82.
CONSULAR REPORTS.
THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN
FORMOSA.
From the Report for the year 1908 on the trade of the Consular district of Tainan (South Formosa) by Mr. A. E. Wileman, H. B. M's. Consul, we take the following references to the sugar market and the factories :--
The following table shows the quantity and value of raw sugar exported to Japan and China and Hongkong respectively during 1908 :- cwts. value. 1,186,699 £926.315
Japan
China and Hongkong 1,752 £ 1,580
1,188,451 £927,925
This shows an increase of 133,044 ewts. and £193,344 on the figures for 1907.
In the trade report for 1907 the sugar market was reviewed up to the end of the month of February, 1908, for the season 1907-8. After the new consumption law tax came into force in February, 1908, the market declined from 8 yen 35 sen (178. 0 d.) early in March to 8 yen (168. 4d.) per picul (132) lbs.) for Siongtau towards the end of the month, but rose again on account of "rumours of shortage of stock in Japan to 8 yen 90 sen (188. 2.) per picul in the middle of April and closed in June, 1908, at 8 yen 40 sen (178. 1 d.).
<s
AL
The 1907-08 crop has been one of fairly steady prices and is notable for the shortage of low-grade sugars, the production having been mainly of high-grade brown sugars which realised 80 sen (1s. 74d.) per picul higher than Siongtan, and at one time, owing to the shortage of the latter quality, the difference was reduced to only 60 sen (1s. 2 d.) per picul between the two grades. The higher grade is known as Chat Lui," that is, "above grade." I he foundation of purchases is usually Siongtau and so much more is paid for the above grade" and so much less for the lower grades, hence the expression "above" meaning above the ordinary grades. Exporters did only a steady commission business and large profits were not made. The Chinese factories only did moderately well owing to the higher consump. tion tax paid. At an average price of 8 yen 50 sen (17s. 44d.) for Siongtau the millers only get a net amount of 5 yen (10s. 24d.) as 3 yen (68. 11d.) must be deducted for the tax and 50 sen 1s. Old.) for transportation expenses to the merchants' godowns. From the 5 yen per picul net at the factory, the millers must pay about 2 yen 30 sen (4s. 8d.) per picul for expenses of manufacturing, leaving 2 yen 70 sen (58. 6d.) for themselves and the farmers, the latter getting from 2 yen 39 sen (48. 103d.) to 2 yen 50 sen (58. ltd.) per pical for their cane.
season.
[July 24, 1909. `
The second mill owned by this company in course of erection at Sumtau, near Cagi (750 tons in 22 hours), will not be completed until November, 1909.
Ensuiko Seisha.-The mill in course of construction during 1908 (850 tons, short, in 24 hours), situated at Shinyeisho, was completed in December, 1908. The extension of the old mill situated at Ensuiko, which has been enlarged from a capacity of 400 tons, short, in 24 hours to 600 tons, short, in 24 hours, has also been duly completed.
Formosan Sugar and Development Company, the Hing-Host Sugar formerly known as Company, situated at San-kan-ten. This British company was registered in London
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
exportation of 600,000 piculs (35,714 tons) | 110,000 piculs (6,547 tons) of sugar during the of brown sugar and 700,000 piculs (41,666 tous) of centrifugals, leaving 300,000 piculs (7,857 tons) of brown for local consump- tion out of a total estimated crop of 1,600,000 piculs (95,238 tons). The advent of the two sugar in principal Japanese importers of South Formosa has made trade very difficult the foreign merchant for for
this crop (1908-09), as these two firms were the principal to whom the foreign firms used to sell their holdings. As these two firms are in keen competition with each other margins have been so cut down that the foreign firms could hardly enter into competition with them even for making their own shipments, and so far as one can prophecy the days of the foreign com- mission merchant would appear to be numbered. The two principal products handled by the foreign merchants have of recent years been confined to sugar and rice, but as these two Japanese firms, as well as a number of less im- portant Japanese firms, all handle both products and appear to be willing to out-advance the foreigners as well as outbid them in price, business for the foreigners will either have to be speculative or confined to imports, which again have dwindled to very limited proportions and are confined to only a few articles. Of course there will be machinery and accessories usually required by large sugar factories, and foreign firms will have to reorganise their staffs in order to
with the trade whilst giving up the old one.
The 1908-09 orop opened in November 1908, at 8 yen 60 sen (178. 63d.) per picul and rapidly rose to 9 yen 60 sen (198. 7d) in December owing to rumours of greatly decreased quantities of brown sugars, caused by the starting of the many new centrifugal factories which absorbed the cane hitherto supplied to the brown sugar mills. Large quantities of centrifugal sugars were also sold ahead by the various factories at prices ranging from 12 yen 50 sen (11. 5s. 61d.) per picul to 13 yen (11. 68. 6d.) per picul c.f.i. Yoko- hama, or 1 yen (28. Old.) less ex factory, the factory paying the consumption tax. It was at first estimated that the crop, which is a record one, would yield only 600,00 piculs (35,714 tons) of brown sugars and 900,000 piculs (53,571 tons) of centrifugals, and as from this 600,000 piculs, about 300,000 piculs (17,857 tons) have to be deducted for local consumption, it will be readily understood that there was some cause for the apprehension which caused the rise in price. However, when it was found that al- though all the new mills were practically finished and had started work in December, they could not work to their full capacity owing to the occurrence of minor troubles incidental to the running of new machinery, and that consquently most of the mills were oblig. ed to give up part of their cane to the Chinese farmers to crush in their brown factories, prices receded to 8 yen 50 sen (17s. 41d) per picul, at which they have remained steady up to the middle of March, 1909, The revised estimates now give an expected
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cope
SUGAR FACTORIES.
the
new
The following notes concerning the principal sugar factories in South Formosa show the progress made during 1908-
Taiwan Seito Kaisha (Taiwan Sugar Com- pany).-This company has duly completed the three new mills in course of construction during 1908, and referred to in the report for 1907, and sugar crushing was commenced in December, 1908. These mills are situated at Kyoshito (460 tons, short, in 24 hours), Koshiken (1,000 tons, short, in 23 hours) and Ako (1,200 tons, short, in 23 hours). In 1908 the company par chased two large sets of steam ploughing tackle composed of four engines of 24 horse-power each for use in the Koshiken district, thus making four sets now in use in that district, and 2,000 acres have already been ploughed for the next crop. A number of locomo- tives have been imported from the United States for plantation purposes. and 90 miles of permanent and portable railway and trolley line have been laid during the year; 400 Japanese immigrants have also been engaged from Japan for work on the plantation at Koshiken for a period of three years, and more will be engaged for the planta
tion at Ako.
Dai Nippon Seito Kaisha (Dai Nippon Sugar Company).-The mill in course of con- struction for this company at Gokenseki, near Tarimu (1,200 tons, in 23 hours), alluded to in the report for 1907, has been duly completed and
commenced
December, 1908.
crushing operations
in
Tayo Seito Koisha.-The mill situated at Suikutsuto, near Kagi (1.000 tons, long, in 22 hours), alluded to in the report for 1907, was completed and commenced crushing in December, 1908. The estimated crop of cane for the season is about 88,000 tons, of which
tons 18,000 have already been crushed (February, 1909), the sugar obtained amounting to about 1,800 tons. The permanent railway
of 47 miles and all | line
bridges are now completed. The rolling-stock consists of 300 wagons; and at present five locomotives are employed, one of 50 horse-power and four of 40 horse-power.
Another locomotive and The 50 additional wagons will shortly arrive. water supply for the factory is obtained from the River Hatsoke, from whence it will be pumped to the reservoirs by
two elec. trically driven centrifugal pumps, each cap- able of discharging 30,000 gallons of water At present an oil engine of per hour. 20 horse-power and two 6-inch centrifugal pumps are temporarily employed.
Meiji Seito Kaisha (Meiji Sugar Company). -The mill near Banshiden railway station, in course of construction during 198 and alluded to in the report for 1907, was completed in November, 1908. It is expected to produce
on
January 18, 1908, with a capital of 80,000l., divided into 60.0001. of 6 per cent. cumulative preference shares and 20,0001. ordinary shares. The new capital obtained has been utilised to enlarge the plant from 350 to 700 tons of cane per day, and the new machinery was completed on February 3, 1909, although crushing was started with the old plant about the middle of December, 1308. The factory is expected to produce this crop (1908-09), about 55,000 piculs (3,273 tons) of sugar as compared with 14,714 piculs (875 tons) for 1907-08 crop. On account of the enlargement of the plant before mentioned, the cane-buying district has been increased by about 5,000 acres, and it is expected that in the crop for 1909-10 the pro- duction will be nearly 100,000 piculs (5,952 tons).
The water supply is obtained by damming the river close by and no pumps are used, the water being led by a pipe to the well near the conden⚫ ser pumps, & great advantage where a large quantity of water is required for the con- densers. The trolley line is 22 miles in rolling-stock of 265 cars, length, with each taking 24 tons of cane.
The gauge is 24 inches instead of 30 inches, which is the gauge adopted by the majority of For- mosan factories. Three locomotives have been purchased to arrive in time for the 1909-10 crop. It may be mentioned that the facilities for transportion are most favourable. The mill is situated in such a position relative to the cane that there is a gradual gradient in its favour so that not much power is necessary to transport the cane to the mill. The transport of sugar to Anping for export is effected by the river and costs only 5 sen (11d.). per bag. The total cane area is now over 10,000 acres, and, judging from the figures already quoted, the company has already made great progress in bringing land under cultiva tion. It is calculated that the district worked by this company will yield in three years' time 10,000 tons of sugar. The price obtained from the sugar is 13 yen (11. 6s. 6d.) per picul, only one grade of sugar being manufactured. Ex- periments are being conducted with a view to making brown sugar from the residual molasses, and it has been proved that this can be done, but some modification of the present experiment plant is necessary and will be installed later on.
Was
Hokuto Sugar Mill.-Owned by Bain and Company, a British firm. This was originally a small 160-ton brown sugar mill, and it
intended
and to enlarge
convert it into a 240-ton centrifugal mill during 1909. The Sugar Bureau, however, have arranged for the incorporation of the district belonging to this mill within the district of a large new mill of from 700 to 800 tons crushing capacity, which is to be erected by a Formosan-Chinese financier. Compensation will be paid to the British firm for the machinery already installed, and the Sugar Bureau has allotted to them another In this new district near Takow in exchange. district the British firm will install the new machinery which has been purchased for Hokuto and will also purchase the necessary additional machinery required for a mill crushing 300 tons of cane per 22 hours to produce centrifugal sugar. This new mill at Takow will be completed by November, 1909, in time for the 1909-10 crop, which is estimated to produce 30,000 piculs (1,785 tons).
Singapore wishes to have the example of Hongkong followed in providing more facilities for giving alarms of fire.
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