January 1, 1917.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



235 



Review of the Crude Rubber Market. 



Copyright, igi^. 



NEW YORK. 



PLANTATION rubber has been in good demand, particularly 

 during the first two weeks of December, when heavy buying 

 was indulged in by the larger manufacturing interests. Para 

 sorts and Centrals moved freely in sympathy with the buying 

 activity that was evidently itt anticipation of the approaching 

 holiday season. Prices had fluctuated considerably in the in- 

 -terim and gains were recorded in the entire list, with plantation 

 leading the list. On December 14, first latex, spot, was 78 cents, 

 an advance of S cents since the first of the month, and Upriver 

 fine, spot, was 80 cents, an advance of about one cent since De- 

 cember 1. Africans and Centrals were in good demand and 

 recorded substantial gains in prices. The last two weeks of 

 the month were comparatively quiet, with trading confined to 

 ■dealers and the usual routine business of small manufacturers. 

 Inquiries were mostly confined to futures, and very little interest 

 -was shown in spot quotations. The dullness of the market was 

 seasonable and therefore prices on all descriptions developed an 

 .easier tone during the closing week. On December 27, First latex, 

 spot, was 76 cents, and Upriver fine, spot, 79 cents. 



The S.S. "Tempaisan Maru" cleared from Seattle, Washing- 

 -ton, for Vladivostok on December 17, with 1,111 tons of Bra- 

 zilian Para rubber. This verifies to some extent the buying for 

 Russian account that was reported in these columns November 1. 



LONDON'. 

 The forward movement that featured the December market 

 -was confined to plantations, as Paras failed to advance accord- 

 ingly. The sharp advance in price was followed by heavy for- 

 ward sales that apparently checked the buying movement. It 

 was generally conceded that the submarine menace influenced 

 the rising market strongly by showing the necessity of providing 

 against possible curtailment of supplies. However, there are 

 ample supplies in sight, which would normally check the ad- 

 vancing market were it not for the imminent shortage of tonnage 

 that will promptly be reflected in the price of crude rubber. 

 London imports for November were 6,118 tons, against 3,835 tons 

 for October. Liverpool imports for November were 1,192 tons, 

 against 1,143 tons for October. The reexports for November 

 were as follows : London, 4,656 tons ; Liverpool, 951 tons. 



SIXG.^PORE. 



There was a good demand for standard- grades at the auction 

 held November 2, Pale crepe and Ribbed smoked sheet bringing 

 59 cents and 58.6 cents, respectively. Of 628 tons offered, 452 

 tons were sold. The following week 770 tons were cataloged, 

 and 454 tons sold in a strong market at advanced prices for the 

 leading grades of about 3 cents a pound. On November 17 a 

 record quantity of 948 tons were cataloged, but only 385 tons 

 were sold, resulting in easier prices. Pale crepe sold up to 62 

 cents, and Ribbed smoked sheet realized 59.5 cents. The average 

 price for Plain smoked sheet was 54.8 cents. 



The result of the auctions held December 1, 8, 15 and 21 was 

 as follows: Pale crepe averaged 65.4 cents and Smoked sheet 

 64.5 cents. The amount sold was 1,350 tons as compared with 

 1,827 tons a month ago. 



BATAVIA. 



The demand for spot rubber at the auction September 22 was 

 good and prices advanced. Many holders took advantage of this 

 and sold heavily before the auction. There were 12,835 pounds 

 offered and 11,000 pounds sold. The auction of September 29 

 brought out 24,543 pounds of which 11,802 pounds were sold at 

 .advanced prices. 



71 @ 

 50 @ 



31 (832 



32 @33 

 S0J^@51 

 47 ®49 



Smoked sheet, J .Spot. . 75 

 rilibed ( Afloat ... 



Fine sheets and biscuits, 

 unsmoked 



f Spot... 73 

 I Futures 73 



Centrals. 



Corinto -. 52 @S3 



Esmeralda, sausage 57 @55 



Nicaragua, scrap 53 @55 



Mexican plantation, sheet 



Mexican, scrap 53,'.^(a54 



Mexican, slab 



Manicoba 



Mangabeira, sheet 36 (S39 



Gu.ayulc 33 (335 



Balata, sheet 56 @58 



Ealata, block 45 @46 



African. 



Lopori, ball, prime 65 @ 



Lopori, strip, prime 



Upper Congo, ball, red 



Rio Nunez Niggers 63 @64 



Conakry Niggers 60 @61 



Massai, red 



Soudan, Niggers 



Cameroon, ball, soft.... 

 Cameroon, ball, hard... 

 Benguela, No. 2, Superior 



Benguela, No. 2 39 @40 



Accra, flake 35 @37 



East Indian. 



Assam SO @54 



Pontranak 6'ii® 7 



Gutta Siak nj^@12 



Gutta red Niger 



Borneo III 



Gutta Percha, red Macassa 1 . 85 @ 2 . 00 



47^@ 

 47 @ 

 46K@47 

 49 @50 



45 

 33 



45 

 40 

 37 

 74 

 65 



@46 



@34 



@ 



@ 



@39 



@ 



62 (363 



63 

 58 

 55 



©64 

 @60 

 @57 



Dec. 29, 1916. 

 78 @ 



NEW YORK QUOTATIONS. 



Following are the quotations at New York one year ago, one 

 month ago, and December 29, the current date : 



Para. Dec. 1, 1915. Dec. 1, 1916. 



Upriver, fine, uew 68 @ 78 @80 



Upriver, fine, old 69 @ 



Islands, fine, new 65 @ 



Islands, fine, old 



Upriver, coarse, new... 58 @ 



Upriver, coarse, old 



Islands, coarse, new.... 33 @ 



Islands, coarse, old 



Cameta 35 @ 



Caucho, ball, upper 58 @ 



Caucho, ball, lower.... 56 @ 



Plantation. 



First late-x I Spot.. 75 @ (Spot... 73 @ 



crepe (Afloat ) Futures 73 @ 



Amber crepe, light J Spot. . . 71 @ 



( Futures 71 @ 



Brown crepe, clean f Spot ... 68 @ 



) Futures 68 @ 



70 (3 

 53 @ 



34 @ 



62 

 60 

 60 



39 

 34 

 30 



8K@ 

 14 @ 



28 @ 



1.90® 



COMPABATIVE NEW YORK PRICES FOE DECEMBER. 



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: 



"The market for commercial paper has remained fairly steady through 

 December, though with a slight stiffening in rates and some falling off in 

 demand, especially from New York City banks. The best rubber names 

 have continued selling at 4@454 per cent, and those not so well known 



5@5!^ per cent." 



1916.* 



Upriver, fine $0.78<a0.81 



Upriver, coarse .47 @ .56 



Islands, fine 69@ .72 



Islands, coarse .30@ .34 



Cameta 31 @ .36 



•Figured only to December 26. 



