Rubber Prices And
p. 103 · Read in the full issue
Production Increase
MALAYA’S production of natural rub ber is «<pected to reach an all-time high of 700,000 tons this year— which is about half the world’s total pro duction of natural rubber.
Natural rubber, however, is still not supplying all the world’s needs and the American synthetic industry is supplying the 500,000 tons gap between natural sup ply and demand.
World demand for rubber is about 2,000,000 tons per annum and spokesmen for both the natural and synthetic pro ducts say that demand will increase rather than diminish.
New uses for rubber —such as in roads and latex foam cushioning—are con stantly being found.
At the same time as increased nroduc tion, in both fields, was announced, prices for natural rubber in Singapore rose to a record level of 613 cents a pound for No. 1 ribbed smoked sheet.