Of the several varieties of opium imported, Malwa decreased by 454 chests or 9.2%, Patna by 6,443 or 39.7%, Benares by 1,249 or 19.3%, Persian by 1,090 or 27.6%.
Of the several varieties of opium exported, Malwa decreased by 2,000 chests or 43.5%, Patna by 4,196 or 29.7%, Benares by 926 or 14.9%. The export of Persian opium increased by 56 chests or 2.5%.
The trade in compounds of opium shows a decrease, the imports being 38.8% less than in 1910 and the exports 14.5% less. In morphine there is also a decrease of 39% in the imports and 19.5% in the exports. The figures for cocaine show a considerable increase, the imports being 451 lbs. as compared with 145 lbs. in 1910, and the exports being 445 lbs. as compared with 201 lbs. in 1910. During the latter half of the year, however, there has been very little trade in either morphine or cocaine owing to further restrictions placed on the import of these drugs at the various ports in China and the neighbouring countries.
Sugar-The imports of sugar show a decrease 42,076 tons or 16.7%.
Cotton and Cotton Yarn.-Here is shown a large decrease amounting to 34,730 tons or 87.5% 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. 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 products. 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, and possibly the high prices of flour in Australia have to some extent inflated our imports of flour 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. Hongkong is the distributing centre of American flour for those ports.
Rice. Here our returns show a falling off of 152,224 tons or 26.6%. The failure of the southern crops in general, as evidenced by the high prices which have ruled on the markets for the last half year, has, of course, been the reason of the decline.
Summary.-The total reported imports during the year amounted to 3,995,793 tons, as against 4,292,194 tons in 1910, a decrease of 296,401 tons or 7.4%. Exports show an increase of 71,672 tons, or 3.1%. Transit cargo shows an increase of 66,109 tons or 1.6%. These figures are not however reliable, there being no means of collecting accurate information in the absence of any Customs Staff.
Of the several varieties of opium imported, Malwa decreased by 454 chests or 92%, Patna by 6,443 or 397%, Benares by 1,249 or 19.3%, Persian by 1,090 or 27·6%.
Of the several varieties of opium exported, Malwa decreased by 2,000 chests or 43'5%, Patna by 4,196 or 29-7%, Benares by 926 or 14.9 %. The export of Persian opium increased by 56 chests or 2.5%.
The trade in compounds of opium shows a decrease, the imports being 38.8% less than in 1910 and the exports 14.5% less. In morphine there is also a decrease of 39% in the imports and 19 ̊5% in the exports. The figures for cocaine show a considerable increase, the imports being 451 lbs. as compared with 145 lbs. in 1910, and the exports being 445 lbs. as compared with 201 lbs. in 1910. During the latter half of the year, however, there has been very little trade in either morphine or cocaine owing to further restrictions placed on the import of these drugs at the various ports in China and the neighbouring countries.
Sugar-The imports of sugar show a decrease 42,076 tons or
16.7%.
Cotton and Cotton Yarn.-Here is shown a large decrease amount- ing to 34,730 tons or 87.5% 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. 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 products. 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, and possibly the high prices of flour in Australia have to some extent inflated our imports of flour - 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. Hongkong is the distributing centre of American flour for those ports.
Rice. Here our returns show a falling off of 152,224 tons or 26·6%. The failure of the southern crops in general, as evidenced by the high prices which have ruled on the markets for the last half year, has, of course, been the reason of the decline.
Summary.-The total reported imports during the
year amounted to 3,995,793 tons, as against 4,292,194 tons in 1910, a decrease of 296,401 tons or 74%. Exports show an increase of 71,672 tons, or 31%. Transit cargo shows an increase of 66,109 tons or 16% These figures are not however reliable, there being no means of collecting accurate information in the absence of any Customs Staff.
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