180 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



from Mexico, largely used in America and Con- 

 tinent. Probably 3,500 tons. 



From Brazil, Amazonas, Bolivian Peruvian 

 and (Wild) Medium Rubber. 



The great variations iri value recorded in cur 

 last Annual (1903; are " not in it," compared to 

 the extraordinary rise to 9s 2d (curiously a re- 

 verse of figures, 2s 9d, was the lowest price in 

 1908) for tine Hard on the 30th September and 

 the many rapid ups and downs in prices. Many 

 transactions at the highest wore simply 'Bears' 

 driven into a corner and compelled to buy, 

 and sales at the same moment at Is or Is 6d per 

 lb. less were made for forward deliveries. It is 

 impossible to recapitulate the vagaries of price 

 and we may not soon again see such violent 

 fluctuations. Compared with last January to- 

 day's prices shew an advance on Fine of 2s 5d, 

 Negrohead 9d to lOd, on Ball Caucho only 6d. 

 Soft tine has shewn a far greater difference in 

 value to Hard than ever before. Last January 

 we had sales of Fine Hard at 5s 2d and forward 

 at 5s 0£d, Soft at 4s lOJd, Negrohead, scrappy at 

 3s 8|d,"Cameta 2s 8d, Island 2s 6d, Ball 3s 6£d. 

 A fair trade continued at about these values with 

 an upward tendency and in June 6s 3d was paid 

 for Hard, 4s Id for Ball. We had a rapid rise in 

 July — at the close 8s 3^d for Hard but 6d less in 

 August, and forward sales were then made at 6s 

 to 6s 6d, and Ball up to 4s 6d. September and 

 October were months of great activity and ex- 

 citement, mainly by America buying largely and 

 Bears being caught. Hard was sold at the 

 highest price for 1909, at 9s 2d, Ball up to 5s Id. 

 We had a quick fall in November with larger 

 receipts, but some recovery towards end of De- 

 cember with smaller receipts and close steady. 

 Fine Hard 7s. 7d, forward Id to l£d less, Soft 

 7s. OJd, Negrohead Scrappy 4s. 7Jd, Cameta 3s. 

 4d, Island 3s. Id, Caucho Ball 4s. l.kl. The im- 

 ports of medium Rubbers have not been exces- 

 sive, their value did not increase seriously. 



Trade has been good in England and France, 

 middling in Germany and Russia, but unprece- 

 dentedly large in America. 



The world's supply of about 69,000 tons has 

 been mostly consumed. In 1908 we had 65,000 

 tons, and 1907, 69,000 tons, 1906, 65,000 tons. 



"Slab" Rubber was scarce and sold well, 

 "Ball" plentiful (and of good quality) and very 

 ready sale. "Tails" improved and sold better. 

 West Coast African increased, 



W.C.A.— 15,500 tons against 14,000 tons in 

 1908, 17,000 tons in 1907, and 17,200 tons in 1906. 



Visible Supply, 1st January, 1910. 



1910 1909 1908 190V 1906 1905 



tons. tons. tons. tons. tons. dons. 



Of Para and Peruvian 3,278 3,188 3,722 v,162 2,874 2,666 



Including America 1,250 1.305 1,210 1,160 1,600 1,830 

 1909 Brazil and Bolivia 



(from the Amazonas) 39,050 38,160 37,520 34,520 34,420 

 Including Peruvian and 

 Caucho via Iquitos 



and Manaos 8,250 7,460 7,160 6,250 6,100 



We had very little Slab, but increased supplies 

 of Ball of nice quality. Putumayo Tails im- 

 proved in quality, consequently sold more readily. 



This year's crop was very good quality. All 

 fine should be cut and carefully selected before ship- 

 ment. Caucho Ball increased and was of useful 



quality. Bolivia increased. Mollendo mode- 

 rate. Venezuela via Orinoco more. Ceara and 

 Manigoba great increase. Pernambuco and 

 Assare small supply. Mattogrosso crop was 

 fair but quality not very good. Mangabeira, 

 from Santos and Bahia, less supply. 



Central America. — Supply moderate. Mex- 

 ico increased supply. Colombia small lots, 

 and part poor undesirable quality. Ecuador 

 was fair quality, also Nicaragua. We had a 

 few lots of Plantation from these countries, and 

 estimate 120,000 acres planted there. 



1909. 1908. 1907. 1906. 1905. 



West Coast African tons. tons. tons. tons. tons. 



(total about) 15,51)0 14,t_00 17,100 17,200 17,500 

 including Benguela 



and Mossarnedes 1,920 1,690 1,700 1,450 1,650 



Loanda 950 700 900 700 800 



Congo & French Congo 6,30 5,900 6,000 5,900 5,550 



Qualities have somewhat improved, and prices 

 were better for Niger, Gold Coast, Accra and La- 

 gos. Good qualities from the Cameroons, Sierra 

 Leone, Gaboon and Conakry sold at high prices. 



The French Congo & Soudan, mostly from 

 Senegal via Bordeaux, sold well. 



About 1,850 tous, against 1,050 tons 1908, 1,200 

 tons 1907, 1,300 tons 1906, 1,250 tons 1905. 



Liverpool imports W &C African 2.900 tons, 

 against 2,580 tons 1908, 3,740 tons 1907, 4770 

 tons 1906. 



Antwerp imports, mostly Congo, 5,300 tons, 

 against 4,900 tons 1908, 5,0"0 tons 1907. 



East Coast African. — Zanzibar, &c, more; 

 prices show and advance for the year of about 

 9d per lb. ; quality has been fair. Nyassaland 

 very little. ivJombassa and Lamu fair. Uganda 

 larger ; some nice clean Plantation. Abyssinian 

 in larger supply and quality fair. 



Madagascar — Still small supply ; prices close 

 showing a rise of 9d to Is. Niggers— Some lots 

 nice clean 6old well. Rangoon small. Assam 

 small and high. Penang greatly increased and 

 sold readily. Supply of Java was small, but 

 planting is going on freely, and we may expect 

 increased supplies. Borneo more and sold well. 

 Tonkin and French Cochin China fair but sold 

 well. New Guinea sent us none. Pontianak 

 has been abundant and fairly high. 



Balata in fair •-upply, and higher ; Sheet 2s 

 3d up to 2s 8d, Block Is 7£d up to 2s 2£d, closing 

 at 2s 8d and 2s 2d. Gutta Percha of slow sale 

 till the close of the year, when demand in- 

 creased. — S. Figgis & Co., India Rubber and 

 Colonial Brokers. 



India Rubber Statistics for 1909. 



Total Imports, &c, of all sorts were : — 



Stock 31st Dec. 

 1848 toQB 

 1510 „ 

 3268 „ 

 1669 , 

 1562 „ 



604 tons 

 378 ,, 

 1003 „ 

 691 „ 

 531 „ 







England. 





Imports. 



Deliveries. 



1909 



24563 



24225 



1908 



21611 



23369 



1907 



22964 



21317 



1906 



21269 



21162 



1905 



21700 



21410 







London. 





Imports. 



Deli veries 



1909 



5433 



5207 



1908 



2983 



3608 



1907 



3509 



3149 



1906 



2604 



2444 



1905 



2126 



2003 



