THE PHILIPPINES
1449
noticeable in the case of exports to the United States, while there is a decrease in the case of all other countries. This result was mainly due to the fact that by Act of Congress, March, 1902, all articles the growth and produce of the Philippines admitted into the United States free of duty were eligible for a return of the export duty imposed in the Philippines so long as shipped to the United States direct, and proof be submitted of their importation and consumption there.
The total value of commercial imports during the year amounted to $37,061,925, as compared with 827,794,482 for the previous fiscal year. This increase in imports is explained by the increase in the value of Philippine products exported, and the con- sequent increased purchasing power of the inhabitants of the Islands, and is owing not only to the increased quantity of merchandise imported, but also to the increased value thereof. The United States, which has never heretofore held first rank among the countries sending merchandise to the Islands, has this year, with importations amounting to $10,776,128, as compared with $4,693,830 for the previous year, supplant- ed England and forced her from her long-held position to second place. The French East Indies maintained their relative position as third, while China bas supplanted British Australia as fourth. It is to be noted that although importations from the United States amounted to more than double those of previous years, importations from other countries have not fallen off on this account. On the contrary they have increased from 3,100,651 during 1909 to $26,285,797 during the fiscal year 1910. There was a general increase in the value of importations of all classes, although the percentage of value of each class to the total value of importations has changed but slightly. There is, however, a greater increase in the importations of iron and steel, which from $1,933,032 in 1905 have risen to $3,305,695 in 1910. Importations of coal have been increased from $461,465 to 8972,341, bringing this item up to seventh place in the scale of the principal classes of merchandise where formerly it was the last. As in previous years, the principal article of importation has been cotton goods. The value of these importations amounted to 88,522,307, as against $6,944,978 in the previous year. The value of cotton textiles imported from the United States during the year was more than five times, and from Japan more than four times, the value of such goods imported during 1906. As compared with the same year there was an in- crease of approximately 50 per cent. in the importation of these goods from China and Germany, while England and Switzerland fell slightly behind; the British East Indies' trade was reduced approximately one-third, and Spain lost half of her trade. Rice con- tinues to be the second in the rank of imported products. During the year the im- portation of this commodity amounted to $5,321,9t 2, as compared with 84,250,223 during the year 1909.
as
The total value of exports during the year aggregated 839,886,852, against 31,044,458 during 1909, showing an increase of 28 per cent. This increase was occasioned both by the increase in the amount of merchandise exported and by the material rise in the prices received for the same. The United States again stand at the head of the list of countries of destination of Philippine products, 47 per cent. of the total value of exports being sent to that country, amounting to $18,751,421, as against $10,254,087 in 1909. The exportations to France exceed those of last year by 50 per cent., that country now occupying second place on the list of countries to which Philip- pine products are destined, England being forced to third place. Hongkong, which last year held the fourth, has fallen to the fifth place, Spain having passed her during the year. Germany, which formerly occupied the seventh place, now ranks fifth. This country made the greatest proportionate gain during the year, having received from the Philippines products 82 per cent. greater in value than those she received during 1909. Hemp continues to be the principal export product, the exportation of this com- modity exceeding in quantity that of any previous year, amounting to 170,788 metric tons, of which 99,305 tons went to the United States, being the greatest exportation of hemp to that country since the American occupation of the Islands. Despite the great increase in the quantity exported, the total value of the exportation, $17,404,922, was below that of many preceding years, although it was greater than that of 1909, which amounted to 15,833,577. The increase in value received is not in proportion to the increased quantity of hemp exported, owing to the fact that the average price of hemp was slightly below that of the previous year. The quantity of copra exported during the year was greater by 10 per cent. than in 1909, aggregating 116,374 metric tons valued at $9,153,951, as against 105,564 metric tons valued at $6,657,740 during the pre- vious year. The export of this commodity to the United States was greater both in quantity and value than during the preceding year. The exportation of sugar during the past year aggregated 127,717 metric tons, valued at $7,040,690, the largest quantity