better harvests in the Yangtze Valley giving rise to renewed optimism, an active demand for Sugar supplies arose in August, and this was maintained during the greater part of the rest of the year.
The devaluation of the Guilder in September might have had considerable effect on Eastern markets, but the Sugar Selling Organisation in Java, which is probably the most potent single factor in Sugar circles in the Far East, was able to exercise firm and beneficial control of the price situation, and the changed conditions caused little disruption.
At the end of 1936 a sharp upward trend in prices set in, with considerable activity in all the world markets. The strength of the upward movement has brought out many speculators but in general the recovery is probably genuine and healthy, and it is perhaps not too much to hope that at last Sugar may share in the improvement noted in other commodity markets.
Cement:-Due to the general depression, and the Government's retrenchment policy, fewer building schemes of importance have been undertaken during the year, so that the consumption of Cement shows a reduction, a reduction on last year's figures.
Japanese Importers continue to do most of the trade, but large supplies of Haiphong Cement are now coming into the Colony and are being retailed at prices below those of Japanese.
Government Statistics for the year 1936 give the Imports of Cement into Hong Kong for that year as follows: —
From Piculs Value ($) Japan 1,034,784 742,526 Indo-China 342,505 245,598 Other Countries... 10,236 51,220 Total 1,387,425 1,039,342Preserved Ginger:-Local prices fluctuated during the year from $12.50 to $19 per picul for cargo ginger and from $19 to $26 for stem ginger. Better trade conditions in the United Kingdom and other buying markets led to increased demand for preserved ginger during 1936, the values of quantities exported being as follows:-
To 1936 ($) 1935 ($) United Kingdom 1,107,427 783,193 Australia 346,913 332,671 Holland 202,578 191,454 U. S. A. 142,717 138,131 Other Countries 301,331 430,329 Total 2,100,966 1,875,778Page 15
...
Page 25
...
Page 27