TIENTSIN
A33
Under foreign imports, cotton piece goods further declined, and it was a noticeable teature that no raw cotton was imported, suggesting the success in recent years of endeavours made to increase the production of raw cotton in North China and to improve its qualities. Imports of artificial toss and yarn. advanced from 79,805 kilogrammes during 1936 to 229,064 kilogrammes. There was a remarkable increase in the value of artificial silk piece goods imported from $26,996 in 1936 to $769,562 during 1937. There was also an increase in the import of metals and ores while machinery and tools imported reached the record value of $9,636,298, textile machinery and parts making a big advance, heavy shipments being reeeived from Japan for the development of the cotton weaving and spinning industry in Tientsin. Regarding locomotives and tenders, there was a considerable decline, all lines (with the exception of the Pei-Ning Railway) suffering heavy losses and not being a position to make new purchases. Under such groupings as fishery and sea products, animal products, canned goods and groceries there was a general set-back in recorded imports, large quantities of these and of Japanese milled flour being imported as military stores and thus not included in the Customs statistics. Imports of sugar improved from 19,043 to 95,124 quintals. At the beginning of the year the market was dominated by smuggled supplies, but as Customs control gradually tightened, smuggling became more difficult and dealers began to turn to legitimate sugar importation. With the output of various industries steadily rising, the sale of chemicals showed increasing activity throughout the first half of the year, imports of sulphate of ammonia aggregating 111,979 quintals. This important fertiliser is finding increasing popularity, and consumption was showing a steady upward trend. Imports of other chemical or artificial fertilers, such as soda ash, the import of which totalled 95,342 quintals as against 61,619 quintals, also showed marked increases. The dyestuff business opened flourishingly despite the boom that resulted in the heavy sales at the end of 1936. During the first half of the year sales of legitimately imported indigo showed an increase of about 50 per cent as compared with the same period of the preceding year, while consumption of aniline dyes was 100 per cent higher. While checked to some extent. smuggling continued to interfere seriously with legitimate imports. On the outbreak of hostilities business came to a complete standstill, up-country stocks falling to a very low level as no further shipments could be made in land. There was also a steady rise in tans and tanning materials. Imports of kerosene oil fell from 77,246,549 to 44,922,144 litres; gasolene, naphtha, and benzine, from 12,230,929 to 11,855,219 litres; liquid fuel from 3,986 to 2,834 metric tons; and lubricating oil from 1,896,584 to 1,520,938 litres. Consumption of kerosene oil was greatly reduced on account of hostilities, the market being also upset by the influx of smuggled kerosene from Japan and arrivals shortening owing to lack of ship- ping facilities. On the other hand, the trade in gasolene maintained a compara- tively steady level due to large requirements on the part of the military. Following the outbreak of hostilities, most of the large industrial plants were closed down, with a resultant shrinkage in the consumption of lubricating oil. Under the group heading books, maps, paper, and wood pulp there was a gain in value of 43 per cent over the figures for 1936. Paper prices rose considerably, tending to enhance the total value of the trade. Despite a rise in freights and increased price due to the wharf strike on the Pacific coast, demand for timber increased, being required mostly for construction work and especially for the new Japanese cotton mills, factories, etc., under construction in Tientsin.
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It will have been noted that the value of direct exports abroad rose from $117.8 million during 1936 to $128.9 million for 1937. Prices ruling were con siderably higher than in 1936, and the total value of trade was raised in several instances without a corresponding advance in volume. There was a decline of $2 million in the value of the trade in eggs and egg products. Exports of dried yolk and albumen to the United States of America were normal, but the demand for liquid yolk from European markets was weak. Considering the growing use made in America of the artificial casing and the high prices demanded for the natural product, the trade in sheep's, goats', and pigs' intestines was satis- factory. The total export of skins and furs was value at $21.4 million as com