MALAY RUBBER SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 7

MALAY RUBBER SUPPLIES

STEADY INCREASE IN PRODUCTION ACCUMULATION OF BIG , STOCKS

LONDON, September 18. “Rubber stocks are piling up on estates throughout Malaya, aa production steadily increases, but the growers cannot find buyers at even 10 per cent, below the official price,” sayf Reuter’s correspondent In Singapore. “August exports of 76.649 tons ar* 30,000 tons above those for July, but there was still more than 60.000 tons on the stock piles at the end of Aug-' ust. “Rubber authorities in Singapore b*e lieve that any establishment of a free market would stabilise the price at Ijd or 2d below the present control level, but dealers believe that the stocks would then be quickly liquidated." A sir,ail party of British Government officials, with a representative of th* Rubber Growers' Association, left tor the United States this week to discuss the complex rubber situation, following the rapid resumption of largescale production by Malayan estates. Britain has acquired considerable stocks, and. at present, it seems that the Board of Trade is holding oft from making further purchases, also that the planters are not rfter all assured ot a market for all they produce, it is believed that there will be a return to free marketing when the present agreement with America expires at the end of 1946, when the price of the commodity might sink below the present 14d per lb.