498 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June 1, 1913. 



Report of the Crude Rubber Market. 



THE course of the London market for fine Para during the 

 month of April was, it will be recalled, almost constantly 

 downward, while the tendency during May has been 

 nearly uninterruptedly in the opposite direction. From 3s. W^d. 

 on Marcli 26, it had dropped to 3s. A'Ad. on April 26, having re- 

 covered on May 24, at time of writing, to 3s. 9d. The price has 

 risen slowly but steadily, the low figure of 3.y. 3M(/. readied on 

 April IS not having since been recorded. In the earlier days of 

 May. buyers were following their former policy of only covering 

 immediate requirements. At the close of the first week, specula- 

 tive buying, both for European and American account, gave addi- 

 tional strength to the market. According to some reports this 

 development of the market was due to the existence of a large 

 short interest in Upriver Fine. The improved prices then estab- 

 lislied have since been maintained. 



Plantation rubber, while sharing in the upward movement, has 

 not done so to the same extent as was the case with fine Para. 

 On April 26 it stood at 3s. 2^(i., while Para fine was at 3s. 4;<;d. 

 By May 24 the respective quotations were 3s. 3d. and 3s. 9d. 



In connection with the fact of Para rubber being now quoted at 

 6d. per pound above plantation rubber, an opinion has been ex- 

 pressed in London that the Para position is entirely artificial, the 

 supplies having been concentrated in one quarter, and prices hav- 

 ing been unreasonably advanced. The anticipation of the sale of 

 113 tons (principally Congos) announced for May 27 at Havre 

 rendered buyers cautious during the month in their operations. 

 It was, however, hoped that the improvement in London would 

 affect the result of the approaching auction. At the Antwerp 

 sale of April 22, Congo grades were neglected, only 105 tons being 

 sold out of 506 tons offered. The prices realized showed a de- 

 cline since the previous month's auction equalling 4-)4rf. per 

 pound. Of the 178 tons plantation rubber offered. 165 tons were 

 sold, at an average decline, equalling 7)^d. per pound. 



Antwerp stock at the end of April amounted to 990 tons as 

 compared with 438 tons on April 30. 1912. The sale of May 21 at 

 Antwerp included 200 tons of plantation rubber which sold at 

 advanced prices, and 130 tons Congo which were disposed of at 

 a decline. The Rotterdam sale of April 23 included about 20 tons 

 Hevea, which realized 2 per cent, below valuations and 14 tons 

 Ficiis, which fetched 5 per cent, below rates of last sales. Hcvea 

 formed the largest portion of the Amsterdam sale of May 16, 

 representing 81 tons out of 94 tons the balance consisting of 

 FiVi(.j and CastiUoa. From Hamburg a much firmer market has 

 been reported, important sales of South Cameroon balls having 

 been effected. 



The London auction of .-Xpril 29 included 900 tons, the quantity 

 being less than had been anticipated. Prices closed on an aver- 

 age \d. below those of the previous fortnightly sales. Owing to 

 the Whitsuntide holidays on May 12 and 13, an auction was held 

 on May 6, which included 500 tons, which met with a fair demand 

 at about the prices of the sale a week earlier. The next auction 

 took place on May 19, including about 800 tons which realized 

 an advance of Id. to 2d. as compared with the sale of 6th. 



Statistics, including the first series of sales in May, show a 

 total of 8.536 tons as having been auctioned this year in London, 

 as compared with 5.991 during the corresponding period of 1912. 

 The London "Economist" states that the total supply now com- 

 ing on the Mincing Lane market fortnight by fortnight, is, 

 roughly speaking, what had been looked for by the end of 1914. 

 Statistics to the end of April show the following estimate of 

 the visil)le supplv of Pani and Caucho rubber : 



1912. 1913. 



Para Tons 6,260 5.230 



Caucho 1,670 7.930 2.830 8,060 



The visible supply of the above grades had decreased by 500 

 tons within a month, this year's total Ijeing about that of the cor- 

 responding period last year. 



Business in New York has followed the course of the London 

 market. Many of the large consumers are said to be very busy, 

 particularly in tires, while their supplies of crude rubber are said 

 to be moderate, yet large enough to meet their wants for the 

 early summer. 



New York Qtot.vtions. 



Following are the quotations al New York for Para grades, 

 one year ago. one month ago, May 29 — the current dates : 



P.\R.\. June 1, "12. May 1, '13. May 29, '13. 



Islands, fine, new 105(S106 80@ 81 84@ 85 



Islands, fine, old 107@108 



Upriver, fine, new 109@110 82@ 83 89® 92 



Upriver, fine, old 112@113 



Islands, coarse, new 57® 58 39@ 40 40@ 41 



Islands, coarse, old 



Upriver, coarse, new .... 89® 90 55@ 56 58@ 59 



L^priver, coarse, old 



Cameta 65® 66 42® 43 42@ 43 



Caucho (Peruvian) ball... 87® 88 57® 58 58® 59 



Caucho (Peruvian) sheet 



Pl.\nt.\tion Cevlons. 



Fine smoked sheet 



Fine pale crepe 



Fine sheets and biscuits . 



Centr.\ls. 



Esmeralda, sausage 



Guayaquil, strip 



Nicaragua, scrap 



Panama 



Mexican plantation, sheet. 



Mexican, scrap 



Mexican, slab 



Mangabeira, sheet 



Guayule 



Balata, sheet 



Balata, block 



118® 119 

 119®120 

 114^5115 



82® 83 

 80® 81 



81© 82 



81® 82 

 80® .. 

 80® .. 



56® .. 

 55® .. 



55® 56 



.^FHICXK. 



Lopori, ball, prime 



Lopori. strip, prime 



.•\ruwimi 



L'pi)er Congo, ball red... 



Ikelemba 



Sierra Leone, 1st quality. 



Massai, red 



Soudan Niggers 



Cameroon, ball 



Bengucla . . . .• 



Madagascar, pinky 



Accra, flake 



E.\ST IXDI.VN. 



.A.ssam 



Pontianak . . . . 

 Borneo 



55® 56 

 89® 90 

 55® 56 



107® 108 



94® 95 

 9S@ 96 



66® 67 



27® 28 



m@m 



65® 

 75® 



74® 

 60® 



83® .. 

 80® .. 

 79® 80 



58® 59 

 55® 56 



56® 57 



