A landscape in southern Madagascar displaying various plants adapted to its climate. The presence of rubber in Madagascar was documented as early as the 18th century, according to Raymond Decary in "The History of Malagasy Rubber". In 1768, a naturalist in his "Voyage to Madagascar" described a "finguière that produces a milky sap coagulating into a singular substance, elastic gum". Similarly, in his "Voyage Around the World", Dumont d'Urville identified "voaene" as Madagascar's rubber.

In 1817, Poiret introduced "Vahea gummifera", whose product was presented at the 1851 Exposition. However, production beginning on the West coast was limited at that time. It was reserved for the Malagasy government and entirely purchased by a merchant based in Mahajanga. From 1868 onwards came "the awakening of the eastern coast", and by 1870, twelve tons were exported from Mananjary to Europe. Later, the "Intisy" from Androy gained great reputation.

It was in 1891 that a merchant from Tolagnaro named Monin noticed that young Antanosy were making small drums with rubber membranes, obtained by spreading latex on their bodies and letting it dry. "This discovery, soon followed by purchases from colonists, led to intensive exploitation of trees that were very abundant in certain interior regions, particularly towards Behara, Tsilamaha and Tranomaro."

Initially, according to Jumelle, to keep the origin secret, the product was first sold to Indians. They exported it to Europe as coming from the African coast under the name Kiloa rubber. "At that time, while producers were paid 25 centimes per 500 grams, it was resold under its African name for 140 francs per 50 grams: one can see the profit made. It was only a year later that the true origin became known."

Raymond Decary "permits himself a small digression". He recalls that generally, Madagascar's natural products often have a difficult beginning. He cites the case of Malagasy beryls sold in France as Brazilian stones. A. Lacroix wrote on this: "Most of Madagascar's gemstone production went to Germany... First-choice stones were sold as originating from Brazil, while inferior ones were given as Malagasy origin."

Decary adds that Madagascar's yellow beryl only found assured sales when "the variety called heliodor produced by German Africa disappeared from the German market". Cut stones and stones from Nosy Be had to transit through Ceylon (Sri Lanka) for a very long time before finding buyers.

Decary continues: "To give Malagasy gems their reputation, it took the 1931 exhibition organized by the Paris Museum of Natural History." The precious stones display presented by the Ankaratra Society proved a revelation and dazzlement. The collection was purchased by American patron Edward Tück who donated it to the Museum.

Returning to rubber, Decary notes that around 1893, the "Landolphia" from the eastern region were finally recognized and a true rubber fever spread from Antsiranana to Tolagnaro. Exports went mainly to Germany through the Oswald House and England through the Procter House, which acquired "thanks to their ships, a sort of transport monopoly". The fever did not last long, however, as lianas were rapidly destroyed and only Tolagnaro maintained activity due to its hinterland's wealth in "Intisy".

Later, in 1913, an English company, "The Madagascar Rubber", directly exploited western plants. It then held a monopoly covering 50,000 hectares in the Morondava Circle. In return, it owed annual royalties per hectare. It was also obliged to leave thirty seed-bearing trees per exploited hectare and replant one hundred fifty new trees on each of the same hectares. It installed a factory in Belo where mechanical processing of stems and bark took place.