290 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Januaby 1, 1921 



The Rubber Trade in the Far East 



iSy a Special Correspondent 



THE STORAGE OF PLANTATION RUBBER 



TIE SLUMP in the rubber market and the rapid accumulation of 

 stocks have raised the question of the possible eflfect 

 storage for any prolonged period will have on crude rubber. 



Owing to the lack of shipping space in 1918, the subject became 

 one of commercial importance, and investigations were initiated 

 by the Agricultural Departmeni of the P'ederated Malay States. 

 Numerous samples had been stored for periods varying up to 

 five years, after parts of them had been vulcanized and tested, 

 the results indicating that considerable deterioration results from 

 storage in the tropics, especially in crepe samples. This deteriora- 

 tion is attributed to surface o.xidation. 



.■\ few old samples of stored slab rubber, containing about IS 

 per cent of moisture, showed that little or no deterioration haJ 

 taken place. This was attributed to the presence of moisture and 

 to the small amoimt of surface exposed to oxidation. 



The tensile curves of stored samples are of a different type to 

 their original ones, and resemble those of poor quality lower- 

 grade rubber. Whether the effect is entirely due to oxidation or 

 to a degradation of the caoutchouc molecule to another polymer 

 requires investigation. 



Another feature observed was that the rate of cure of samples 

 after storage tends to even up. Fast-curing creped samples tend 

 to cure more slowly, while slow-curing crepes generally cure 

 more rapidly. Slab rubber, cured as such, did not show this 

 feature. Until further investigations have been made, it is not 

 possible to formulate definite theories as to the cause of the 

 change. 



Considerable interest has been shown in slab rubber, espe- 

 cially by several American manufacturers. Consignments of IV-z 

 tons per fortnight for a period of three months were sent to one 

 of the largest firms through the F. M. S. Agricultural Depart- 

 ment, and excellent results were obtained. One interesting fea- 

 ture is that approximately 250 pounds of slab, representing about 

 212 pounds of dry rubber, could be packed in the same space as 

 about 170 pounds of crepe. The chief disadvantage is that slab 

 rubber has to be creped at the mills, where the cost of labor is 

 higher than in the producing countries. Creped slab requires 

 more drying than rubber shipped dry, and so more drying space 

 would be required. 



The best method of preparing rubber of this type for shipment 

 would be to convert the slab into thin worms, which would be 

 dried, pressed into dry blocks, and so exported. 

 MALAYAN NOTES 



At a recent meeting of the Federal Council, Federated Malay 

 States, R. C. M. Kindersley asked whether land would be granted 

 to Americans in the Federated Malay States, and if so what 

 approximate acreage and what labor conditions would be attached 

 to the grants. The answer was that no distinction between 

 nationalities would be made except in the case of recent enemies 

 of the British Empire. The area to be granted to any particular 

 applicant depends upon several considerations, among others, 

 being his financial ability to open up the acreage given him. As 

 for labor, new rules are under consideration and if approved 

 would be endorsed on all grants of over 200 acres of land. 



The Association of British Malaya which takes the place of the 

 old Straits Settlements Association, aims to consider all subjects 

 of public interest in British Malaya, including rubber planting, 

 mercantile interests, shipping and banking as well as the labor 

 question and the welfare of the Malay population. 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS 



The import trade of British Malaysia for the past two years 

 reveals a growing market for automobiles, trucks, bicycles 



and all kinds of motor equipment. Rubber is one of the chief 

 products of the country and the motor truck has become impera- 

 tive in conveying it from the wharves to the stores, as sales fre- 

 quently stipulate delivery within two days, which is impossible 

 where ox-carts are employed. It is only within recent months 

 that the motor truck has begun to displace the ox-cart and the 

 coolie in transporting rubber, as the plantation owners have been 

 slow to realize the saving in time and cost that might be effected 

 by a wider use of the motor truck. 



Rubber exports from the Straits Settlements during the first 

 six months of the current year were 10,000 tons less than for the 

 corresponding period last year. Rubber decreased in value from 

 $0.50 per pound in January, 1920, to $0.37 in June and about 

 $0.23 in September. At this latter figure a considerable propor- 

 tion of the rubber growers produced at a loss. Telegraphic re- 

 ports from London state that unless outputs are restricted there 

 will be a surplus of 34,000 tons at the end of the year. 



Imports and exports of inferior gutta and Para rubber of the 

 Straits Settlements for the quarter ended June 30, 1920, show 

 considerable advance in the trade of the colony in these articles 

 of commerce. Quantity is expressed in piculs of 133j^ pounds 

 and value is given in United States currency based on exchange 

 at $0.50 (normal value of Straits dollar = $0.5677 United States 

 currency). 



Imports 



April-June 



1919 



^^_ 



1920 



Piculs Value 



58,217 $625,831 



545,844 27,242,926 



27,133 $613,196 



798,755 44.993.870 



Piculs Value 



Gutia, inferior 50.904 $440,388 



Para rubber 527,994 21,926,465 



Ex POSTS 



Outta, inferior 35,134 $349,168 



Para rubber 739,627 35,316,124 



RUBBER PLANTATIONS IN BRITISH IfALAYA 



The following figures are official statistics of the rubber in- 

 dustry in British Malaya so far as they refer to estates of 100 

 acres and over in extent. 



Dealing first with the Federated Malay States statistics to 

 December 31 in each year, the following comparison is made be- 

 tween 1918 and 1919: 



1918 1919 



Number of estates 1,126 1,221 



Acreage in pcssession 1,094,217 1,167,043 



Acrease planted 672,106 736,742 



Acreage producing 447,175 490,372 



Newly planted 50,484 64,636 



Adding the above figures to the statistics for the Straits Settle- 

 ments, Johore, Kelantan, Kedah and Trengganu, the totals are 

 as follow : 



1918 1919 



Number of estates 1,714 1,896 



Acreage in possession 1,978,090 2,091,535 



Acreage planted 1,124,243 1,236,806 



Acreage producing 691,435 751,986 



Newly planted 78,423 108,438 



In 1919, the rubber crop in the Federated Malay States amount- 

 ing to 73,684 tons as against 62,517 tons in 1918, and the figures 

 for the whole of British Malaya over a period of ten years were 

 as follows : 



1910 tons 6,414 



1911 11,117 



1912 18,956 



1913 28.169 



1914 37,403 



1915 tens 51.885 



1916 67.677 



1917 82,319 



1018 92,279 



1919 106,757 



These figures represent production, not export. The total 

 export of plantation rubber from the Federated Malay States 

 alone, according to the statistics of the Commissioner of Trade 

 and Ctistoms, amounted to 108,393 tons in 1919 as against 78,283 

 tons in 1918 and 79,831 tons in 1917. The discrepancy between 



