PRODUCTION OF RUBBER 



9 



Rubber Production in Asia. — The amount of wild 

 rubber collected in Asia is comparatively small, and it is 

 the large increase in the production of plantation rubber 

 "which has made this continent of importance as a source 

 of supply. 



The following statement gives the exports of planta- 

 tion rubber from Ceylon and Malaya since 1903 : 



1903 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 

 1907 

 1908 

 1909 

 1910 

 1911 

 1912 



These figures show the remarkable development which 

 has taken place in the rubber-planting industry in 

 Ceylon and Malaya during recent years. The total pro- 

 duction of plantation rubber in these countries rose from 

 about 200 tons in 1905 to no less than 25,653 tons (equal 

 to more than one-fourth of the world's supply) in 1912, 

 and the output will increase considerably in the immediate 

 future. In addition, large quantities of rubber will be 

 obtained from the plantations which have been established 

 in India, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. 



Rubber Produced in the British Empire. — The con- 

 tribution of the British Empire to the world's supply of 

 rubber is shown in the table on page 10, which gives the 

 production in the various Colonies and Protectorates 

 and in the dependent and protected States and Territories 

 during the six years 1906 to 1911. 



It will be seen from these figures that, owing to the 

 development of the rubber plantations in Ceylon and 

 Malaya, the contribution of the British Empire to the 

 world's supply of rubber has increased from 4,687 tons 

 in 1906 (less than one-thirteenth of the total) to 16,362 

 tons in 1911 (nearly one-fifth of the total). The returns 

 for 1912 will show another large increase. 



