RUBBER PRODUCTON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1944, Page 3

RUBBER PRODUCTON

UNITED NEEDS TYRE POSITION CRITICAL The United States, British and .Dutch Governments have recently considered the means by which crude rubber Eupplies found in Eastern producing countries after their reoceupalion can be speedily accumulated and shipped to war factories in Britain and the United States. Practical arrangements, which include the accumulation of equipment behind the front line for rubber planters, are understood to have been concluded, and will be kept under review by the three Governments to ensure the best possible results. The United Nations' supply position of aviation petrol and synthetic rubber has reached a.new stage. Their production Is no longer hampered by competition for the same basic materials. United States production has for some time filled the domestic demand for synthetic rubber and is this year supplying 86,000 tons to Britain, as well as a substantial quantity of finished tyres. The larger production of 100 octane aviation petrol allows for the accumulation of working stocks. The importance of these improvements cannot be over-estimated, but, nevertheless, the natural rubber supply position has become more critical. Despite progress in the manufacturing practice of synthetic rubber and the reduction in the quantity of natural rubber needed for admixture, the present average ratio between crude and synthetic rubber consumption is still about .one to four. The amount of crude rubber needed in the' United States in 1944 was at least 200.000 tons. This meant that crude rubber stocks, which early in the year were down to a bare working minimum, were considerably reduced. The tyre supply position will therefore remain critical until the opening of at least part of the rich Far Eastern sources of natural rubber.