90
The imports of machinery into Japan are on a considerable scale, and the trade is shared by the principal competitors as follows :---
Country.
1911.
1912.
1913.
91
Of this trade Great Britain secured more than 90 per cent.
The increase between the years 1903 and 1913 in the import of the two most promising classes of goods, viz., cotton Italians, Venetians, umbrella cloths, and velvets, was as follows:-
United Kingdom
United States
Germany
France
Other countries
Total
±
£
£
1,269,600
1,456,300
1,737,800
644,600
705,600
754,300
674,300
658,900
H73,600
18,500 211,000
18,500
24,700 -
148,300
362,300
2,818,000
2,987,600
3,752,700
Cotton Italians, &c. Velvets and plushes
1903.
1913.
£ 125,000 76,000
£
350,500 190,700
The largest single item of British machinery is textile machinery, the import of which for many years has averaged some 300,000l. per annum. In machine tools severe competition is met with from America and Germany, while in electrical machinery and water turbines Germany holds a commanding position.
Considerable advance has been made both in the number and capacity of Japanese engineering shops during the last few years, and with the advantage of the high duties and freights on European goods they are enabled to approximate in many cases the laid-down prices of the latter, and are seriously encroaching in the trade. Although the demand for machinery is certain to be considerable to meet the great industrial expansion in the country which is imminent after the war, British exporters of machinery will do well closely to watch Japanese developments and to change their policy as and when required.
2. Textiles. (a) Cottons.-In consequence of the advance of Japan as a textile manufacturing nation, the imports of cotton yarns and piece goods show a remarkable falling off during the past 15 years.
The following table shows the decrease in certain staple lines during that period
Articles
Aremage for 1898-1900,
Average for 1908-1910.
1913.
(b) Woollens and Worsteds.-While the imports of cotton textiles have fallen off considerably of late years, the imports of woollens and worsteda (particularly yarns) have shown a very marked expansion. The raising of the standard of life and comfort of the people, and the more widespread adoption of European dress in the cities, is causing a greatly enhanced demand for woollen and worsted serges, suitings, union cloths, &c. Japan has, so far, not taken up the manufacture of fine cloths, so that there will still be a valuable market for British goods after the war. The extension of the mousseline-de-laine weaving industry, however, and the experience gained during the war in the manufacture of ariny fabrics on a large scale for the Russian forces, will result in greatly increased competition from native manufacturers.
Raw Wool.-In 1913 the principal imports were as follows:-
Raw Wool.
Country.
United Kingdom
ti
*1913.
:
Lbs.
772,990
£ 46,300
9,733,821
452,100
1,025,986
29,600
77,731
11,610,028
4,900
532,900
|
i
Yarng
Flannel Prints
Gray shirtings
Turkey reds
Italian cloths
47,000.
17,000
Australia
China
Other countries
£
***
£
700,000.
81,000
100,000
19,000
190,000
190,000
10,000
620,000
450,000
125,000
43,000
110,000
3,000 43,000
4,000 14,500
The import of cotton yarns, with the exception of a few special counts, has been killed by the extension of the domestic industry, which has also attacked the coarser end of the piece goods trade. Not only will this trade not be recovered in the future, but we may expect to see competition in an ever-widening range of articles. Lancashire must therefore be prepared to lose certain portions of the trade, and should concentrate her attention on strengthening her position in the finer goods for which as the prosperity and standard of living advances in Japan--there is almost certain to be an increased demand. Such articles as fine white shirtings, Victoria lawns, Italians, Venetians, umbrella cloths, and cotton velvets, are the most promising articles for the future.
In 1913 the total import of cotton textiles amounted to 1,029,4007. (it shrank to 530,900. in 1914) made up as follows:-
Italians, Venetians, and umbrella cloths- Grey shirtings and sheetings
White
Velvets
Victoria lawns
Cotton prints
All other cotton tissues
23
£
350,500
121,700
120,900
190,700
36,500
10,000 196,100
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Hi!!!
£1,029,400
United Kingdom France -
Total
Wool Tops.
Country.
1913.
Germany
Apstralia
Other countries
Total
Lba. 5,893,098
£ 696,700
67,480
8,000
195,276
24,100
3,219,803
364,000
74,082
7,000
9,449,734
1,100,000
The expansion since the war has been enormous, largely on account of the Russian orders. The consumption by Japan in 1915-16 of the choicest merino wools shows an increase of nearly 500 per cent. on normal pre-war consumption (average pre-war takings 20,000 bales, 1915-16-113,600 bales), and the values of the total wool imports are given for that year at 3,100,000. It is understood that Japan is laying down combing plants of her own, and consequently the large trade in tops with the United Kingdom is seriously threatened,
M 2
642