January 6, 1908.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
their
constitutes a danger to the sound continuance dealers who have withered the crisis in pis. of the trade in general. The colour of the years have realized exceptionally satisfactory Cassia this seasou leaves much to bɔ desired, profits on their frausaction during the past it being too dark, the result of careless handling twelve months. Home values, which stood all in the producing distric s, where the quills are
round on an almorinally high level at the not properly scraped and in most instances the beginning of the year, maintained
: weight of the Cassia is fraudulently increased by moistening it. Exporters bave frequently pointed ont this to the Chinese Cassia Guild, asking them to stop the practica The members of the guild have promised to do their best to remedy the evil, but so far their efforts seem to have had no effect. Although demand has fallen off lately, prices are tending upwards at present, owing to rapidly decreasing stocks.
SILK,
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position for some time, or one thanced in value as f. i. lead and copper. But a sharp declina set in on the whole ling during the lasi half of the year-accentuated perhaps by the financial derangements in the United States- and with the exception of quicksilver, which | contrary to all other metals has been going up lately, prices for all staples have arrived to day on a basis which is considered a pretty safe one in experienced : nd well informed quarters, so that a healthy and prosperoustrade should be in glare | for those interested for s 10 time to come. The following comparison of values of some of the leading metals will prero interesting ;-
Silver is today : bout 25 per cent, lower thau at the end of 191.
Iron is to day al out 25 por en! lower than at the end of 190,
Lad is to-day ab at 3- preut, lower than at the erd of 1906,
Spelter is to-day about 31 per than at the end of 19 6,
Yellow Matal is to-day ab. ut lower than at the end of 1906.
Copper is today about £5 per cart.
cent. lower
par ceut.
lor! than at the end of 1909,
Quicksilver stands about 15 per cent Ligher than on the 31st December 1906,
FLOUR
The raw si mark, t opened very firm at the beginning of the year, stocks being suli, aud the demand both for Fur pe and America active, A few weeks later demand was falling off and prices declined considerably till the Chinese New Year. After the holidays a reaction sot in and prices regained the 1 st ground, the highest point for old season's sil being reached at the end of March. Stocks of oli season's silk being raclically exhausted, large contracts in new season's silk were made for Europe and America, which strengthened the market for the next few weeks. The first two Canton crops being exceptionally big, and Japan and Europe pr. mising alo good crops the demand fell off aud prices dichned s adiy up to the middle of July, when the dem n! improved, and prices advanc. d $61 to 80 per picul The improvement, ho ever,
did not last long, and the good results of the third and fourth There has been a considerab'e increas in this crop induced some of the Chinese merchants ¦ shipments of America flwer to the East during to sell short. During the month of August the post gear, due to the fact that Australia has demand was active and prices advancing, | ben out of the to orket for the last four months. but the improvement was not lasting one, the high price of the Australian articlo pre- and our market elined in sympathy with venting shippers in that entry coup fag the Japau market. Although exchange dropped | with Americin dealers. During the first half about 8 per cent in Cetaler, dollar prices | of 19 7 it was a question of feast or fumine in declined steadily, and Native silks especially the fleur trade, but fl sur les amé inore or less of were completly neglected, he buyers insist- a ding on the market in the latter months. ing on better winding and on a more even siz». The Leavy rainstorms and railway congestion Although exchange declined ab ut 12 per cent in America a the beginning of last your pre from 1st November to the end of December ented the sp edy removal of four from the dollar prices also lost considerably, Demand
inferior to the seaports. Then, in the latter both for Europe and America was practic lyĮ mont' s of 197, all these del (yed shipments came nil, the home markets bring very d pressel, forward at once, the result being a fast instead owing to money stringency, failures and heary of a famju“. In 1967 3,874,104 sicks of stocks. Thanks to the big coutracis m do for | Amerie gyflour, of 19.b cachi, arrived in long. long delivery at the beginu ng of the sonson tekong, year the total shipments were Chinese reelers' and dealers' loss s were smail 4,325,4 (1) racks of the same weight, an ineT EASE compared with those of th· foreign dealers who of 951 8 sacks. have to bear te brunt not culy of the d-cline in prices but also of a diff -rence of about 20 per cent in exchange. The qual ty of this year's crops has been very good, but no impiorem at has been made in the reyling of both steatu filatures and atire silk.
MATTING.
The total export of 1907 is estimated at almut 500,000 rolls of Tungkan and Lintan Mattings, | and about 4000 rods of Mats and Cups, Although these figures are not behind the of former years and prices paid by exporters on a general average were fairly good, the MENOTE 1907 has bardly been a profitable one for the Matting dealers, wing to an unprecedented rise of wages for the weavers, especially in Tungkup, c used by a sharp com.
eti i-u amo gst the manufacturers themselves, many of tLe latter are suffering considerable loss(8. Ta aggravate the unfavourable conditions of the trade heary floods in Lintan destroyed large quantities of straw and wrought great havoc in some of the factories. Good Matting straw hs consequently been scarce; furthermore the hempstrings used as warps are very dear and manufacturers now have to quale prices which are almost beyond the reach of buyers; and yet the quality of Matting on an average needs be but little improvement. There se ms to chance for a change for the better in the war fature. The demand from ma kets is very sl.ck as a consequence of the strained financial con- ditions in various countries, especially the United States of America, where the bulk of the China Matting producti n is exported.
METALS.
Owing to the wild fluctuations to which the Metal markets of the whole world have been subjected during 1997. business in this branch has been an exceedingly difficult one. consequence it is gratifying to bear that the leading importers as well as the for local
Ia
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Persian Opium. The bulk of this drug is consumed in Formosa. The demand for con- sumption in China has fallen off very consider- sbly. Best quality is quoted at $83 1..
RICE.
There was a brisk demand for foreign rice in China during last year, the shipments from Saigon alone reaching nearly nine million piculs. The total shipments, when returns are com. plated, will probably exceed those of 1906, which showed an increas of nearly 25 per cent. S.igon's total exports of this commodity in the former year were exceeded last year by her shipments to Hongkong and China. In 1906, 8,791,10 piculs were shipped from the French port, whereas last year the total shipments were 16,912, a piculs, 7,079.100 of which came to Hongkong, while Swalow took 580,100 piculs, Tientsin, 308,24; Fochow, 67,700; Shanghai, 780,0 0; Ningpo, 97,000; the Philippines, over 1,500,000, and Japan about the same quantity. The Saigon dealers, owing to the recent fall in exchange, hire baзu enabled to quote lower prices, and thus the year closes with bright prospects for the trade. The latest reports show chartars s ttled at Saigon for 143,000 picals to Hongkong and 67,000 to Singapore. The German steamers "Anglia" and "Wongkoi" secured charters for Hongkong at 12 cents and 1 cents per picul respectively for 36,000 pionls each ; he British steamer "Telemachus set'lid for 36,000 piculs at 10 cents and the British steuner "Derwent ̈35,000 at 8 cents.
It was the American boje At which paved a way into the market for Aus'rain fur, and; the small quantities which first found their way to the Fast gradually increased, ast year the folal · hipments veré about 1.200,noo sačke, some Su per cent more than the total shipments of the pevious your. The high shipping freights at present prevailing on the Australian run, however, will proba'ly prove a drawback to tho¦ trade, and will at the same time assis Amerie n skippers who cau laud their A ne at Hongkong reven shillings a ton cheaper than coun cted with the trade in Australia, and incidentally, cau sell the commodity at a cheaper rale. At present there are only s me 5 GO 400 sacks of Australian flour in the Colony, and
prospects for the coming year are not bright as it is expected thst most of this year's harvest will be required for home consumption.
BENGAL OPIUM.
10
the se
or
the
KEROSENE OIL, PETROLEUM AND
BY-PRODUCTS.
While the increase in gallouage for the total territory of all brands of kerosene oil for the gear 1907 over 19.6 is about 18 per cent., the in reaso in the Standard Oil Company's outpat over that of last y- ar is 22 per cent. There was a marked increas in 196 over 1905, the latter yar bo`ng when the boycott was so strong, as well as in the first part of 10. Lubricants, wax and o her by produc's show a marked and satisfa tory increase in 19 7 over the preceding
year.
COAL.
Tim Cal market for the year has not been so active 8 was expected. Japanese Coal, which is the chief import into the Clony has been very weak during the whole year save the last two months or so who there was a rise in all grades in Japan, producers holding cut for inneh higher pics. This hardening was further we ventual by the recent fall in silver which has much increased the Dollar price of Besides the contracts Col to the consumer. duly entered into between the parties concerned during the early part of the year for supplies during the whol year, there are not many transactions worth mentioning. We give below an idea of (als imported during the year.
Cardiff Coal-bout 91,000 tons reached the Colony most of which came for the Admiralty, except about 1900 tons. Very small sales were reporteil during the year.
Australian Coal-Approximately 80,000 tong were imported by Messrs. Shewan Tomes and Messageries Maritimes who are the only im. porters.
Indian Coal Shipments of Indian Coal which was introduced into the Colony in the middle of 19 5 owing to the scarcity of Japanese Coal are new entirely stopped, the only arrivals amounting to s me 15,000 tons which reached her during the first quarter of the year.
The feature of the year has been the decision f the Indian Government r. duc-
Japsa-no Coal--Ti e total imported amounta quantity sold monthly by ane ion, from 41 a to about 830rei tous most of which were de
liveries under the annual contracts. A new chests per meuth to 10 0 2 est, from July last in order to meet the wishes of the Chinese system of delivering the Coal to Canton con- Government in their a leged des ra ta redu! sumers has been brought about by the high aud ultimately put a stop to opium smoking. I rates of colie and boat hire which prevailed The Chinese Government have on their part here during the latter part of 1906 and a num. | closed the opium dens 10 rious cities and ber of steamers which under ordinary circum-
the officials have, in
make money
stances would have discharged here now proosed out of the situation, attempted to establish to Canton thus taking away from Hongkong a a menoply for to sale of opium, which, large proportion of the distributing trade thanks to the vigilance of 1.8 British Author; which formerly existed.
is, has so far failed. Tis trade has not beli
profitable prices flatuated heavily. and the violent decline in silver towards the close of the year has completely disorganized he market. Closing quotatious are $915 for Patoa and $85 for stares.
10 or er
M. Lioa Opirom. Ther is cothing special to Prices for 2 years drug close at $900, report. and for oldest at $1000.
Hoogay Toursne Kebso aal Haiphong- About 82,000 toas were shippel to Hongong and Canton of which some 63,000 tons came from Hongay. The Haiphong Coal which amounted to some 14,00 toas only passe here on the way to Canton,
Pulo Lant-Some 24,049) tous arrived during the year
review most of which wa imported by consumers,
un ler