101 



The world's supply in 1907 was nearly 69,000 tons, as against 

 65,000 tons in 1906, and consumption nearly the same as 1906, say 

 about 66,000 tons. 



Of rubber planted we estimate in the East over 350,000 acres. 

 Ceylon, 150,000 in 1907-08 against 100,000 in 1906-07; Malaya, 

 Malacca, etc., (containing about. 14,000,000 trees, not 1,000,000 

 tapped in 1907), 100,000 in 1907-08 against 90,000 in 1906-07 ; 

 Borneo, 11,000 in 1907-08 against 8,000 in 1906-07; Dutch East 

 Indies, Java, Sumatra, etc., 70,000 in 1907-08 against 25,000 in 

 1906-07. 



Mexico, Nicaragua and Honduras have been planting and are 

 increasing — probably by now 20,000 acres planted ; also Colombia, 

 Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. • 



India is more rapidly extending, and has probably about 25,000 

 acres planted. Some in Burmah and Mergui : the Philippines (small 

 as yet), Samoa, Hawaii, and beginning in New Guinea and other 

 islands, Queensland and Seychelles. The West Coast of Africa is 

 hard at work with plantations, and more progress has been made in 

 the Congo region and German West Africa, also in British East 

 Africa, Uganda, and the West Indies, probably 2,000 acres. 



Brazil exported in 1907 about 41,500 tons against 38,000 tons in 

 1906, and Manicoba has increased, also Guayule from Mexico, which 

 has gone freely into use in America and the Continent. Prices of 

 Guayule are very much lower and quality greatly improved ; 

 probably 3,000 tons were made. 



The demand for fine Brazil, Bolivian, Peruvian and (wild) medium 

 rubber has been excellent till the last month or two, when the serious 

 crisis in America, the closing of several of her factories, very dear 

 money, several failures and increased stocks, have led to a natural 

 reaction from the too high prices of the last four years, and to a 

 rapid and very serious fall in values at the close. Mediums are 

 very abundant and most difficult to sell recently, because at the 

 relative low prices many manufacturers prefer fine Para. Most 

 descriptions show a decline of is. to is. $d. for the year. The trade 

 in England has been excellent ; France good ; Germany fair ; Russia 

 rather poor (owing to an open winter); America good till November 

 The world's supply of 69,000 tons, against 65,000 tons in 1906, has 

 not been consumed, and we begin with rather increased stocks 

 everywhere. The motor trade may decline somewhat; several of the 

 companies are not prosperous, and we must not rely on increased 

 consumption in 1908. The year's decline in price is on Para. Fine 

 about is. g\d. per lb., Negrohead is. i\d., Caucho ball is. 6d. (but 

 the latter was artificially high a year ago owing to speculation), and 

 the supply this year has greatly increased. We had less of slab, 

 much more of tails, which are not liked and sell at low prices 

 relatively. The supply of mediums is large, but West Coast African 

 has declined, viz., about 17,000 tons, against 17,200 tons in 1906 

 and 17,500 tons in 1905. 



