February 1, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



237 



Crude Rubber During 1913. 



Tl I K principal feature of the criuk- rubber market during 

 recent years has been the gradually increased importance 

 of plantation rubber as a factor in the situation. Brazilian 

 exports have practically been stationary, while those from the 

 East have advanced by leaps and bounds. These conditions are 

 shown by table A. 



Table A. 



Pkouuction of Plantation and Para Rubber. 



Compiled by S. Figgis & Co., London. 



1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. 

 Ceylon and India, 



tons 230 350 600 1,430 2,750 6,300 11,590 



.Malaya, tons .... 780 1,450 3.250 6,800 11,400 22,200 35,410 



Total plantation, 

 tons 1,010 



1,800 3,850 8,230 14,150 28,500 47,000 



Brazil, tons 



42.000 40,500 39,500 40.500 39,000 



The third important source of rubber, Africa, has shown a 

 decrease, according to table B, which has been more than covered 

 by the receipts of plantation rubber. 



Table B. 



World's Supply of Rubber. 



Wild- 



Brazil 



West Africa 



East Africa, Penang, Borneo, Ran- 

 goon, Assam, Madagascar, etc.... 



Central America, Mexico, etc. 



Guayule 



Jelutong, etc 



Total Wild 



Plantation — 



Total Plantation 



Grand total 99.000 105,000 



Tal)!e B shows the w<irld's comparative production of 1912 and 

 1913. according to latest estimates; the grand totals being: 1912, 

 99.000 tons, and 1913, 105.000 tons. The increased production of 

 6,000 tons arises as follows : 



18,500 



Total 12.500 



Xet increase .... 6,000 



18,500 



The increased production of plantation rubber is not an acci- 

 dental or transitory occurrence, but part of the progress which 

 has been taking place of recent years as shown in table .^. 



The increased output of tlie eastern plantations was thus 18,500 

 tons, of which 12,500 tons were offset by the reductions shown 

 in other descriptions; the balance of 6,000 tons appearing in 

 the increase of the world's product from 99,000 to 105,000 tons. 



Perhaps the most notable feature of the year's rubber trade 

 was the fall in prices and the establishment of a premium in 

 favor of Brazilian rubber, through the slower rate at which it 

 met the reduction established in plantation rubber. A comparison 

 of the respective prices at typical i)eriods shows the following 

 results : 



Comparative London Prices. 



Fine Hard Para. Plantation. 



1912 4s. 7Md. 4s. 7'4d. 



1913 4s. Oj^d. 4s. O^d. 



1913 3s. 4'/,d. 3s. 2^d. 



1913 3s. 9 d. 3s. 3 d. 



1913 3s. 8)4d. 2s. 11 d. 



1913 3s. 7 d. 2s. 95^d. 



1913 3s. 9Kd. 2s. 8 d. 



1913 3s. J'Ad. 2s. 4 d. 



1913 3s. VAd. 2s. 2 d. 



1913 3s. 2 d. 2s. 4J4d. 



1913 3s. l^d. 2s. 3j4d. 



The lowest point touched for plantation rubber was Is. lid. on 

 September 17. Thus starting the year 1913 about on a level 

 with each other, the two standards closed the year with a dif- 

 ference of lOd. per pound, the premium for fine Para having 

 meanwhile touched Is. 3^d. per pound. 



While the relative merits of Para and plantation rubber have 

 been freely discussed, the absorption of the largely increased 

 shipments of the latter is the best proof of its having been taken 

 up by a large number of manufacturers, who have recognized its 

 advantages. The opinion has been expressed that the fall in prices 

 has been beneficial to the plantation rubber industry in two ways : 

 by directing attention to plantation rubber, and by enforcing on 

 the producers a policy of economy which, when fully carried out, 

 should effect a saving of 25 per cent, to 50 per cent, in the cost 

 of production. 



African Rubbers. 



Table B shows a reduction of 3,800 tons in the production of 

 West .'\frica which is partly reflected in the receipts from the 

 Belgian Congo at Antwerp. The total figures, as shown by 

 Grisar & Co.. illustrate the comparative movements of Congo and 

 plantation rubbers at that port : 



.\xtwerp Receipts. 



1912. 

 tons. 



Belgian Congo 3,230 



Plantation 1,403 



Various descriptions 145 



Total 



4,778 



1913. 

 tons. 

 2,886 

 2.033 

 121 



5,040 



The reduction in shipments from the Belgian Congo has thus 

 been more than offset by the increased receipts of plantation 

 rubber. 



Tliis decrease in Antwerp arrivals is the direct consequence 

 of the effects produced by the fall of prices in Europe, which 

 represents about 58 per cent, for Congo rubber. 52 per cent, for 

 plantation and 22 per cent, for fine Para. The Belgian govern- 

 ment has endeavored to meet the situation by a reduction in the 

 export duties and by eliminating them on certain low grades. 



