THE
WOLFRAM ORE.
PRICES RECEDED DURING
THE YEAR...
PROSPECTS NOT BRIGHT,
Was a
HONG KONG DAILY
METAL MARKETİ,
MANGANESE' DIOXIDE.
FAIR BUSINESS DONE.
This is a raw material much used in the chemical industry and is employed in the manufacture of matches, dry batteries and also in" the glass industry. Japan, America
manganese
CHINESE TIN..
NO EXPORT TO FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
LOCAL DEMAND BIGGER,
The consumption, of wolfram ore has überensed year by year and the and some countries in Europe make terviewed with regard to the busi
A prominent business business done in the first half of purchases from China and althoughness in Chinese tin, stated that this year has been fair but after the the quality of the announcement that Britain had redioxide produced in Chinn-is not so-
during the year business had been linquished the gold standard there good, and cannot by any means be rather spasmodic, some deals with
noticeable decline in the aid to be the best, the price is
foreign countries being scmpleted at the beginning of the year.
In July and in August there was some business from Hong Kong but since then things...had been at standstill on account of the demand from Ching itself for Chinees tin, which is bigger than the deman |from foreign countries.
wolfram ores business owing to the considerably, cheaper than that of unfavourable exchange. The econo-other competitors and us a result mic crisis in Germany also affected a fair business as been done in the market as Clerman buyers were this line during the your. The price (not in a position to make cast pay rating at the Beginning of the year Ements and preferred business on
was about 840 per ton but this credit "basis. As a result business Agure has since roooded to $28. was extremely difficult and pur. chasor made during the second half of the year were very lean.
TRADE" "REVIEW THURSDAY DECEMBER 31 1931.
SULPHATE OF
AMMONIA
BIG BUSINESS IN SOUTH
CHINA
SLIGHT FAILING OFF IN
DEMAND..."
·
80,000 tons
• 30,000
3,000 3,000 2,000,
FIRECRACKERS,
EXPORTS TO AMERICA KEET UP THIS YEAR.
firecrackers
the
THE PAPER TRADE.
over the
samu
PIECEGOODS.
EFFECT OF THE HOLIDAY”” ON TRADE
tho
BUSINESS IMPROVES AT END OF YEAR""
The following ropert on
INFLUENCE OF EXCHANGE. cracker trade is supplied by a loading business firm-
One of the biggest dealers in According to information Exports to United States of
sup. piecegocdi gavo an interostrag: “in- Introduced into China after the nished to any appreciable extent dealing in paper: the stock as the tion of the piecegoods business America during 1931 have, not dimid by one of the leading firms terview. to a reprosentative of the War, sulphate of ammonia is to but owing to the low values of beginning of the year in Hong during the year under review.
Daily Prese regarding the condi- day imported in the South silver exchange tho Americad large quantities and forms one of buyers could purchase same volume Kong was very low but doalors, in
Lo said that the total import of the biggest lines of business that as less cost than in the past. This views of the fact that the dollar British woollens for the year was the provinces of Kwangtung and business being a specialised line is was in the vicinity of 11d., man, Fakion do with foreign countries, in the hands of old traders. Owing satisfied to buy only enough to ed amounted
estimated at. ware German and Franoh goods import- about 88,000,000.
valued at about $17,000,000 was propor, the manufacturers there February and March when the The dealers in woollens are
A total of 120,000 tons of all to heavy taxation of materials for kinds of sulphate o ammonia making.
to about 87,000,000, Ching meet currant demands. During during December. .in.
Most of the shipments arrived imported into South China from are unable to compete in prion with England, American, local and Macno fantarias and con- Germany,
dollar showed no signs of going facing a loss of between fifteen to Japan and Holland,
sequently it is to be expected that up, however, dealers began to face twenty per gonk because they are According to one of the biggest within near distant future wa the situation with the result that affected by the new tariff in Can- handlers of the trade, the quan- will see the passing away of this quite a few orders were placed and ton and unless they can got their tities purchased from the various industry from China. In some the business over the first quarter soda into that city by devicus. exporting countries are as follows: States in U.S.A. there is a ban on of 1931 comparse, quite favourably methods the loss has to be me
fashlight Arorackers made of with the business
One of the Germany
aluminium, and chlorate but from period in 1980.
most interesting features of the picosgoods business Britnin
the border line the bootleggers. M/G Cap, newsprint and Sup during the year has been described America
make it a profitable business, The Cal. Frinting showed a stondy fa
"Piovegoods holiday." Japan
tariff wall put up at Washington, croase thanks to the increased do- When the oxchange began to get. Thore' was one peculiar feature! Hollant
D.C., from 8 cents (gold) to 25 mand for programmeя
arratic and other
some throa months back, during the year,
Encouraging us. these figures ap cents per pound to protect home stationary. which was that
dealers appealed the demand for Chinese 'tin had led fpear to be, they aro below the manufacturers of reworks
to the leading. and During the year, more orders importers and
to the Pionegoods. crncker's measuring over 3/18 inch were placed for Ledger and Boad Quild to work together to take no 1930 and represent le its price rising above that of figures for Straits tiu. Europe and America drop of about 30 per cent. The in outside diameter
or over 1-3; papers sa doalers were replacing they found it extremely difficult more orders for piecegoods because The Kiangsi Provincial Govern-
|-· ̈À ̈rers' amall business was done Flower" figura: than they "can buy import of sulphate of ammonia alfruitful of results to them due to exchange would not flustusto" very ing exchanges. Goods ordered at
can buy Struits, tin at a much reason for this falling off in the inch in length; has.
not yet boen depleted stocks. The belief that to adjust prices owing to the vary neus, controlling one of the biggest producing centres, tried to eu principally German concerns with apparently can offer a more tempt the most important of which is the the marketing of domestic high ber of orders, but needless to add, the extremely low rate of 1/- stood in this hae, the buyers being Chinese tin, and buyers in China ascribed to several reasons, one of general depression which precindes violently also led to a good num courage the expert of this ore by Britain also buying a small quan- ing figure to producers than can flood disaster in Central and South priced frearnckara. Exports to the rise in archange rates towards y
little chance in compatition offering a monopoly but owing to pity: The extent of the business, their Buropean and American com China. The exchange also did not Canada experienced a set-back the end of the year has put man with later and nower goods ordered the activities of Communist in this whole production is China does not
however, is very small aid the petitors.
help buyers in China, a silver account of the arbitrary condemna dealers out in their calculations.
at say, 1/3d. The leading in- Under these circumstances, it is country in their purchases of the ftion of fireurackers area the business from Kiangai excord 100 sous. The price at one impossible to export Chinese tin, commodity from European coun-chlorate-content by the Dominich led a very good business towards came to an understanding and on alleged However, the botter exchange has porters and the Piecegoods Guild was entirely stopped. The Kwangtime was as high as $2,400 per picul The rise in exchange also has acted tries.
Government without substantiat the end of the year, The rising greed not to take any more orders Sung ore met what little demand but the rise in the dollur hus as a stumbling block between The fall in the price of silking evidence of that finding. South value of the dollar has led local until November 20. The dealers there was and at the end of the brought dayn prices to the vicinity Chinose dealers and foreign buyers, during the year
was another African market is not importing doslers to anticipate a carres et again on that date, but condi of about $1,500 per pizul.
land, as a result Straits tin. must factor which might explain the the usual quota of firecrackers ponding rise in the "quotations eftions had not improved sufficiently your there appears to be about 800
have enjoyed a very good year. drop in the imports of sulphate of from Hong Kong because the exporters in Europe. & position for them to call off the holiday tons of this ore in Hong Kong and
The outlock for the next year, ammonia and last, but by no resident Indians, following the ad which they were perfectly justified and as a result of the conferences about 900 tons in Canton.
while not overwhelmingly bad, means least, the activities of vies of Gandhi to discard luxury, to take, for hiring November further holiday of two months depends to a great extend on the cartain businessi organisation in have moro or less excluded the December M/G Cap, newsprint was declared. Under the agree trend of the exchange, a further Swatow in urging native farmers Bring of firecrackers at celebrations and other low grade paper warement, those who took or are rise in silver being considered de-to 1180 Chinese bean. enke as which is a contrast to India where quoted at more than 10 per cent. orders for piecegoods were liable trimental to the export of Chinese fertiliser rather than foreign · sul to shipments may by recorded as higher than during the preceeding there are small dealers and smal to heavy penalties. Of course phate of ammonia.
menth.
importers who are not concerned with the holiday, but on the whole, the holiday" is served.
being well. ob-
3)
At the beginning of the year the price of wolfram ore was about 845 per pioul but in March prices went down to about 849 and 843. It kept receding and towards the close
BISMUTH,
BRITISH SHIPPING.
SOME IMPROVEMENT ·
DURING THE YEAR,
of the year the quotation was only OUTLOOK NOT ENCOURAGING"
in the vicinity of 840 per picul.
The prospect for next year toes not appear to be good, prices are not likely to be maintained and there appears to be nothing in the horizon to stimulate the demand for wolfram ore.
MANGANESE ORE.
sam
From enquiries made of British exports from Hong Kong to Europe shipping concerns it appears that showed an increase of 18 per cent. during the Arst six months of the year is compared with the period in 1930 and the improve. ment has since been fairly well maintained completion of old contracts, though new business has recently been rendered very ·dif- ficult by the vargaries of exchange. Prospects for next year are for this reason difficult to estimate seems probable that a very dull period of uncertain duration may be experienced after the Chinese New Year,
BUSINESS VERY DULL IN, as it
1931.
SMALL DEMAND FROM
BUYERS.
'Goods imported into the Colony are slightly in excess of last year.. a decrease of about 15 per cent. from Japan being rather more than compensated for by increased im ports from practically all other countries:
wido
According to a local fire dealing in manganese ore, the business in this line during the present year maintained at about the same or a Passengerbusinose hos been has been very dull,
alightly higher level than last year There are two places producing but there is every indication of a this ore in Chine, Hunan andrious decline in trafic during Kwangsi provinces, but on account concessions in regard to staff leave 1939. Modification of the usual of the activity of the Communists and passages has already been in Hunan province the "ore from forced on many employers and the this place was difficult to export must be expected to have a dia-
present world
depression And the demand was met bycouraging effect on tourist traffic. Kwangsi cargo only. The princi- The immediate outlook to pal buyers of manganese in the Far bright, even by the most confirmed shipping annor be considered East is Japan, but as business with optimist, and the business is one Japan has aut been so bright this in which retrenchment in overhead year, the consumption of ganese had decreased greatly.
At the beginning of this year, manganese fotched about 823 per ton hat at the close business was offering at $18 per ton without bidders.
man-
charges and operating expenses is peculiarly difficult. Speculation s to the future,, however, would be merely to hazard a guess and it must sufhce to say that if the ef- ment in trade, which are now en- forts to bring about an improve- gaging the attention of experts in most countries, mees with success the shipping industry will not be
The future of this business is the last to benefit. uncertain and much depends on
business conditions in Japan next
year. The now Cabinet's policy
might lead to a revival of trade Kong, are not at all bright unless
in that country, in which case trade conditions all over the world manganese ors will share in. an improve. business that eventuates.
WOOD OIL.
the
The only bright spot in year's business is the fact that all rivers in the interior of Kwangsi wore opened up to navigation and peace was established between the two "KwanŻK Bo long as there was war in these two provinces the rivers were blockaded and. stock
LARGE STOCKS CARRIED IN waa difcult to obtain, except by
AMERICA.
PRICES JUMP IN OCTOBER BUT FALL AGAIN.
The wood oil Business in Hong Kong has been affected by the general depression of trade.
The year opened with prices in the vicinity of 54 cents por pound
without much enquiry,"
During
the year no improvemant set ia
roundabott and expensive routes,
America was one of the biggest buyers during the year, and it is encouraging to note that the do mand from Europe shows signs of increasing. Statistics available at the end of the year reven! the fact that America 13 carrying very large stocks at the present time, the quantity being about 19,000 tons, which is being used up gradually but in disappointingly small quantities. The importations of that country from China are slightly smaller and the consump-
18
until October when the price jumption has increased in terms of tens ed to 73 cants, but it proved but notwithstanding this, it. temporary rise, and the set back on me mimost it once, the year olosing with prices again in the vicinity of 4 cent par pound...
unlikely that any marked improve- ment will take place. As pointed out this in due to the very heavy stocks carried not only by con- sumars, but also by speculators. The outlook for the new year is not
The future prospects of the wood oil buqiness, as soon from Hong
`(Continued" 'on next Column.) encouraging.
tin,
?
|
`consinnt."'
Corporations Spending
Millions
Pay Tribute to Value of News- paper Space
No.
Read What Expert Advertisers Say
Newspaper
About
"THE
Advertising
HE only way in which this country (England) can become more, prosperous. and find work for the enormous number
of unemployed is for every manufacturer to do everything in his power to stimulate demand both here and aboard.
"The most effective and economical means of selling goods to the public is through newspaper advertising."
Sir Louis Baron, chairman of Carreras, Limited, the tobacco manufacturers, issued this statement.
“The public has not stopped buying 'good goods,"" he added, "and if only every British manufacturer would realise that the demand is always present for something better-and would produce that something better the Press would sell the goods for him whether in times of trade depression or trade boom.
AILY PRESS advertising gets results where
Dother advertising fails. Profit by the ex-
perience of the leading advertisers of the world,
J
In view of the fact that no mere orders were accepted at the begin ning of the holiday it was hoped. that new anders would be forth.. coming at the expiration of the holiday, but gooda in godown have baen cleared so slowly that it is not anticipated that there will be new orders for woollen goods until after the Chinese New Year.
The continued warm weather. which Hong Kong so thoroughly enjoyed during the end of Novem bor and the beginning of December
bad for the business woollens, as dealers worked on a hand to mouth principle and only took up such quantities of piece goods" were required by the public The warm weather being against woollens, the demand ac cordingly was small. The col saap during the middle of this month: must have resulted in large quantities of woollens being taken up.
WAS
"Italian woollens, which were ones very popular owing to their cheaper prices, have fallen off greatly in this market, and thin explanation has been that dealers handling this cargo bad had toc many claims and are hesitant t take orders?
9
In cotton piecegoods, the amount ordered to arrive, between Decem- ber, 1931, and Jahuary, 1032, was roughly $10,000,000, most of which related to goods ordered from Britain and consisted of poplin, brocade and other cotten fancies.
Cotton piecegoods were largely imported from Britain and Japan. In normal years the turnover of Japanese piecegoods in Hong Kong is now about 898,000,000 but since August this year, practically all. orders have been stopped. Th geographical propinquity of Japan makes her a very important com petitor in the "Chinese market and it is difficult to say just where the figure for the turnover standa this year mat,
COTTON YARN.
SHANGHAI MILLS DO A ROARING BUSINESS.
According to one of the biggestTM handlers of cotton yarns in Hong kong, the cotton mills in Shanghai are doing a roaring business, due to the ban ch Japanese goods that is everywhere evident in China. The price of yarn has gone up in response to the demand and in order to secure cargoss mány buyers in the interior have ap proached the milis direct for ship- ment 'to various destinations in Scuth Chine
Notwithstanding this, however, a fair Volume of business was bransacted in Hong Kong, the buyers being principally tróm' South China, where a period of poace between the Liang Kwong Provinces has resulted in much better businom conditions,ent
The demand for "native" goods has crested condition specially favourable, to Chinese yarns. Locat knitting factories, in spite of the increased price of Chinese yarns, have a good year to show, for the simple, reason that there is an absance et competition in auch articles as socks, singlete, under wear, etc: