308 
Turning again to imports and exports of rubber the returns 
show that in 1909 the imports into the Straits Settlements amounted 
to 23,948 pikuls = 3,193,067 lbs., and the exports 33.807 pikuls = 
4,507600 lbs., the exports exceeding the imports by nearly 10,000 
pikuls. Perak exported 6,121 pikuls inclusive of rail traffic, Selangor 
8,223 pikuls, Johore 2,030 pikuls, Negri Sembilan 6,464 pikuls, 
Pahang 4 pikuls, Acheen 2 pikuls and Sumatra East Coast 1,102 
pikuls. 
The following statement which gives the quantity and value of 
para rubber exported from Selangor to various countries excluding 
Singapore and Penang during 1909, shows what quantity of tran- ‘ 
shipment trade in rubber was lost to the Colony during 1909, owing 
to Port Swettenham being made a port of call for ocean-going 
steamers : — 
Countries to which 
exported. 
Quantity 
Pikuls . 
Lbs. 
Value 
$ 
United Kingdom 
British Possessions 
Other Foreign Countries . 
21,5981-1? 
.. 3,205 A 
.. 5.1654 
2,879,853 
427,413 
688,700 
6,853,059 
1,028,439 
1,655,623 
Total 
. 29,969 Ya 
3,995,966 
9,537,121 
Prices. 
Since 1902 the prices of rubber have maintained an upward 
tendency from 3 /- in that year to 5/8 in 1905. The highest price of 
para rubber in 1906 was 6/3 and that for 1907 was 5 / 9 * Ti February, 
IQ08, the price of para sank to 2/9 per lb. which was the result of 
the American financial crisis, but in November, 1908, it rose to 5 / 6 'M 
owing to a strong European demand and a revival of American, 
orders and it further advanced to as high a rate as 9 / 7 3 4 in October, 
1909. In November, 1909, the price dropped by about 2 - per lb. 
owing to large supplies from South American Ports, but towards the 
close of December the market has been more active with a strong 
recovery of prices. 
Rubber Companies. 
As a result of the rubber boom a large number of rubber 
companies sprang into existence in the Straits Settlements and 
Malay Peninsula. Rubber cultivation in the Colony and the Malay 
Peninsula advanced by leaps and bounds, and the payment of high 
dividends is an indicative of the fact that besides being an important 
field of investment at the present time, the industry bids fair to make 
. steady progress in the near future. There is every reason to believe 
s'' that for many years to come rubber will continue to swell out 
trade returns. 
