64 



During the year the imports of Plantation Grown Rubbers to 

 London have amounted to about 1,100 tons, against 500 tons during 

 1906 and 150 tons in 1905, of which about 250 tons came from Ceylon 

 and 750 tons from Malaya. Only comparatively small parcels have so 

 far been sent from Southern India, Burmah, Mergui, and from Java, 

 Sumatra and Borneo. We have good reports of the plantations in the 

 West Indies, Honduras, Nicaragua, and parts of Mexico, but no Para 

 has been tapped in those countries as yet and only small parcels of 

 Castilloa have come to hand. An interesting parcel but only of a few 

 cwts. of Para from Brazil, prepared on the Ceylon system, was sold 

 recently at a fraction less than Eastern lots. This was from old trees, 

 and was certainly exceptionally strong but very dark in colour. Prices 

 show a very serious decline from the high rates ruling in 1906. This 

 fall has taken place in sympathy with fine Para from Brazil, and has 

 been caused chiefly by increased supplies and the financial crisis in 

 America and the consequent temporary closing of many of the factories. 

 At the opening sale of the year Plantation Grown Para stood at 5/8, 

 and after touching 5/10 in March fell right away to 3/8 in November, 

 with one rally at 6d. per lb. in June. At the closing sale No. 1 was 

 selling at 3/10 after having touched 4/2 in the previous auction. As to 

 the future we think there is little prospect of returning to the high prices 

 ruling in 1906 and the early part of 1907, and fluctuations will be 

 governed by the price of fine Para, of which there appears to be a large 

 crop. At the present moment the stock of medium grades (i.e., other 

 rubbers than Para sorts) is enormous in all centres of the trade, and 

 until these can be worked off they will be a drag on the market. The 

 exports of rubber from Brazil during 1906 amounted to nearly 42,000 

 tons, against the previous crop of 38,000 tons. 



During the past year artificial rubber has been talked about a 

 great deal, but so far nothing tangible has been forthcoming, and we do 

 not know anyone in the rubber trade of any importance or authority 

 who believes in the likelihood of the production of a substitute for the 

 real article, or has seen a sample of it, and at the lower range of prices 

 for all kinds of Rubber and the increasing supplies the danger now 

 from this source is more remote than ever. 



Biscuits and Sheets. — These forms of preparation have met 

 with a good steady demand throughout the year. Only very small lots 

 of very fine quality have been marketed, and have realised fancy prices 

 for special purposes. The bulk of the shipments have been of dark 

 amber colour, and very even both in quality and condition. There are 

 now regular buyers particularly of sheets, and the price paid has com- 

 pared very favourably with other preparations. Machine rolled sheets 

 are liked rather better than the somewhat uneven and sometimes 

 unsightly hand rolled. 



Crepe is coming to the fore and has made great strides amongst 

 consumers in the past year. There is a regular and increasing demand 

 for very fine pale, in some cases almost white, and some exceedingly 

 high prices have been paid. The good bright pale No. 1 has been 



