April i, 1901.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER ^VORLD 



221 



REVIEW OF THE CRUDE RUBBER MARKET. 



THERE has been apparently a better demand for Para 

 grades during the latter part of the month of March, 

 though without effect in strengthening prices. Instead, 

 some grades are lower. It would seem that manufactur- 

 ers, as a rule, are not liberally supplied ; also that it seems to be 

 felt that probably bottom prices have been reached. Since the be- 

 ginning of the cropyearthe world's consumption of Paras has 

 been greater than in the last preceding corresponding period, 

 while the arrivals at the initial markets for the year have de- 

 clined. From the beginning of the season receipts have been be- 

 hind the figures for last year, though a part of the deficit was 

 made good during March. The visible supplies of Para for the 

 world are smaller than last year, though stocks of Africans are 

 larger. 



Speaking of the crude rubber market one of the best in- 

 formed of the large manufacturers said recently : " We know 

 pretty nearly the amount of rubber unsold. We also know of 

 one or two instances of large stocks bought at high prices that 

 are held for a rise, but a possible crop shortage, or the con- 

 tinued holding of high priced purchases does not necessarily 

 argue higher prices. Certain powers may get their heads to- 

 gether and boost the price up and hold it up by main strength 

 for a little while, but unless there is a greatly increased use it 

 won't stay up. The law of supply and demand, and the amount 

 in the store houses of the manufacturers — something that no 

 one can accurately determine — are the potent factors in price 

 fixmg." 



The news telegraphed to the newspapers from Woonsocket, 

 Rhode Island, on March 4, that " the formation of the $30,000,- 

 000 International Crude Rubber Co. has been suspended," 

 did not produce any sensation in the trade, since the suspen- 

 sion was generally supposed to have taken place several weeks 

 before.^-- G. Van den Kerckhove, of Antwerp, in a recent 

 circular, took the ground that the proposed American crude 

 rubber "trust" could have but little effect in the way of man- 

 ipulating prices. If prices should be forced, for any specula- 

 tive reason, too low for the gathering of rubber to remain 

 profitable, the supplies would diminish ; if, on the other hand, 

 they should be forced up beyond the ability of manufacturers 

 to buy, consumption would receive a check. In either event 

 the business of the importers would be interfered with. Hence, 

 the Antwerp circular pointed out, no fear of the market being 

 disturbed by any such combination as was proposed need be felt. 

 A report is current that the machinery of the Victor Rub- 

 ber Co. (Jersey City, N. J.) is for sale, and that the business, 

 that of making what is known as " Liverpool pressed strip," is 

 to be given up. This is not remarkable, as the feeling among 

 those who prepare rubber of this kind for some time has been 

 that there was little or no money in it. Indeed, the factories 

 at Liverpool have been closed recently, and the work of pre- 

 paring strips hereafter will be done at factories on the coast of 

 west Africa. 



In regard to the financial situation, Albert B. Beers (broker 

 in India-rubber, No. 58 William street. New York) advises us as 

 follows : 



"During March the money market has continued in about 

 the same condition as February, with a fair demand for paper, 

 the best rubber names being taken at 4^^ per cent, and others 

 not so well known 5 @ $% per cent., and occasionally as high 

 as 6 per cent." 



Quotations in New York on March 29 were : 



@84 

 @86 

 @86 



PARA. 



Islands, fine, new 83 



Islands, fine, old 85 



Upriver, fine, new 85 



Upriver, fine, old 87 



Islands, coarse, new.. .49 

 Islands, coarse, old. . . 

 Upriver, coarse, new. .60 

 Upriver, coarse, old. . .62 

 Caucho(Peruvian)sheet 46 

 Caucho (Peruvian)strip 



none imported now. 

 Caucho (Peruvian) ball 56 



CENTRALS. 

 Esmeralda, sausage... 54 



Guayaquil, strip 46 



Nicaragua, scrap ... .52 



Mangabeira, sheet 45 



EAST INDIAN. 



Assam 75 



Borneo 36 



Late Para cables quote : 



Per Kilo 

 Islands, fine tiSSoo 



@50 



@ 



©63 



@47 



@57 



@55 

 @47 

 @53 

 @46 



@76 

 @46 



AFRICAN. 



Tongues 44 @45 



Sierra Leone 57 (1*58 



Benguella 51 @52 



Cameroon ball 44 ©45 



Flake and lumps 34 ©35 



Accra flake 18 ©ig 



Accra buttons 51 ©52 



Accra strips @ 



Lagos buttons 51 (852 



Lagos strips @ 



Liberian flake © 



Madagascar, pinky.. . . @ 



Madagascar, black .... @ 



GUTTA-PERCHA. 



Fine grade 1,75 



Medium 1.45 



Hard white 1.20 



Lower sorts 65 



Balata 



Per KMo 



Upriver, fine 6^250 



Upriver, coarse 3$450 



Islands, coarse 2$6oo 



Exchange il|§a'. 

 NEW YORK RUBBER PRICES FOR FEBRUARY (NEW RUBBER.) 



1901. 



Upriver, fine Ss^^cuj 



Upriver, coarse 63 @ 



Islands, fine 83 @ 



Islands, coarse 45}4@ 



66 



85 

 48 



54 



igoo. 

 1 .04Ca I .og 

 80 @ 86 

 l.03|^@[.o8 

 61 K@ 66 

 64 @ 68 



1899. 

 I . oo@ 1 . 04 

 86 @q2 

 gg (n^i.oi 

 6g @73 

 71 ©74 



Cameta, coarse. 52 K® 



Statistics of Para Rubber (Metric Tons.) 



NEW YORK. 



Fineand Toial Total Total 



Medium, Coarse, iqoi. igoo. iSgg. 



Stocks, January 31 575 77= 652 656 350 



Arrivals, February 6g2 3gi = 1083 gii 1373 



Aggregating 1267 468 = 1735 



Deliveries, February 628 412 = 1040 



1567 

 913 



1723 

 1315 



Stocks, February 28. . . 63g 



56 



695 



654 408 



PARA. 



igoi. fgoo. 1899, 



Stocks, January 31 .. . 715 1440 loog 

 Arrivals, February 2945 4000 4700 



1 901. 



1075 



925 



ENGLAND. 

 1900. 

 450 



824 



800 

 460 



Aggregating 3660 5440 57og 2000 1274 1260 



Deliveries, February.. 3100 3445 3484 g75 825 525 



Stocks, Feb. 28.. 560 iggs 2225 



1025 



449 



735 



1901. 1900. 1899. 



World's supply, Feb. 28 (excluding Caucho).. 4277 5656 5545 



Para receipts, July i to February 28 15,863 18,735 18,915 



Afloat from Pari to United States, Feb. 28... 1070 834 1055 



Afloat from Para to Europe, February 28 927 1705 11 20 



Li'verpool. 



William Wright & Co. report [March i]: •■ F:ne Para.— 

 The market has been dull on spot but very active for forward 

 delivery, and a large business done at current rates. Prices 

 have fluctuated somewhat, but close about the same as last 

 month. Receipts in Para are again short, and there has been 

 an active demand there all month, at prices considerably over 

 those ruling here, both Europe and America buying largely. 

 By some it is thought the small receipts mean only a delayed 

 crop, by others a reduced crop ; which view is right time will 



