity building.