# D7-
## 2.-Trade.
10. As pointed out in previous reports, the figures which used to appear under this heading were misleading, being inaccurate in some cases. However, in the few items of Import Trade of which substantially accurate details can be given, and as to these, the following remarks may be of interest :-
Coal.-1,046,290 tons were imported during the year. This quantity, compared with the imports for 1910, shows a decrease of 68,830 tons or 6.6%. This decrease may be ascribed to greater quantities of coal passing through Hongkong to Canton than heretofore, principally, Japanese, North China and Hongay coals; also to the falling off in Ocean Tonnage.
Of the many varieties of coal imported, Japanese heads the list. Next comes North China and Hongay. The importation from Pulo Laut is increasing. There was only one cargo of Cardiff coal commercially imported. No Australian coal was discharged throughout the year.
Kerosene Oil shows a big increase in Bulk Oil of 62,367 tons or 111.1%, and in Case Oil an increase of 4,112 tons or 8.2%, while Liquid Fuel has increased by 7,759 tons or 82.3%. The huge increase in Bulk Oil can be attributed to a great extent to the cutting of rates between the Standard Oil and Asiatic Petroleum Companies, and as the stocks were left short in 1910 it further enhanced the importation of the commodity during the year, and, also, to shipments hitherto shipped direct to coast ports, but now transhipped here. Owing to the Revolution in China sales in the Interior have now become restricted. Similarly, the increase in Liquid Fuel tends to show that this class of fuel is now becoming popular in steamers which hitherto exclusively consumed coal.
Cotton and Cotton Yarn.-Here is shown a large decrease amounting to 34,730 tons or 37.5% chiefly due to high prices ruling for cotton during the year, which made it prohibitive to the poorer Chinese and so checked business. The last two or three months of the year were particularly bad for business owing to the Revolution.
Flour. Here our returns show a great increase of 49,679 tons or 153.8%, due to the poor rice and wheat crops in China throughout the year. Districts which were supplied last year from the abundant crops of China have this year been compelled to fall back on the American product. The price of rice has also enhanced the demand for American flour, this being used as a substitute for rice and rice flour. The prices of rice throughout the year have practically stood at about 40% over normal prices, possibly, the high prices of flour in Australia have to some extent inflated our imports here, inasmuch, as such high prices have curtailed that country's shipments to ports south of Hongkong, which are large consumers (Java, Straits, Burmah, &c.), and the southern ports have come to us for their supplies; this port being the distributing centre of those districts for American flour.