2G8 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1916. 



Review of the Crude Rubber Market. 



NEW YORK. 



December 30, 1915. 



DECEMBER, 1915, will be remembered in the trade for the 

 remarkable advances in prices it witnessed, gains of 25 

 cents per pound for First latex and 20 cents for Upriver 

 fine being recorded, with the market still strong, and with an 

 upward tendency at the end of the month. The forecast of $1 

 riiMnr is already realized, and the present tone of the market in- 

 dicatL^ that $1.10 may be reached before long— the highest price 

 quiittd since January 1. 1913. 



The grounds on which this forecast was based are qualified 

 to affect a market as sensitive as that for crude rubber, and in 

 reality are those on which the forward movement that started 

 early last November was founded. When it is considered that it 

 has resulted thus far in the phenomenal gain of 38 cents per 

 pound in plantation rubber, which was aided by recent rumors of 

 interference with plantation shipments, threats of labor troubles 

 in the Far East, menaces to rubber carriers and fear of an ulti- 

 mate shortage of plantation rubber, the appearance of a prophet 

 who could truly elucidate the peculiar possibilities of this market 

 would be welcome. 



First latex spot was quoted on December 1 at 75 cents, January 

 to March deliveries at 7i cents and January to June deliveries at 

 71 cents. Upriver fine spot was firm and prices were moving 

 steadily upward when the cables brought the news of the sinking 

 of the steamship "Langton Hall" in the Mediterranean with SCO 

 tons of rubber. This sufficed to demoralize the inarket, and new 

 levels were established with First latex spot selling at 84 cents, 

 January to June 77 cents and Upriver fine 69 cents. 



Encouraged by heavy buying in London the upward movement 

 continued as the month progressed, higher prices being quoted 

 daily, even advances in Singapore freights affecting the market 

 to the extent of a gain of at least a cent. Finally came, as a 

 factor in the elevation of prices, the news of the closing of the 

 Suez Canal to rubber shipments in the form of an announcement 

 that two steamships carrying rubber — the "Bolton Castle" and 

 the "Inverclyde" — had been routed via the Cape of Good Hope. 



The local December market was characterized as a creation of 

 the dealers, with a few of the smaller rubber mills in evidence, 

 large buyers appearing to be satisfied with making inquiries. Dur- 

 ing the last week of the year, uncertainty prevailed in Beaver 

 street, a strong market serving to steady the rapidly advancing 

 prices. First latex spot was quoted on December 30 at $1. 

 Upriver fine was strong at 88 cents. 



LONDON. 



The market has displayed a firm and steady tone throughout 

 the month. Such changes as have occurred, and they have mainly 

 been in an upward direction, have been due to extraneous causes, 

 such as advances in freight rates, uncertainty of arrivals, difficulty 

 in handling consignments on arrival, etc. 



The demand is on a broader scale and a fair business has been 

 transacted, with prices steady, the demand from home manufac- 

 turers being the main support of the market, .-\lthough shipments 

 from producing centers show no falling off, for the reasons above 

 stated, arrivals have been falling below the requirements for 

 delivery which has promoted buying on the part of consumers of 

 early stocks. The reported activity of enemy submarines in the 

 Mediterranean has had the same effect. 



The demand from the United States has been good and it is 

 noted that in many cases buyers were at one time willing to 

 enter into forward contracts at a slight advance on present 

 figures, but prices eased off a little and there was less inclination 

 to make advance arrangements. 



SINGAPORE. 

 News from this important rubber market is scant and condi- 

 tions are best indicated by the course of events at the weekly 

 auctions. Our last report describes fine pale crepe in exceptional 

 demand and selling up to 57 cents. Highest price was 54, paid 

 for fine ribbed smoked. Unsmoked sheet was also in demand, 

 ribbed and plain, at 54 and 54J4, a slight increase on previous 

 quotations. The lower grades moved off freely and although 

 bidding at the outset was slow, nearly all the offerings were 

 disposed of. 



New York Quotations. 



F'oUowing are the quotations at New York one year ago, one 

 month ago, and Decemlier 30, the current date : 



Upriver, fine 

 Upriver, fin 

 Islands, fine 

 Islands, fine 

 Upriver, COE 

 Upriver, coa 

 Islands, coa 



15. Dec. 30, '15. 

 87 @ 88 



@40 



@61 



@58 



Plant.^tion Hevea. 



Smoked sheet ribbed 91 @93 



Fir=f lat^^ <-,-»no ' 'J'"^'" ''X \ Sfi (SR? 



33 @ 



35"'@' 

 58 @ 



72 



73 



45 @ 46 



49"@"50 

 75 @ 

 73 @ 



75 @ 99 @1.0« 



75 (s 99 @1.00 



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

 in crude rubber and commercial paper. No. 68 William street. 

 New York), advises as follows: "During December the money 

 market has continued easy, and the demand for commercial 

 paper good, as for several months past, the best rubber names 

 going freely at Al^AVz per cent, and those not so well known at 

 434@S?2 per cent, according to grade." 



New York Prices for November (New Rubber). 



Upriver, fine 

 Upriver, coar 

 Islands, fine 

 Islands, coars 



