Feb. 1907.] 



Saps and Exudations. 



ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE INDIA RUBBER MARKET 1906. 



By S. Figgis & Co. 



PLANTATION RUBBER GROWN IN CEYLON AND BRITISH MALAYA. 



The rapid increase of supply has been beyond expectation— probably 160 

 tons Ceylon and 350 tons Malay, against in 1905—70 tons Ceylon and 75 tons Malay. 

 The preparation and quality, as a whole, has been excellent and suitable to manu- 

 facturers, who have paid high prices for fine lots of nice colour and transparency 

 when clean and resilient. Planters have also done wisely in making the greater 

 part of the scrap into washed pressed crepe, resulting in higher average prices 

 than was realized for the scrap. The fine pale crepe is much liked. From Ceylon 

 the greater part has still been in " biscuit " form, but we had a little sheet. From 

 the Straits (Malaya) the greater part has been in sheet, rolled and clean, but 

 some rather dark and mouldy of dull colour, probably from having been packed 

 damp ; we had some nice lots of crepe. 



If it is decided to ship much in the form of pressed block or slab, we suggest 

 blocks of not exceeding 3 inch thickness, and about a foot long, and expect the 

 manufacturers will prefer the block not to exceed 10 pounds, and the cases in 

 which it is packed of about 1 cwt, each. " Worm " rubber has only come in very 

 small quantities, and is liked when clear and bright. 



The exhibition held in Ceylon in September was most interesting and useful, 

 and plantation rubber of all descriptions was nicely shewn. We contributed a 

 case of specimens of most varieties of rubber, and presented it to the Government 

 of Ceylon for their Museum. No doubt planters learnt much from it, but we do 

 not believe that we can indicate from Europe much improvement in the mode 

 of preparation or cultivation of rubber, beyond the general advice we have 

 repeatedly given to :— 



Pack it in good dry condition (excess of resin much objected to.) 



Into strong cases of 1 cwt, to 2 cwt. each. No paper, Fuller's earth, etc. 

 to be used. 



Keeping different qualities and colours separate, and not to mix immature 

 rubber with older ; to pick out and send separately dirty barky pieces* 



To smoke the rubber when convenient, because "smoking" appears to 

 increase its resiliency, but keep it as clear and yellow as possible. 



Our London charges are very small. Brokerage £ per cent. All samples 

 are paid for, and the only deduction is— Discount 2\ per cent. Draft (on all rubber) 

 i per cent. Planters get these back in the higher prices obtained. 



As we anticipated in our last annual issue, the extra price of plantation 

 fine compared with Para fine has diminished with the larger supply of plantation, 

 and may be expected to more nearly approach the fine Para price when supplies of 

 former get much larger. So far, plantation has not gone into consumption for the 

 larger uses of rubber, manufacturers having refused to pay a premium for it except 

 for special purposes, mainly solution ; no doubt when supply increases, manu- 

 facturers will use it for their larger trades. Rambong has been in small supply 

 and sold well. Castilloa and Ceara in only small quantities, sold well ; some fine 

 realised high prices. 



Last January fine sheet and biscuit plantation realised 6s Id to 6s lfd, crepe 

 dark to good 5s l\d to 6s lfd, scrap 4s lid to 5s 4d, scrap dark and dirty 3s 4|d to 

 3s 6d. In March 6s 3d to 6s 3|d Avas paid for fine, and 5s 5d clean scrap. In June, 

 fine sheet and biscuit declined to 5s 9d to 5s 9|d, pressed block scrap 3s 6d to 4s ; 

 and subsequently values fell to our closing sales of fine at 5s 5d to 5s 7£d, but the 

 washed crepe much higher, good pale 5s 6d to 5s 8d, brown and dark 4s 9d. Prices 

 fluctuated this year with Amazon (Para) rubber. 



