Gums, Resins, 



18 



The Rubber Market; 



PLANTATION GROWN RUBBER IN 1905. 



FROM CEYLON, THE STRAITS AND MALAY STATES. 



The past year has been a good one for this article. Imports are steadily- 

 increasing, and the manufacturers and trade in general are taking more interest, 

 and the prospects for the future are bright. 



During 1905, about 45 tons were sold on this market consisting of about 

 1,100 packages from Ceylon and 1,000 from the Malay Peninsula. At present the 

 weights of packages vary from a few pounds to as much as 4| cwt. (The latter 

 weight is too heavy— one or two hundredweights being quite enough). Taking 

 the quality all round it has been excellent, especially of the sheets— one or two 

 small lots of the biscuit Rubber have been damp and mouldy, and some lots heated 

 and run together. The scrap has been very mixed, parcels coming pale and dark 

 together, barky and sandy and often heated. Several lots also have had a perished 

 look probably through over drying. It is a mistake to pack Rubber in paper. 

 Several lots of biscuits have been quite spoilt by doing this, and sold at several 

 pence per lb. less than the ordinary loose. A little Fuller's earth can be used. 



Biscuits. — The Rubber in this form has been rather more mixed, both in 

 colour and quality, than last year, and a much larger proportion has arrived 

 a little damp and mouldy, and in some cases badly stuck and run together. Clear 

 pale and amber biscuits are wanted, but several lots have been mottled and patchy. 

 Prices have ranged from 5/11 a 6/9£ per lb., the top price being paid in May. Some 

 very well-prepared lots of Ceara biscuits have been sold generally at about 2d. or 

 3d. per lb. less than the Hevea, but in some instances the same prices were realised 



Sheets.— There is a tendency for shipments in this shape to be taken in 

 preference to biscuits, and we have seen some very line parcels, nearly all from 

 the Straits, clear amber colour and measuring about 2 ft. by 1 ft. Where possible 

 we recommend the Rubber to be prepared in this shape. One lot of very fine 

 thin amber sheets from Highlands Estate, Klang, fetched Id. per lb. over anything 

 else at the sale, but as a rule prices have nearly always run on a parity with 

 biscuits, viz.: — from 6/ up to 6/9|- per lb. 



About the finest lot of Rubber sold this year was a lot of specially prepared 

 sheet, which came from the Highlands Estate, Klang, with a Crepe consignment 

 in November. 



Scrap.— Most parcels offered have been good, but some of the smaller 

 lots have been very mixed, dark and pale, barky and dirty and often heated 

 and some lots perished ; fine clean pale and dark gristly free from bark, dirt and 

 other impurities sell exceedingly well, but any impurity or heat knocks pence a 

 lb. off the price. Fair to fine scrap sold at 3/10 up to 5/8 per lb. Ball scrap sold 

 fairly well at 3/6 a 4/6. 



Worm Rubber.— This way of preparation is not so attractive as biscuits 

 or sheet, and bviyers are rather apt to treat it as a form of very fine scrap, although 

 the quality is every bit as good as sheet or biscuits. Only small lots have come 

 to hand and sold at about 5/6 a 6/2 per lb. 



Crepe and Lace.— Some very fine parcels, particularly from the Highlands 

 Estate, Klang, have been sold during the year. The quality and condition has 

 been excellent. Manufacturers are still prejudiced against any Rubber that has 

 been washed or otherwise treated, as a certain amount of the natural fibre and 

 e lasticity is lost in the process, and the true quality of the rubber is much more 



