The increase of tonnage built by the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co., Ltd., is due to the building of vessels for the Straits Steamship Co. The Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co. had several large vessels building, which are not shown in the return.
Sugar Refineries.-The year 1916 was marked by a further increase in the price of already highly inflated raws. In spite of this clearances were on the whole good, a marked feature being the increasing demand for crystals from India and the Persian Gulf markets, which would have assumed very large proportions had it not been hampered by scarcity of tonnage and the very high level of silver.
Cotton Yarn.-The year has undoubtedly been a profitable one both for importers and dealers, although the volume of business has been smaller than that of previous years. The political troubles in China had a restricting influence upon the market, and the anti-monarchical movement with the fear of disturbances affected business severely throughout the spring and early summer.
The war conditions now prevailing have driven prices of all commodities to a high level-American Cotton reached the record price of 123d. per lb. in November-which must necessarily curtail the offtake amongst the poorer consumers. Another most important factor is the growth of the Japanese and Shanghai mill enterprises which continue to make great progress at the expense of Indian Yarns in the South as well as in other parts of China.
Rope Making. There was a fair demand for Manila Cordage throughout the year but the total turnover shows a falling off from that of the previous twelve months. The cost of raw material was still higher than the high figure it had reached at the end of 1915 and no doubt the consumption of the manufactured article was adversely affected by the consequent higher prices.
Cement. There was a good demand throughout the year 1916. The price of Cement rose but business with gold standard countries was of course adversely affected by the high rates of exchange which ruled during the latter part of the year. Nevertheless on the whole the turnover for the year shows an improvement on that of 1915.
Tin.-Business in this commodity has been reduced considerably in comparison with the preceding year which as already reported was a poor one. Imports from Yunnan for the whole year amounted to about 3,000 tons and from Kwang Sai about 1,000 tons against 7,000 tons and 1,000 tons respectively in 1915. Export during the year was about 500 tons to Japan, 400 tons to Shanghai, and 2,300 tons to Europe, United States of America, and Canada.
11
The increase of tonnage built by the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co., Ltd., is due to the building of vessels for the Straits Steamship Co. The Hongkong
The Hongkong & Whampoa Dock Co. had several large vessels building, which are not shown in the
return.
Sugar Refineries.-The year 1916 was marked by a further increase in the price of already highly inflated raws. In spite of this clearances were on the whole good, a marked feature being the increasing demand for crystals from India and the Persian Gulf markets, which would have assumed very large proportions had it not been hampered by scarcity of tonnage and the very high level of silver.
Cotton Yarn.-The year has undoubtedly been a profitable one both for importers and dealers, although the volume of business has been smaller than that of previous years.
The political troubles in China had a restricting influence upon the market, and the anti-monarchical movement with the fear of disturbances affected business severely throughout the spring and early summer.
The war conditions now prevailing have driven prices of all commodities to a high level-American Cotton reached the record price of 123d. per lb. in November-which must necessarily curtail the offtake amongst the poorer consumers.
Another most important factor is the growth of the Japanese and Shanghai mill enterprises which continue to make great pro- gress at the expense of Indian Yarns in the South as well as in other parts of China.
Rope Making. There was a fair demand for Manila Cordage throughout the year but the total turnover shows a falling off from that of the previous twelve months. The cost of raw material was still higher than the high figure it had reached at the end of 1915 and no doubt the consumption of the manufactured article was adversely affected by the consequent higher prices.
Cement. There was a good demand throughout the year 1916. The price of Cement rose but business with gold standard countries was of course adversely affected by the high rates of exchange which ruled during the latter part of the year. Nevertheless on the whole the turnover for the year shows an improvement on that of 1915.
Tin.-Business in this commodity has been reduced consider- ably in comparison with the preceding year which as already reported was a poor one.
Imports from Yunnan for the whole year amounted to about 3,000 tons and from Kwang Sai about 1,000 tons against 7,000 tons and 1,000 tons respectively in 1915.
Export during the year was about 500 tons to Japan, 400 tons to Shanghai, and 2,300 tons to Europe, United States of America, and Canada.
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