India's natural rubber imports in July rose 14.8 percent from a year ago to 36,997 tonnes, the state-run Rubber Board said on Wednesday, as tyre-makers raised overseas purchases to meet rising demand. The consumption during the month rose 5.5 percent from a year ago to 88,000 tonnes, the board said in a statement. The country's production in July surged 28.3 percent on year to 59,000 tonnes. The south Asian country mainly imports natural rubber from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.