THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



465 



The European Rubber Trade After the War. 



by (1 GcniHin, nvl! posted on general conditions of the European rubber industry, this article gives the '.iriter's forecctst 

 of Ihc wanner in which the European rubber trade will be resumed after the uar. 



AX'ERY conservative estimate made according to the actual 

 business done during the year 1913 shows that the total 

 international turnover in rubber goods represented by 

 the sum of the imports and exports from one to the other of 

 the countries now at war was about $40,000,000, or live-sixths 

 cf the total interstate rubber trade of Europe. 



Of the rubber goods imported into Germany, amounting to 

 approximately $6.500,0(X), about $600,000 came from France. 

 England supplied $2,300,000 worth, Russia $1,000,000, Austria 

 $450,000 and Belgium $250,000. Germany in return sent about 

 $3,500,000 worth to France ; England bought for her own use 

 and for her colonial trade, shipped via London, about $6,500,- 

 000; Russia received somewhat less than $2,000,000; Belgium 

 about $750,000; Austria $2,500,000; Italy $5,000,000, and Turkey 

 $150,000. 



Taking the case of England, it appears that apart from the 

 business done with Germany, she bought from Belgium about 

 $350,000 worth of rubber goods; France supplied her with $700,- 

 000 worth and she received about $200,000 worth from Austria 

 Italy is also well represented in the British market. The Eng- 

 lish figures are far from complete, giving only tires, footwear 

 and general goods, while many others are hidden under differ- 

 ent class headings, as, for instance, electrical goods. 



Looking at the export side of the British trade exchange, it 

 appears tliat Belgium received goods to a value of $850,000; 

 France $2,000,000; Russia $250,000. and Turkey about $100,000. 

 The trade to Italy consisted very largely of tires and raw 

 materials. 



Belgium bought from Austria goods to the value of $50,000 

 and sold her three times that amount. France sold .-Xustria 

 $250,000 worth of rubber goods and in return bought half that 

 quantity, while honors were practically even between .\ustria 

 and Russia, each exchanging goods worth slightly over $120,000. 



From European letters, as well as from opinions of travelers, 

 the feeling seems to be that the war will be followed by 

 marked changes in the character and channels of European 

 business. It is pointed out that the relations between the two 

 largest competitors, England and Germany, may be restrained 

 for a considerable time. This would doubtless necessitate a 

 complete reorganization of the whole European market, if not 

 that of the world. 



Until the beginning of the war, the German rubber industry 

 regarded London as a large clearing house for trade passing 

 between Germany and the British colonies. The London ship- 

 pers had acted as intermediaries, and regret is expressed that 

 the continuance of this profitable trade relationship may be 

 endangered by the war. 



There were in London many firms representing the interests 

 of the German rubber industry, including some of the largest 

 concerns handling rubber goods in the British market, such as 

 the Continental. Metzler, Calmon, and Harburg-Wien. The 

 management of the latter house in England was completely 

 in the hands of English interests and the same condition has 

 existed with British firms in Germany, such as the Dunlop Rub- 

 ber Co.. Limited, which has a large German plant. In many 

 of the less prominent houses, there were employed in both 

 countries a large number of agents doing business for England 

 in Germany and for Germany in England.. 



The relations between the representatives of the rubber in- 

 dustries of both countries and the buyers of such goods were 

 most cordial. They found their expression repeatedly in the 

 participation of the German manufacturers in the International 



Rubber Exhibitions, the last of which closed shortly before the 

 outbreak of the war. It is claimed by some that the interests 

 of these firms are so clearly interwoven that after the war a 

 re-establishment of relations may be possible and that the 

 feeling of distrust which undoubtedly will be left may speedily 

 be overcome. This applies equally well to the relations between 

 the Austrian and British merchants. 



Before the war Italy not only bought from Germany a fairly 

 large quantity of tires, but the German exports to Italy of 

 mechanical rubber, hard rubber goods, etc., had been large. 

 This trade has entirely ceased since the outbreak of the war. 

 What the commercial relations between these countries will be 

 after the war, is problematical. 



It is difficult to predict how' the war will aflfect the relations 

 between Italy and Austria. These countries after previous wars 

 have soon returned to peaceful trading again. Hence, one may 

 anticipate a fairly early resumption of their commercial inter- 

 course when the political difficulties have been removed. 



As an exporter of rubber goods, Italy has never exerted a 

 strong influence upon European trade, although Italian manu- 

 facturers had built up a satisfactory export business and the 

 London market was well suppHed with Italian goods. Those 

 made by Pirelli & Co. are especially well known. This firm 

 and other Italian manufacturers may benefit after the war by 

 any decrease in German exports to England. 



The situation between Germany and France presents greater 

 difficulties, for between their rubber industries considerable com- 

 petition has existed for some time past which, as an industrial 

 conflict, has been shown by boycotts and in other ways. It is 

 said that the French market was fast becoming of less value 

 to the German manufacturers. Opinions seem to indicate that 

 after the war this trade will cease altogether, 



France is not producing all the rubber goods she needs and 

 the lack of German imports, having a value of about $3,500,000. 

 should have a decided efliect on the French rubber trade. If, 

 after the war, cordial commercial relations are not resumed with 

 Germany, France will either be compelled to expand the pro- 

 ducing power of her rubber industry immensely or she will have 

 to look about for some other source of supplies. 



It should be remembered that France has built up an export 

 trade, especially in tires. The French tire industry has gained 

 a large export demand, mostly through the fame of her motor 

 industry. French motor cars winning races all over the world 

 have helped to introduce the tire products of the French rub- 

 ber manufacturers, who have taken good care of the openings 

 thus made. French tires were sold in large quantities in the 

 British and other European markets, and French manufactur- 

 ers are of the opinion that they will be able to replace German 

 tires in England after the war. How far this will be possible 

 will depend upon conditions existing at the conclusion of peace. 



The German rubber goods sold in France consisted largely 

 of mechanical goods and tires. The former may not be easily 

 replaced by French makers, as the demand for this class of 

 goods promises to become enormous. Tires are a French spe- 

 cialty which the domestic manufacturers are able to furnish in 

 sufficient supply for home consumption. 



The English rubber industry naturally is in a more favorable 

 position than that of the other countries at war, for England 

 has been able to keep her export business open. The strength 

 of London is in its capability to distribute goods. In the past 

 it has acted mostly as a receiver or intermediary for the con- 

 tinental rubber industries. Whether it will retain this position 



