104 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1914. 



JAPANESE INDUSTRY AND THE EUROPEAN WAR. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 



(^ OING back some 20 years the development of the Japanese 



^"^ rubber industry is shown by a comparison between the 

 imports of the crude article at different periods : 



Pounds. Value. Period. 



1894 36.K.O $ 12 ' 888 I China-laoan War 



1895 27,553 11,556 j Uuna Japan War 



1904 485,284 284.327 j R T w 



1905 733,836 422,975 } Kusso Japanese war. 



1912 2,004,030 1,514,557 ( 



1913 2,681,943 1,725,922 j 



A similar, though not proportional, development took place 

 during the period named in the Japanese imports of rubber manu- 

 factures : 1894, $94,593; 1895, $153,375; 1904, $796,599; 1905, 

 $1,742,221; 1912, $5,275,815; 1913, $4,043,469. 



While it may thus be seen that the previous wars in which 

 Japan was engaged were apparently of benefit to the rubber goods 

 import trade of that country, such is not likely to be the case 

 with the present hostilities. On the earlier occasions, the contests 

 were only between two countries, without serious injury to 

 steamship lines and foreign trade, while the present war affects 

 European, Asiatic and other commerce, particularly that of Ger- 

 many with those markets. The consequent disturbance of trading 

 relations has led to advances in the Japanese prices of crude 

 rubber, compounding ingredients and acccessories. 



CRUDE RUBBER. 

 On the outbreak of the war plantation biscuit rubber advanced 

 in Japan from 1 yen (50 cents) to yen 1.60 (80 cents) per pound. 

 At time of writing it had declined to yen 1.30 (65 cents). As to 

 the future course of the market the opinions of consumers are 

 divided. Some consider tha* within a few months a good deal of 

 crude rubber will be imported to Japan. Hence manufacturers 

 holding these views are not disposed to increase their stocks at 

 present prices. Others, on the contrary, see prospects of values 

 being maintained, not recognizing the likelihood of large early 

 imports. Rubber traders are selling or keeping their stocks ac- 

 cording to their opinions as to the future course of the market. 



COMPOUNDING INGREDIENTS. 



A marked advance has taken place in compounding ingredients 

 for the rubber industry. Glycerine has risen 400 per cent. ; 

 lithopone 250 per cent. Colors have likewise advanced. 80 per 

 cent, of the supply coming from Germany. Dealers are indisposed 

 to handle German colors in view of the uncertainty of receiving 

 them in case the war is protracted. Japanese manufacturers have 

 been making some ingredients, but have been advancing prices. 

 The zinc white made by the Nipon Paint Manufacturing Co., of 

 Tokio, has risen from yen 11.50 ($5.75) to yen 16.50 ($8.25) per 

 100 pounds, being made from high-priced imported zinc. Mag- 

 nesia lias likewise gone up. Some ingredients have been notably 

 -carer, such as litharge, of which the Naval Department bought 

 up many tons at the opening of the war. 



SI RAP RUBBED AND ACCESSORIES. 



Activity is no1 looked for in the Japanese scrap rubber market, 

 which has so far been dull this year. The principal imports 

 come from Shanghai, and any disturbance of steamer communi- 

 cation with that port would be reflected in the Japanese market. 



Coal, oil, cotton cloths and metals have generally advanced 

 from 10 to 50 per cent. 



POLICY OF JAPANESE MANUFACTURERS. 

 Efforts made to establish a combination of important manu- 

 facturers have proved void of result. A conference recently 

 place between seven representatives of the four largest 

 Tokio rubber manufacturers: Mitatsuchi Rubber Manufacturing 

 Co., Meiji Rubber Works, Nipon Rubber Co., Limited, 



and Toyo Rubber Co., Limited, with a view to a general 

 advance in prices. The combine was, however, not formed, in 

 view of the fear being entertained of competition from outside 

 manufacturers. It was further apprehended by the makers 

 present that by putting up prices they might lose their agents or 

 their customers. Confidence was, moreover, expressed in being 

 able to produce goods at lower prices, to meet competition. 



The Japanese authorities are urging the use of domestic made 

 goods instead of imported merchandise, thus adopting the policy 

 being carried out by England. Various patriotic associations are 

 working for the same end, particularly as to bicycle tires. 



In 1913 the total Japanese imports of rubber manufactures were 

 $4,043,469, of which Germany supplied $1,231,774 and Austria- 

 Hungary $3,525. Germany supplied crude rubber to the extent 

 of $18,000. 



It is anticipated that the result of the war will possibly be to 

 decrease Japanese imports of rubber manufactures and to increase 

 those of crude rubber. Japanese manufacturers foresee an im- 

 portant development of export trade. The last-named branch of 

 commerce already includes rubber clothing, insulated electric wire, 

 rubber balls and rubber toy balloons. 



PRIZES AT THE RECENT TOKIO "TAISHO" EXHIBITION. 



The awards at the recent Tokio Taisho exhibition included the 

 following : Honorable Great Medal — Mitatsuchi Rubber Manu- 

 facturing Co., Tokio ; Yokohama Electric Wire Works, Limited, 

 Yokohama. 



Gold Medal. — Fujikura Electric Wire Co., Limited, Tokio; 

 Meiji Rubber Works, Tokio; B. F. Goodrich Co., Akron, U. S. A. 



Silver Medal — Dunlop Rubber Co. (Far East) Limited, Kobe; 

 Toyo Rubber Co., Limited, Tokio ; Nipon Rubber Co., Limited, 

 Tokio; Fujikura Electric Wire & Rubber Co., Tokio; Kakuichi 

 Rubber Co., Osaka. 



THE RUBBER INDUSTRY IN THE FEDERATED 

 MALAY STATES. 



From tlu- Interesting Report of the Director of Agriculture. 



LAST year the Federated Malay States produced 23,719 tons 

 of plantation rubber, against 15,506 tons in 1912. This 

 is just over one-half the world's supply which has been 

 computed at 47,000 tons for 1913. The total estate production 

 of Malaya, however, is returned at 28,214 tons, an increase of 

 9,266 tons over the previous year. The largest increase out- 

 side the Federated Malay States comes from Malacca, where 

 the production was doubled during the year, and that Settle- 

 ment now follows Selangor and Perak in production. 



Selangor exported 11,883 tons, Perak 7,659, Negri Sembilan 

 3,995 and Pahang 182. 



It is stated in the report of Mr. L. Lewton-Brain, Director 

 of Agriculture, Federated Malay States, that the area newly 

 planted in 1913 was only 34,127 acres, compared with 54,105 

 acres in 1912; 107,200 acres in 1911, and 48,821 in 1910. The 

 increase is larger than might have been expected, however, in 

 view of the fall in the price of rubber, and shows that some 

 investors recognize the real soundness of the industry. 

 Selangor maintained the position of having the largest rubber 

 acreage, nearly 195,000 acres, compared with 142,000 in Perak 

 and 96,000 in Negri Sembilan. 



The rubber acreage producing in the Federated Malay States 

 is returned at 164,390 acres, an increase of about 28,000 acres 

 over the preceding year. The average yield per acre works 

 out at 275 pounds, and when it is considered that about one- 

 fifth of the whole bearing area has been taken in during the 

 past two years, it will be granted that an estimate of 400 pounds 

 per acre from rubber in full bearing is not too optimistic. 



The fall in price, although its rapidity was unfortunate, has 

 not been without its good effects on the plantation industry. 



