308 



Turning again to imports and exports of rubber the returns 

 show that in 1909 the imports into the Straits Settlements amounted 

 to 23,948 pikuls = 3,193,067 lbs., and the exports 33,807 pikuls = 

 4,507600 lbs., the exports exceeding the imports by nearly 10,000 

 pikuls. Perak exported 6,121 pikuls inclusive of rail traffic, Selangor 

 8,223 pikuls, Johore 2,030 pikuls, Negri Sembilan 6,464 pikuls, 

 Pahang 4 pikuls, Acheen 2 pikuls and Sumatra East Coast 1, 102 

 pikuls. 



The following statement which gives the quantity and value of 

 para rubber exported from Selangor to various countries excluding 

 Singapore and Penang during 1909, shows what quantity of tran- 

 shipment trade in rubber was lost to the Colony during 1909, owing 

 to Port Swettenham being made a port of call for ocean-going 

 steamers : — 



Countries to which Quantity t , Valu^ 

 exported. Pikuls. $ 



United Kingdom ... 2i,598fo 2,879,853 6,853,059 



British Possessions ... 3,205 427,413 1,028,439 



Other Foreign Countries ... 5,i65i 688,700 1,655,623 



Total ... 29,969^ 3»995,966 9.537,121 



Prices. 



Since 1902 the prices of rubber have maintained an upward 

 tendency from 3/- in that year to 5/8 in 1905. The highest price of 

 para rubber in 1906 was 6/3 and that for 1907 was 5/9. In February, 



1908, the price of para sank to 2/9 per lb. which was the result of 

 the American financial crisis, but in November, 1908, it rose to 5/6M 

 owing to a strong European demand and a revival of American 

 orders and it further advanced to as high a rate as 9/7^ in October, 



1909. In November, 1909, the price dropped by about 2/- per lb. 

 owing to large supplies from South American Ports, but towards the 

 close of December the market has been more active with a strong 

 recovery of prices. 



Rubber Companies. 



As a result of the rubber boom a large number of rubber 

 companies sprang into existence in the Straits Settlements and 

 Malay Peninsula. Rubber cultivation in the Colony and the Malay 

 Peninsula advanced by leaps and bounds, and the payment of high 

 dividends is an indicative of the fact that besides being an important 

 field of investment at the present time, the industry bids fair to make 

 steady progress in the near future. There is every reason to believe 

 that for many years to come rubber will continue to swell our 

 trade returns. 



