Rubber growing in Liberia.

The history of rubber in Liberia goes back to 1910 when the British planted 800 ha at Monte Barclay near Monrovia, but abandoned the project 10 years due to the falling world prices.
In 1926, the United States Firestone Company obtained 99-year leases in Liberia to establish plantations, and rubber has since then played vital in Liberia’s economy.
Housing estates, road dispensaries were built and by 1928, 6100 ha had been planted rising to 22,000 ha by 1933.
The Second World War stimulated production especially when Japan over ran Malaysia, the largest rubber producer.
Today about 43,000 workers tend the 11.5 million trees which produce most of Liberia’s export of rubber.  Liberia is experiencing competition from expanding production in countries like the Ivory coast.