58
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Raw Cotton-There is very little change in the continued quietness of this article and only #mall parcels of Indian descriptions in retail lots, aggregating 150 bales, have found buyers at 3171
HANKOW, 17th July, 1907.-Business reported to $201. Nothing doing in China kinds. Stocks since the 10th inst., is as under:-
1907. ¡-Chests. 47,738
1906. -Cheats. 16,657
Settlements The following are Statistics at date compared with the corresponding circular of last season, viz., 18th July, 1906.
Stock ...
70,739
HANKOW TEA,
1907. -Chests.
Settlements
...411,187
1906. -Chests. 324,266
18,023
Arrivals
...429,210
KIUKIANG TEA.
1907. i-Chests.
Settlements
Stock
+4
**
...175,646 16,771
Arrivals ...
...192.417
395,005
1906. -Chests. 153,279 14,353
167,632
OPIUM,
Quotations are:-
Malwa New
$820 to
HONGKONG, July 25th. Allowance net to 1 catty.
per picul.
Malwa Old
$860
to
do.
Malwa Older
$890
to
do.
Malwa Very Old
.$920
to
do.
Persian Fine Quality ..$600
to
do.
Persian Extra Fine ...$650
to
lo.
Patna New
$820
to
Patna Old
to
$815 to
to
Benares New Benares Old
Cardiff.. Australian
COAL.
3 3 3 3 3 3
per chest.
do.
do. do.
$14.00 to 15.00 ex-ship, nominal. .811.50 to $12.00 ex-ship, nominal. Yubari Lump...$12.00 nominal Miiki Lump
..$10.00 nominal.
Moji Lump $6.00 to $8.00 ex-ship, steady. Moji Unscreened$6.00 to $7,50 ex-ship, steady. Akaike Lump...$7.75 to $8.00 steady. Labuan Lump $8.00 nominal.
YARN.
2,560 bales Indian, and 470 bales China. Quota- tions are Indian $16 to $20, and Chinese $21 to $25.
Exchange on India has ruled steady and shows for T/T and Rs. 165 for Post. On Shanghai 72} a small advance, closing firm to-day at Rs. 165
and on Japan 108).
The undernoted business in imported and local spinnings is reported from Shanghai during the fortnight ended 20th instant viz:--
Indian-Total sales about 7,000 bales, prices showing an advance of 2 to 3 Taels, market closing quiet but firm. Estimated unsold stocks in first and second hands about 140,000 bales.
Japanese: -Market stealy, total sales about 1,500 bales on the basis of Tls. 36 to 91 for No. 16, and Tls. 89 to 971 for No. 208.
Local:-
There has been some movement in these threads and about 1,100 bales No. 163 are reported to have changed hands at Tis, 82 to 831'
PIECE GOODS.
Messrs. Noel, Murray & Co.'s Report on the Shanghai Piece Goods Trade, dated Shanghai, 18th July, 1907, states:-From what we have been able to gather from the principal import houses, although the week under review has not shown any great expansion so far as fresh busi- ness in concerned, the feeling continues very strong, and the satisfactory extent of the clear- ances is a practical demonstration of it. This is felt to be the more so because the weather has not been very propitions. Having set the ball rolling by selling moderate quantities from stock at tempting prices, which were snapped up with some avidity, holders of stock are asking an Messrs. Hughes and Hough, in their Coal advance, feeling they are justified in doing so by Report of 25th July, state that 25 steamers the conditions of the home markets. Pending are expected at Hongkong with a total of 83,300 responses from the country markets, however, tons of coal. Since July 12th, 15 steamers dealers here are afraid to cut prices, plainly show have arrived with a total of 45,650 tons of coaling the different spirit in which the trade is now
It also reports:-Cardiff Coal neglected. Austra-
conducted by the native middle-man. The absence lian, small business at quotations. 10,000 tona
of news from Mewchwang with regard to recent Japanese reported sold on private terms. Other shipments from here was puzzling, but it must kinds neglected. Market generally quiet.
not be forgotten there was a certain amount of Quotations:-
cargo already there on storage, and that would have to be worked off first probably, but at the close favourable advices have been received. There is not much fresh news to report about Manchuria. Everything appears to be going on in a satisfactory manner, and it seems to be the determination to develop the province with all possible speed. Satisfactory arrangements have been made to meet the necessary expenses, and all the officials are working with a will, egged on by the certainty, no doubt, that any laxity would be made an excuse by Japan to step in again. Mr. P. Eduljee, in his Report dated Hong. Two Custom houses have been opened on the kong, 26th July, states:-A further improvement Russian frontier. The news from Corea is not so of $1 to $4 has been established in our yarn mar-
Batisfactory. Somewhat of a panic has been ket, and holders, strengthened by telegraphic caused by the action of the Banks, it is said, in advices from Bombay and decreasing stocks here, calling up loans in a summary manner. As these are still asking an advance for the few bales of Banks are all under the control of Japan there is desirable spinnings remaining in stock. Business a shrewd suspicion that the movement is in- reported during the interval has again been large, stigated to embarrass foreign trade, which was but confined, as usual, principally to favourite coming to the fore again. In spite of the tickets of No. 10s which form the bulk of the
disabilities under which Tientsin is said to be settlements. At the close holders having some- suffering, owing to the drought, she continues to what eased their stocks are less eager to sell be our second best customer. During the interval whilst buyers, baving picked up the most desir-her merchants have bought from second hand able parcels, are indifferent, and a temporary lull holders here 2,000 balcs 3-yard American Sheet- is for the moment being experienced, With small ings at Tls. 3.75 for the better known cloths and receipts and larger off-takes stocks continue to
Tls. 3.75 for others. There are persistent decrease and are now well in hand. Market closes rumours that a large line of Pepperell Drills had steady,
been bought from stock, the price being variously quoted as Tls. 4.50 net up to Tls. 4.80, less 1 per cent. Others say even the latter figure is too low. It is certain businesa has gone through from first hands, but it is not given out yet. Telegraphic news from Manchester is still very strong, the leading manufacturers being well engaged forward quote prices 9d. to 10d. per piece over current rates here. There is a scarcity of Yarn, spinners finding it more profitable to sell to the Continent than to the home weavers, Telegrams are not in to-day, but the quotation received yesterday as the Liverpool price of Mid. American
was 7.09d for spot, and 6.76d. for "futures". Egyptian continues to advance and is now quoted To 15/16d. The export of Plain Cottons for the first half of this month was 11 million yards, The latest telegram from New York reports the market as advancing, with eager buyers. Sales have been made to the Home trade for late Spring delivery, 1908. Southern 3-yard Sheetings are selling on the basis of 12s 3d c. i. f. Shanghai. This at 3-0 exchange is the equivalent of about Tls. 4.40 as against a present value here of Tls, 3.85. It is reported that upwards of 2,000
tors.
The most salient feature of the fortnight is the report of a re-sale in Shanghai of about 3,000 bales of best grades of No. 10s to some Bombay opera- What with European buyers in the Bombay bazar and Bombay speculators in the China mar- kets, we appear to be on the eve of a great movement in the trade which, while it will make India to a certain extent independent of Chinese buyers, will it is to be hoped enable Indian spin- ners to capture some of the Continental markets as effectually as they have already done those of East Africa, Arabia and the Levant during the
last few years.
Sales of the interval aggregate 8,273 bales, arrivals amount to 5,518, unsold stock estimated at 37,000 and sold but uncleared stock in second hands 35,000 bales.
Local Manufacture :---Sales of 400 bales No. 10s at $86 are reported.
Japanese Yarn:-A quiet but steady business continues in these threads, and 535 bales have changed hands during the interval, say 50 bales No. 168 at $120 to $121, and 570 bales No. 20s at $121 to $1314.
(July 27, 1907.
bales 3,50 yard Coarse Yarn Sheetings are being shipped to Aden. They are going in three Ship- ments to New York while freight has been engaged for some 2,000 bales more in a steamer leaving in A few days time, The Yarn Market has not shown much activity, holders being very firm in consequence of the rise of about 10 per cent. in Bombay. Native speculators, however, have taken advantage of the advance to sell some of their holdings and have in a great measure met the demand this week. Prices in Bombay went up seventeen rupees, but are easier at the close. Japan Yarn is firmly held but does not show much change in price. Local Yarns are a little firmer in consequence of the drastic measures that are being taken by the Mills to curtail the supply. Stocks.-Unfortu- nately the Chamber of Commerce Returns are still being delayed by quite a number or firms not sending in their returns. It would greatly facilitate matters, in the event of a firm not holding any stock, if the Form were sent back blank, hut signed. Many firms would no doubt like to be able to do that.
Messrs. Ilbert & Co.'s Piece Goods Report, dated Shanghai, July 19th, 1907, has the following:- The steady improvement in our market conditions has continued, and clearances have been upon an active scale, though somewhat hampered by the wet weather. Rain still continues at intervals throughout the Valley, and it is reported from Hankow that the water in the Han river is very high and that floods are feared, this having caused a certain amount of cessation of buying by Hankow dealers, who during the early part of the week were active purchasers. A repetition now of last year's floods would be most discouraging at a period when the effects of these disasters upon our market have barely been shaken off, and the weather chart is accordingly watched with a certain amount of nervous interest by dealers in general. From Tientsin it is reported that the country is still suffering from lack of rain, and the market is dull and dragging, while native advices from Newchwang report that although demand is somewhat slow at present, there are indications that business will show considerable
As regards
improvement in the near future. replacing purchases, our market and Manchester are still widely apart, and although manufacturers are in some instances beginning to want business, the spinners have got the whip hand as regards prices at which these can be booked. American advices continue to report a very strong situation, and there is now not the slightest prospect of any fresh supplies coming to this market this year, by which time the stock of sheetings here will be about down to bed-rock if clearances continue normal, while in Drills, the short supply has already commenced to be filled by sales from J pau of low and medium qualities, of which some three to four thousand bales have this week been settled. The new outlet for Bombay yarns, which has been discovered in Lancashire and the European continent, has caused values in Bombay to soar far above the level at present ruling here, and has resulted in reselling and reshipping back to Bombay from this market, which business is likely to increase if values here do not quickly recover to an adequate level.
MISCELLANEOUS EXPORTS.
HANKOW, 17th July, 1907.-The prices quoted are for the net shipping weight excluding cost of packing for export :-
Per picul
Cowhides, Best Selected..
Do. Seconds Buffalo Hides, Best Selected. Goatskins, untanned, chiefly white
colour Buffalo Horns, average 3 lbs. each White China Grass, Wachang and/or
Poochi.
| WhiteChina Grass, Sinshan and/orChayu
Green China Grass, Szechuen Jute..
White Vegetable Tallow, Kinchow White Vegetable Tallow, Pingchew
and/or Macheng White Vegetable Tallow, Mongyu Green Vegetable Tallow, Kiyu....... Animal Tallow Galinuts, usual shape Gallnuts, plum do. Tobacco, Tingchow Tobacco, Wongkong Turmerie Sesamum Seed Sesamum Seed Oil Wood Oil
Tes Oil
Tls. 34.50 31.00
**
22.76
91
D
要
9.75
12
8.00
#
P
11.30
16
11.00
11.00
"
#
14.80
18.00
"
19
#1
"
5.20
**
10
9.30