The Trade of South China.
Information for Allied Manufacturers and Merchants.
NQUIRIES are continually being received from manu- facturers and merchants interested in the Far Eastern markets regarding the possibilities of getting into closer touch with the millions of potential customers in China. The whole country is, broadly speaking, a closed book to them. An immense volume of trade is being done, but it asses through Hongkong, Shanghai and Treaty Ports
1 into the hands of Chinese agents and travellers. Outside of the radius of the coast towns the European and American merchant, with one or two notable exceptions, has no direct means of influencing the demand, or of bringing, without very considerable trouble and expense, any new article prominently to the notice of those with whom he is anxious to do business.
There are already signs of a great revival in the trade which has necessarily languished during the past four years. Conditions have changed very materially. There is a certainty of greater competition than ever before, and even those firms with established connections in China are realising that they will have to modify their methods very considerably if they are to keep their foremost place. Where previously there was one merchant, satisfied with the returns upon the amount of business which came unsolicited to his hands, there will soon be hundreds clamouring for a share in the profits.
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