Directory_and_Chronicle_1938

WENCHOW

TRADE IN 1936

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In spite of the fact that the Wenchow district enjoyed complete tranquility during the year under review, the port's trade with Shanghai, Ningpo, and Amoy was seriously interferred with owing to its diversion through inland places in the immediate vicinity, especially Panshih and Chungyuanchiao, with the object of evading interport duty. Customs value statistics for the trade of 1936 were as follows: direct foreign imports, $469,259 as against $244,178 in 1935; coastwise imports of Chinese merchandise, $6.9 million as against $7.1 million; direct foreign exports. $134,907 as compared with $47,560; and coastwise exports of Chinese produce, $4.6 million as against $5.4 million, In the order of their importance, sugar, kerosene oil, liquid fuel, and gasolene and benzine were the main items in the direct foreign trade and were chiefly responsible for the large increase in total collection for the year, amounting to approximately $705,000, which represented an increase of more than 100 per cent over the figure for 1935 and was the largest recorded since the opening of the port in 1876. Coastwise importations included such main articles as cotton piece goods, cotton socks and stockings, wheat flour, and medicines. With the exception of the first-named, which showed a slight increase, all items under this heading registered a decline, due chiefly, as stated above, to trade between Wenchow and other open ports being diverted via inland places where interport duty is not collectable. Of exports shipped abroad, generally by sea-going junks, special mention may by made of salted vegetables for Hong Kong and preserved eggs and potatoes for Formosa, which latter appeared in the returns for the first time. The coastwise exports of Chinese products were in the following resepctive proportions during the year: kitty sols, 16.18 per cent: 3rd quality paper, 10.90 per cent; charcoal, 9.57 per cent: softwood timber, 9 per cent; tea of all kinds, 6.29 per cent; wood oil, 5.94 per cent; leaf tobacco, 3.37 per cent: cross-stitch work, 3.20 per cent; animal products, 3.06 per cent; prepared tobacco, 263 per cent; the total being made up by various sundries. The increase of 3,363 tons recorded under shipping as compared with the previous year's figures was mainly due to the addition of the s.s. Hoonghsing, of 598 tons, to the Wenchow-Shanghai run since May, the other two regular steamers on the same run being the Hacan and the Yili belonging to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company and the Tien Hsing Steamship Company respectively. The number of native banks dropped from 18 to 14 as a result of the depression. During the year two road extensions were completed. The motor road from Yungchia to Lishu was extended westward to Sungyang, while that from Kienteh to Shunan, in Western Chekiang, was extended southward to Kaihua, covering distances of 46 and 50 kilometres respectively. The construction of the new wharf of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company at the East Gate, where a minimum depth of 24 feet of water at low tide is assured, was completed in April, when the company's pontoon and offices were removed from the North Gate. As a result, there was an immediate appreciation in the value of the land in the vicinity of the new wharf, and a great impetus was given to building in the immediate neighbourhood.

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