THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



The Rubber Trade In Japan. 



By a Special Correspondent. 



•'II EJ i^il t.i IM 4; .1. V ■( 



jfr jg $J A ri >i': 'L 



THE great impetus given to the Japanese rubber industry by 

 the war is reflected in the rapidly increasing crude rubber 

 imports. As shown by the accompanying official statis- 

 tics, the 1918 imports represent an increase of 7,965,517 pounds, 

 value $1,909,006, over the 1917 imports; 9,729,520 pounds, value 

 $2,761,114, over the 1916 imports and 12,457,352 pounds, value 

 $4,758,321, over the 1915 imports. The rates of increase for the 

 several years were, in quantity, 95 per cent, in 1918, 132 per 

 cent, in 1917, and 302 per cent, in 1916; in value, 42 per cent, 

 in 1918, 76 per cent, in 1917, and 236 per cent, in 1916. 



These imports do not 

 indicate the actual de- 

 mand of the rubber in- 

 dustry, however. Con- 

 trary to the previous 

 custom of buying crude 

 rubber in the various 

 eastern markets as 

 needed, Japanese 

 firms have taken advan- 

 tage of the low ruling 

 prices and accumulated 

 considerable stocks in 

 anticipation of a rise 

 under improved peace- 

 time conditions. Japan 

 now has her own crude 

 rubber quotations, and 

 at times prices have been 

 more favorable than 

 those ruling at Singa- 

 pore for the same grades. 

 Japan's rubber commerce 



In addition to the above imports of rubber goods for 1917 

 and 1918, automobiles and parts, including tires, were imported 

 to the value of $3,830,906 in 1918 against $1,984,457 in 1917. 



In 1912, rubber goods imports reached their highest mark, 

 but with the growth of the Japanese manufacturing industry, 

 and on account of shipping difficulties, these imports have de- 

 creased. A customs tariff of 20'to 40 per cent, ad valorem will 

 not tend to increase the volume of these imports under peace 

 conditions. 



Excellent automobile and motorcycle tires are now made by the 



Japanese in Japan and 



bicycle tires also. In 1918, 

 automobiles were i m- 

 ported largely in the 

 form of parts and as- 

 sembled in Japan. They 

 will be in large demand 

 in the near future, hav- 

 ing been recognized as a 

 necessity rather than a 

 luxury, as they were 

 formerly regarded i n 



■•^^ 



<* .^ 



M-XKUBOSHi Rubber Woi 



has grown remarkabh 

 IMPORTS OF CRUDE RUBBER. 



Pourids. 



From British Indi? 

 Suaits Settlements 

 Dutch East Indies. 



Great Britain 



United States 



Other countries .. 



1,616,131 

 6,185,569 

 78,209 

 347,326 

 123,301 

 43,849 



8,394,385 



$988,285 

 3,142,527 

 44.500 

 266,845 

 101,211 

 21.745 



$4,565,113 



526,168 

 15.248.181 

 274,716 

 148,652 

 94,465 

 68.720 



16,360,902 



Value. 

 $234,207 

 5.938.066 

 73,775 

 126,281 

 81,160 

 20.630 



$6,474,119 



e.xpanded 



The Japanese rubber manufacturing industry has 

 in recent years that exports of rubber goods now greatly exceed 

 imports. Insulated wire, tires, toys, and balloons are the lines 

 which have been developed chiefly, so that the imports of rubber 

 manufactures shown by the accompanying statistics consist 

 chiefly of other goods not yet produced in Japan at all, or not 

 in sufficient quantity to meet home demands. 



IMPORTS OF RUBBER MANUFACTURES. 



10,005 



58.717 



231,029 



8,669 



198.842 

 6.764 

 79,798 

 11,923 



There were also ex- 

 ported 2,651 jinrikishas 

 !S71.133) in 1918, against 

 'S?4 ($144,752) in 1917; 

 ..Uo 7,408 bicycles and 

 parts (exclusive of rub- 

 ber tires) to the value of 

 $2,161,334 in 1918, against 

 5,352 valued at $1,219,409 

 in 1917. Jinrikishas for China, Hongkong, Straits Settlements 

 and British India show a gradual decrease figure, as they were 

 exported as parts, not as completed vehicles, in order to avoid 

 payment of import duties and to reduce the cargo charges. The 

 increased use of automobiles is also affecting the sale of 

 jinrikishas. 



EXPORTS OF RUBBER GOODS. 



, 1917 -^ , 1918 V 



Pounds. Value. Pounds. Value. 



601,544 $1,559,456 12,742,382 $4,162,167 



901,633 2,021,815 3,261,324 2,253,469 



Totals $4,002,596 $7,411,506 



Owing to the shipping difficulties of Japanese rubber goods 

 exports have increased year by year until the Japanese rubber 

 manufacturing industry has become large enough to supply 

 the lack of European and American goods in China, Manchuria, 

 Malaya, British India, Oceania and Australia. 



There is a difference of opinion as to the effect of peace on 

 this foreign trade. Some believe that with better shipping con- 

 ditions, European and American goods will be pushed into 

 these Far East markets to the detriment of Japanese business ; 

 others, that the proximity of these markets to Japan and the 

 lower wage scale in Japan place her in an advantageous posi- 

 tion to continue and develop this business. The prohibition 

 of imports of Japanese rubber toys by both the United States 

 and Great Britain, which became effective in April of this year, 

 has been a hard blow to Japanese rubber manufacturers, many 

 of whom specialized in balls, dolls and balloons. 

 NEW ASSOCIATIONS. 

 Several new trade associations have been formed that are 

 identified with the rubber industry in various ways. Some 

 three hundred makers of toys of rubber, wood, cotton, cloth, 

 paper, celluloid and metal in Tokio -have organized the Tokio 



