Taikoo Dockyard and Eng. Co., Ld.,. Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co., Ld.. Macdonald & Co.,....
Kwong Fook Cheong,
Ah King,
12
1915.
3 vessels of 2,780 gross tons and 1,400 I.H.P.
5 2,488 33 11 1 3,240 70 1 " " 1 30 72 " 17 13 30 127 11 34 11 +4 Total.. 23 vessels of 5,361 gross tons and 4,909 I.H.P.1914.
12
Taikoo Dockyard and Eng. Co., Ld., 9 vessels of 7,166 gross tons and 4,970 I.H.P. Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co., Ld.,
W. S. Bailey & Co., . Macdonald & Co.,.
9 3,172 1,264 21 > 13 42 4,810 1,031 70 > A จ Tung Hing Lung,.. 110 140 11 喙嘴 11 Kwong Sing Loong.. 130 } Kwong Hop Long, 116 " 19 Kwong Tuck Cheong, Ah King.. 700 28 11 13 3 " 557 135 71 1 280 " J 11 • 150 210 1,450 34 1,200 1) ་་ Kwong Hip Lung Co., Ld., Kwong Lee,.. Total,.. 59 vessels of 13,420 gross tons and 14,345 I.H.P.The large decrease in the gross tonnage is due to the war, but it will be noticed that there is a small increase in the average tonnage of the vessels constructed from 224 to 233 tons each.
Sugar Refineries.--The year 1915 was one of very high prices throughout, governed by the inflated level of raws. Consumption of refineds in consequence was naturally restricted, particularly in the China markets where substantial reductions were found necessary towards the end of the year. Japanese and Java competition was experienced, but not quite so acutely as formerly, total imports from Java showing a marked falling off.
It may be noted that during the latter half of the year, the local Refineries took a larger share than usual in supplying British India and Persian Gulf markets with the highest quality of refined crystals.
Cotton Spinning--For the reasons stated in last year's report, the machinery of the local mill has now all been transferred to Shanghai, where the business is making satisfactory progress under the better cotton spinning conditions that apply there.
As regards Cotton Yarn, though marked by violent fluctuations in prices, the year was a fairly profitable one, both to foreign importers and to native dealers. At the close of last year the market was bad with the majority of the native dealers. As the Chinese New Year approached, however, matters improved owing to arrangements with importers which contributed in no small degree to the more sound trade conditions which obtained during the rest of the year.
Below is appended a table of Arrivals, Sales, and Deliveries which shows that while the sales for the current year are about the same as those of 1914, the deliveries show an encouraging improvement:-
Arrivals, Sales, 159,000 105,000 Deliveries, 177,000 Comparative prices.. 10s., $ 90-$105 20s., $115-$130