September 1, 1921 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



935 



BULGARIA'S IMPORTS INCREASE 



Imports into Bulgaria from all countries exceeded in quantity 

 those of 1919 by more than 50 per cent. The share of the 

 United States in these importations was, however, comparatively 

 insignificant, as Italy represented the chief factor. Imports ot 

 rubber goods into Bulgaria from all countries during 1919 and 

 1920 were as follows : 



Kilos 



Rubber, gutta perclia 



and manufactures 9,337 



^ f 

 Levat Kilos 



Leva 

 1,444,727 92,010 11,030,198 



*One kilo equals 2.2 pounds. 



tThe normal value of the lev is ifO.lSJ. 



GERMANY 



The following abstracts are from "Die Kautschukwarenindus- 

 trie Deutschland," by Dr. W. \'aas, in a recent issue of the Gum- 

 mi-Zeitung. 



The rubber industry, which is of comparatively recent date, 

 rapidly became one of Germany's foremost industries. During 

 the 1913-1914 period 185 rubber factories gave employment to 

 60,000 workmen and produced goods worth 295,204,000 gold 

 marks. The amount of crude and waste rubber consumed was 

 27,565 metric tons. In 1913 the exports of rubber goods, not in- 

 cluding products of the cable industry, were 20,508,200 kilos, 

 \alued at 135,000,000 marks. 



The outbreak of the war put an end to all this trade and the 

 German rubber industry, cut ofi" from all supplies of crude rub- 

 ber, found itself in an unenviable position. Strict measures were 

 taken to enforce the economic handling of such stock as was 

 on hand and as was obtained somehow from the outside. Methods 

 for regenerating were improved and renewed attention was paid 

 to synthetic rubber. 



The need for economy can Ijcst be judged when the amounts 

 of rubber imported from the second half of 1914 to 1918 (in- 

 clusive) are known. For the second half of 1914, the quantity 

 imported is given as 2,583 tons; for 1915, 260 tons; for 1916, 668 

 tons — this includes 547 tons brought over in U-boats ; for 1917, 

 9 tons and for 1918, 2 tons ; altogether 3,450 tons in Ay^. years 

 as compared with over 16,500 tons in 1913. The total amount 

 of raw rubber brought into Germany during the war was 4,601 

 tons. 



From .Vugust, 1916, old and regenerated rubber was carefully 

 collected by government order and distributed as needed. The 

 amounts thus apportioned came to 2,449 tons in 1916 — August to 

 December only; 5,449 tons in 1917 and 4,619 tons in 1918. Of 

 synthetic rubber, 67.5 tons were delivered in 1917 — July to De- 

 cember only ; 392.8 tons in 1918, and 850,5 tons in 1919. 



Naturally prices rose considerably. Hevea crepe that in July, 

 1914, had cost 4.80 to 4.85 marks per kilo, rose to 25 marks in 

 November of the same year. In 1915, 38.60 marks per kilo was 

 the price charged abroad, and in 1916 this jumped to 75.25 

 marks. In Germany, prices were regulated by the War Ministry 

 and up to July 23, 1915, the price for hard fine Para and first 

 latex crepe was 15 marks per kilo; up to November 15, 1915, 

 it was 22.50 marks and after this, 33.75 marks per kilo. 



Prices for synthetic rubber were extremely high and rose 

 from 25 marks per kilo for hard and 27.50 marks for soft, to 

 45,50 and 47 marks, respectively. 



Latest reports about Germany's rubber trade show that while 

 conditions are depressing, it is expected that business will look 

 up soon. There is a certain amount of propaganda being car- 

 ried on in Holland and the Dutch East Indies to encourage the 

 exchange of Gemian manufactured rubber for Dutch crude rub- 

 hcr. Hopeful eyes are also being turned to Russia, particularly 

 now that the Russian powers are recognizing the fact 

 that their communistic system will not do in business. 



Figures for Germany's rubber trade during the eleven months 

 ended November, 1920, sliow that imports were 19,300 quintals 

 of soft, and 200 quintals of hard rubber goods; this as com- 



pared with 38,700 quintals soft rubber goods and 1,000 quintals 

 hard rubber goods, in 1913. Exports amounted to 26,800 quintals 

 (180,100 in 1913), value 256,000,000 marks. Of this 25,200 

 quintals (166,900 in 1913), were soft rubber goods, value 220,- 

 100,000 marks, and 1,600 (13,200 in 1913) quintals, value 35,900,- 

 0(X) marks, of hard rubber and hard rubber goods. 



Much satisfaction has been caused by the report that the 

 Minister for Finances has agreed, subject to consent of the 

 Reichsrat, to free mantles and wraps of rubber combined with 

 cotton or half woolen fabrics from the lu.xury tax of 15 per cent. 

 It is not thought possible that the Reichsrat will object. As 

 far as other kinds of rubber mantles and wraps are concerned, 

 these will continue to pay the tax. 



The Rheinland commission has made out a free list of goods 

 that are to be allowed to enter unhindered from all borders of 

 the occupied territory. This, says tlie Gumm\-7,c'\iung, will 

 permit the influ.x of a number of luxury articles and will hit 

 German industry hard, particularly the textile goods industry, 

 which of course includes rubberized fabrics and goods. Other 

 rubber goods, as atomizers, seamless articles, and hard rubber 

 .goods, appear on this free list and dealers are urged to reject 

 them. 



FOREIGN TIRES 



Much indignation has been aroused here by the revelation 

 that the Reichstreuliandgesellschaft of Berlin, a corporation 

 founded with the aid of the Government — which owns half of 

 the stock, is putting quantities of foreign-made tires on the local 

 market. These tires are free from the 15 per cent luxury tax 

 and can easily compete with the German article. 



It was known that this concern had imported several thou- 

 sands of pneumatic and solid tires a few months ago with per- 

 mission from the Foreign Trade Bureau for Rubber. But the 

 importations took place with the consent of the Finance and 

 Economy Departments. When protests began to be heard, it 

 was explained that these tires had to be imported in accordance 

 with the Treaty of Versailles, but the assurance was given that 

 the disposal of the tires would take place with as little harm to 

 the local industry as possible. It was said that most of them 

 were intended for export and the rest were to be used for the 

 Army, Navy, etc. However, the facts are far different, as the 

 foregoing shows, and will require a good deal of explanation. 



A report from Antwerp concerning millions of American 

 tires and tubes lying in Belgium and French ports ready for 

 shipment to Ciermany, is another cause for alarm and indigna- 

 tion. These tires are described as being of an inferior quality 

 seldom met with on the market. Most of the tubes consist of 

 three and four pieces put together. The prices are extraor- 

 dinarily low. The tires have no mark whatever and the covers 

 are perfectly smooth, without any distinguishing mark. It is 

 reported that they have been sent over by "The Surinam Rub- 

 ber & Wood Plantation Co., Delaware, North America." This 

 firm it is said, deals in crude rubber and used rubber tires. 



NOTES 



The Veith-Werke, Aktiengesellschaft, Sandbach, Odenwald, in- 

 tends to double its capital which at present is 4,(XX),000 marks. 

 This firm manufactures bicycle tires chiefly. 



The Samoa Kautschuk Conipagnie, .'\ktiengesellschaft, Berlin, 

 has decreased its capita! to 1,4.50,000 marks. The capital is now 

 divided into 757 jircferred shares and 698 privileged preferred 

 shares. 



The Conrad Scholtz, Aktiengesellschaft Treibriemenfabrik, 

 Hamburg-Barmbeck, reports net profits of 362,084 marks over 

 the business year 1920; a dividend of 15 per cent was declared. 

 The report of this firm shows that prices for the firm's product, 

 belting, began to drop heavily in 1919, and world competition has 

 aided in keeping prices down, so that nothing definite can be 

 said with- regard to future prospects. 



