February i, 1909.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



193 



Review of the Crude Rubber Market. 



THE condition of the crude rubber market, considered 

 broadly, is that production of rubber is on a scale normal 

 as compared with recent years, and that stocks have 

 declined to a point which indicate that the surplus accumulated 

 during the inactivity of rubber factories during part of the last 

 year has practically disappeared. As will be indicated by reports 

 on the situation on other pages of this issue, the production of 

 other grades than Paras shows a declining tendency, and any 

 deficit from this source cannot be looked for to be made up 

 other than from plantation rubber. 



In America the industry is active, with the exception of the 

 rubber footwear branch, in which a number of important fac- 

 tories, it is announced, will be closed during the current month. 

 How far this reduced consumption of rubber will be offset by 

 the activity in mechanical lines can only be conjectured. It is 

 known, however, that the tire trade, particularly, is very active, 

 and all indications are that a good business is being done in all 

 lines except footwear, which branch is feeling the effect of the 

 recent unseasonable weather — considered from the standpoint of 

 rubber boots and shoes. 



The New York market for Para sorts has been quiet during the 

 month just closed, but at the same time a condition of firmness 

 has prevailed, and the month has been without marked fluctu- 

 ations. New Islands fine has advanced a point, and is now at 

 about 60 per cent, over one year ago. New Upfiver fine is 

 unchanged, and one or two other grades are a cent a pound 

 lower. 



The important inscription sale at Antwerp on January 21 

 went off at an average of about 25 centimes per kilogram 

 (about 2 i-s cents per pound) above broker's estimates, which 

 is rather out of keeping with conditions in England and America, 

 where the market is a trifle easier than some time ago. At the 

 same time, all reports from Amazon primary markets are that 

 sales are being effected at prices higher relatively than are being 

 paid in the consuming markets. 



The prices of .•Kfricans have changed irregularly, a few grades 

 being quoted higher than a month ago ; but for the most part a 

 decline is shown, with some sorts unchanged. Centrals, on the 

 whole, show a decline, w'hile East Indian is without quotable 

 change. 



The arrivals at Para of rubber of all kinds (including caucho) 

 since the beginning of the crop season have been slightly more 

 than last year, and larger than in any previous year except 1905- 

 06. The figures for four years follow: 



1905-6 1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 



July 1,450 1,840 1,370 1,300 



August 1,300 1,690 1,500 1,890 



September 2,200 2,070 2,420 2,355 



October 3,580 3,030 3,200 3,460 



November 2,890 3,480 3,200 3,430 



December 3.270 2,610 2,560 3.300 



January 5.710 3,780 4,860 a3,85S 



Total 20.400 18,500 19,100 19,590 



[a — To January 28, 1909.] 



The importation of crude rubber into the United States during 

 the year 1908, despite the financial depression with which the 

 year opened, was larger than in any preceding year (with the 

 single exception of 1906. when the total was 659 tons more). 

 The combined deliveries to manufacturers in the United States 

 and Canada were the same as during 1905, but somewhat smaller 

 than during 1906 and 1907. 



Following are the quotations at New York for Para grades 

 one year ago. one month ago, and January 30, the current date: 



Par.^ Feb. I, '08. Jan. i, '09. Jan. 30. 



Islands, new, fine 7i@72 Ii3@ii4 Ii4@ns 



Islands, fine, old none here none here none here 



Islands, fine new 74("j7S I2I@I22 I2i@i22 



Upriver, fine, old 75(«i76 I24@I25 I23@I24 



Islands, coarse, new 4S@46 55@ 56 56(g 57 



Islands, coarse, old none here none here none here 



Upriver, coarse, new ' S5@S6 92@ 93 92® 93 



Upriver, coarse, old none here none here none here 



Cameta 6i(S) 62 62@ 63 



Caucho (Peruvian), sheet 50@5I 7i@ 72 72® 73 



Caucho (Peruvian), ball. 55@56 83® 84 83® 84 



Ceylon (Plantation), fine 



sheet 89®90 I29@i30 I28@i29 



African. 

 SicrraLeone, ist quality. 96@97 Lopori ball, prime. .. .109®! 10 



Wassai, red 96@97 Lopori strip, prime... 85® 86 



Benguella 6l@62 Madagascar, pinky... 91® 92 



Accra flake 20@2I Ikelemba none here 



Cameron ball 6o@6i Soudan niggers 82® 83 



Centrals. 



Esmeralda, sausage . . . .8o®8i Mexican, scrap 79® 80 



Guayaquil, strip 69@70 Mexican, slab 56® 57 



Nicaragua, scrap 78(0,80 Mangabeira, sheet ... 53® 541 



Panama 6o®6i Guayule 30® 31 



East Indian. 



Assam 92@93 Borneo 35® 45 



Late Para cables quote: 



Per kilo. Per kilo. 



Islands, fine 5$400 Upriver, fine 6$375 



Islands, coarse 2$40O Upriver, coarse 4$375 



Exchange i5}4d. 



Latest Manaos advices : 



Upriver, fine 6$750 Exchange 15/4^- 



Upriver, coarse 4$750 



Statistics of Para Rubber {Excluding Caucho.) 



New Y'ork. 



Fine and Total Total Total 



Medium. Coarse. 1908. 1907. 1906. 



Stocks, November 30 tons 136 112 248 135 98 



Arrivals, December 1706 593 2299 1078 2136 



Aggregating 1842 705 



Deliveries, December 1647 656 



Stocks, December 31 195 49 



Para. 



1908. 1907. 1906. 



Stocks, Nov. 30 tons 475 140 860 



Arrivals, December.... 3015 2285 2555 



2547 

 2303 



1213 

 1099 



2234 



2058 



176 



244 114 

 England. 

 1908. 1907. 1906. 



136 640 380 

 1439 1015 735 



Aggregating 3490 2425 



Deliveries, December.. 2795 2177 



3415 

 3415 



1575 

 800 



1655 

 825 



ni5 

 750 



Stocks December 31. 695 248 ... 775 830 365 



1908. 1907. 1906. 



World's visible supply, December 31.. tons 2,314 2,484 1,978 



Para receipts. July i to December 31 14,075 12,900 13,400 



Para receipts of Caucho, same dates 1,665 i,340 1,205 



Afloat from Para to United States, Dec. 31 849 585 952 



Afloat from Para to Europe, Dec. 31 251 707 485 



Liverpool, 



William Wright & Co. report [January i] : 



Fine Pard. — Considering the time of year the market has been active 

 during the montli; prices declined fully srf. per pound, but have since 

 recovered, and close at about \d. per pound below last _ month's closing 

 value for spot, and 2d. lower for forward positions: principal operators 

 are. however, rather buyers than sellers at the decline. America, in spite 

 of importing largely direct from Brazil, has tiken 500 tons from the Liver- 

 pool market, and during the last six months we estimate the quantity o\ 

 Para rubber shipped from Liverpool to New York to be i,7.";o -tons, in 

 addition to direct shipments from lirazil of 8.420 tons. This is an important 

 factor for manufacturers to take into account. Receipts for the first six 

 months of the crop show an increase of 1.500 tons Para, but facilities for 

 navigation have been exceptional, and therefore it is possible that some of 

 the increase during the past may be at the expense of the following six 

 months. In our opinion n basis of about 5.S. [^ $1.21.6] for hard fine 

 win be a safe one for a manufacturer to operate on. [This was about the 

 prevailing rate at New York at the date of the above report. — The Editor.] 



