FOCUS-Tyremakers to ramp up imports as rubber prices soar

* Indian tyre firms scale up rubber imports

* Indian natural rubber prices near life-high

* Import duty of 20 percent is a deterrent

By Aniruddha Basu & Debiprasad Nayak

MUMBAI, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Indian tyre makers are set to scale up natural rubber imports in the next few months to sidestep soaring domestic prices, especially if they do not cool off in the near term, industry officials said.

Prices have jumped about 37 percent since April, according to data available with the Rubber Board. It touched a record high of 142 rupees per kg on Aug 28.

Tyre majors MRF Ltd (MRF.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) and Ceat (CEAT.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) are already increasing imports against advance licenses. Tyre firms have licenses that allow them to import duty-free against their exports.

Others will call for more imports if prices remain at current levels for another month as rubber accounts for more than 60 percent of the cost of tyres.

"We are importing a lot of rubber...We have contracted nearly 3,500 tonnes, which will start arriving next week from Thailand," Ceat's Managing Director Paras Chowdhary told Reuters. Thailand is the world's largest rubber producer, where prices are ruling at 132 rupees per kg against 140 rupees in India.