682 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[August 1, 1917. 



Review of the Crude Rubber Market. 



Copyright 1917. 



NEW YORK. 



THE crude ruliber market ha.* been dull in a general way 

 throughout the entire month ; however, in some quarters 

 a fairly active business was reported. This fairly reflects 

 the condition of the rubber mills, many of which are running 

 night and day on war orders, while others have slowed down 

 for repairs and inventories usual at this time. As a whole, the 

 rubber industry is unusually Inisy, witli government business as 

 the prime mover. 



The interest of manufacturers was almost entirely confined 

 to inquiries for the various positions in 1918 and the actual 

 volume of business transacted in futures was undoubtedly small. 

 The fact is, producers are not at all anxious to quote or sell fu- 

 tures, due to the difficulties that encompass shipping and the un- 

 certainties of ocean freight rates. There are, moreover, other rea- 

 sons ; for instance, producers are confronted with war taxes that 

 will be increased and to what extent no one knows, as the war 

 pressure grows heavier. Overhead costs, price of exchange, 

 packing and handling charges may also be augmented through 

 unforeseen circumstances and the burden will fall on the pro- 

 ducer who would be forced to fill his "future" contracts at a 

 loss. 



Prices for spot plantation grades were steady and small price 

 changes recorded during the early part of the month, when 

 later, following the upward swing in London, the local market 

 became firmer and prices advanced. 



On July 5 First latex crepe and Smoked sheet ribbed was 67 

 cents for spot and nearby. October-December, 66 cents; Janu- 

 ary-June, 6514 cents, and January-December, 65 cents. Brazilian 

 sorts were devoid of interest, Upriver fine being quoted 69 cents. 

 The tendency of the market was downward as the month pro- 

 gressed and with minor fluctuations obeying dominant Lon- 

 don, prices were practically unchanged as the last week of July 

 was brought to a close. On July 28, First latex crepe spot was 

 quoted dJVz cents. Smoked sheets ribbed, 67 cents, while futures 

 for both grades for all positions, including next year, were 67 

 cents. Brazilian sorts were dull with Upriver fine at 68;^ cents. 



LONDON. 



A fair demand and sufficient supplies were the reasons for the 

 firm conditions that have ruled the London market during the 

 past month. The consuming interests have been content with 

 supplying their immediate requirements from available stocks 

 at ruling spot prices but have not been attracted to any great 

 extent by the present future ofTerings. The consumers are wait- 

 ing for lower prices, supported by the promise of a heavy crop 

 next year, while the producers, faced with uncertainties attend- 

 ing production costs, are unwilling to sell too far ahead. 



Standard crepe spot was selling on July S at 30d. and Smoked 

 sheets at 2934^. August-September was quoted TAd. and Octo- 

 ber-December 32rf. Fine hard Para spot was quiet at 36rf. 

 The market continued steady, with firm prices and minor 

 changes in value, until the end of the month. On July 28, 

 Standard crepe was quoted y^Y^d. and Smoked sheet 30>i(f. 



London and Liverpool imports for May were 6,700 tons com- 

 pared w^ith 10,000 tons for April. Reexports for May were 

 6,093 tons against 8,200 tons for April. 



SINGAPORE. 



There has been little demand during the month of July in 

 the Singapore market and price values have steadily shown a 

 downward tendency. At the auctions held June 29, July 7, 13 

 and 20, the average prices realized w^ere as follows : First 



latex crepe, 56.09 cents, compared to 59.7 cents a month ago. 

 Smoked sheets ribbed, 55.14 cents, compared to 60.19 cents last 

 month. The total amount sold was 1,628 tons, compared to 

 1,549 tons sold a month ago. 



NEW YORK SPOT QUOTATIONS. 



August 1, July 1, 



rL.\NTATioN Paras — 1916. 1917. 



First-latex crepe 1 ^^ , / ^ ,e,>^ 



•Hevea first crepe J "iej-J© 65}i@ 



Amber crepe No. 1, pale gristly 



blanket 56 @ 63 @ 



Amber crepe No. 2 (a 62 @ 



Amber crepe No. 3 @ 61 @ 



Amber crepe No. 4 @ 60 @ 



Brown crepe, thick clean 54 @ 60 @ 



Brown crepe, thin clean @ 60 @ 



Brown crepe, thin sjjecky @ 58 @ 



Brown crepe, rolled @ 53 @ 



Smoked sheet, ribbed standard 1 



quality f 57}4@ 65>^@ 



'Hevea ribbed smoked sheets. . . J 

 Smoked sheet, plain standard "1 



quality [ ^ en r-. 



•Hevea plain or smooth smoked | <» 64 @ 



sheets j 



Unsmoked sheet, standard quality i , , ^ 



'Hevea unsmoked sheets J ^ o- (s 



Colombo scrap, .No. 1 @ 49 @ 



Colombo scrap. No. I @ 45 @ 



Brazilian Paras — 



Upriver fine b6'/,(sv 69 @ 



Upriver medium ^ 63 (ffi 



Upriver coarse . 40>i(si 49 @ 



Upriver weatc nne (o> 60 ^ 



Upriver caucho oall 41 (a) 44 @ 



Islands fine 59 (s 66 @ 



islands medium (ai 58 @ 



Islands coarse 28H @ 34 @ 



Islands weak fine Cff 55 ($ 



Cameta 32 @ 34 @ 



Lower caucho ball 36 (a 41 @ 



Pel uvian fine CS' 67 (3? 



Tapajos hiie (a' 67 J^ @ 



Tapajos caucho ball @ 40 @ 



Africans — 



Accra flake 33 @ 31 @ 



Niger flake @ 31 @ 



Benguela, extra seconds, 28%... (gj 41 @ 



Benguela. No. 2, 32'^2% 35<A(S 38 @ 



Congo prime, black upper (ff 58 @ 



Congo prime, red upper (Vj 54 @ 



Rio Nunez ball (<£ 65 @ 



Rio Nunez sheets and strings.... @ 64 @ 



Conakry niggers 53 @ 64 @ 



Massai sheets and strings @ 64 @ 



Centrals — 



Central scrap 34 ^ 45 @ 



Central scrap and stiip 38 (a^ 44 @ 



Central wet sheet 30 (a . 33 @ 



Corinto 41 @ 44 @45 



Esmeralda sausage 40 (oj 46 @ 



Guayule 35 ^ 35 @ 



Manicobas — 



Ceara negro heads ,@ 42 @ 



Ceara scrap @ 32 @ 



Manicoba special 42 ^(i' 37 '/i@ 



Manicoba extra (5' 35 @ 



Manicoba regular @ 33 @ 



Mangabeira thin sheet AO (tv 40 @ 



Mangabeira thick sheet (a 37y2@ 



Balata — 



Balata block 41 @ 67 @ 



Surinam sheet 72J4@ 78 @ 



East Indian — 



Assam crepe @ 64 @ 



Assam onions ('i 59 @ 



Penang block scrap @ 42 @ 



Pontianak pressed 15 @ 18 @ 



Bandjermassin 8 @ 11 @ 



Gutta Siak 18 @19 19 @ 



Uutta percha, red Macassar 2.50@ 2.20@ 



* Rubber .Association of America nomenclature. 



July 28, 

 1917. 



67 @ 



65 @ 



64 @ 



63 @ 



62 @ 



62 @ 



61 @ 



59 @ 



48 @ 



67 @ 



