44
The Import Trade. The following table gives the share of the various countries in the import trade of the Philippines during the years 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914-
Choutry.
JE 17
1912.
1919.
1914.
£
£
£
£
British Empire :-
United Kingdom
1.165,843
1,198,065
1,120,008
922,836
Australasia
533.791
702,732
557,935
505,260
British East Indies
228,146
514,637
[39,591
155,072
Hong Kong
171,946
173,255
110,304
61.906
Canada -
3,698
10,443
18,853
Other Colonies and Dependencies
2,860
586
Total British Empire
2,103,424
2,602,012
1,946,277
9,596 4,947
1,659,617
United States
3,991,046
5.064,377
Austria-Hungary
Belgium
40,515 60,424
47.201 65.014
5,557,554 33,597 59,799
5,057,288 31,051
41,908
415.947
401,226
456,136
521,581
France
239,322
300,285
301,701
228,977
French ludo-China
1,425,812
2,373,215
564,091
652,312
Germany
446,050
591,603
601,758
469,281
Ituly
43,757
48,623
47,832
39,933
Jupan
557,927
633,369
706,923
757,009
Netherlands
36,908
40,681
38,205
27,605
Dutch East Indies
79,996
113,886
88.759
114,656
Siun
95.987
74,921
96.810
Spain
249,067
298,596
258,109
Switzerland
Other Countries
97.211 121.699
99,692 92.778
146,205 204,074
66,87+ 248,641 108,520
Grand Total
10,005,092
12,847,479
11,106,880
94,458
10,122,636
China
The principal articles comprising the total of 10,122,6367. in 1914, were cotton textiles 2,074,218, iron, steel, and machinery 1,454,844., rice 682,531, meat and dairy products 621,781, cereals 426,076., oils 432,2611., cars and carriages (including motor cars) 309,8687.
Cotton Piece Goods and Yarns.--Whereas, under the Spanish régime, the import of Lancashire textiles held first place, the imposition of import duties ranging from 10 per cent. to 40 per cent. and averaging about 30 per cent. ad valorem, has placed such a handicap on British goods in favour of their American competitors that the United Kingdom share in this trade is gradually declining, and that of the United States is increasing steadily. The time is apparently not far distant when Lancashire will only ship to the islands those cloths and yarns which American manufacturers do not or cannot make, and a steady important trade will be lost solely through artificial restrictions. The following table shows the proportion in which the United States and the United Kingdom participated in the supply of the principal items in 1914:
Articles.
Cotton cloth :--
Coited States.
United Kingdom.
Total Import.
戈
£
£
Unbleached
47,679
4,117
59,079
Bleached
345,247
78,870
448,497
Dyed
266,158
102,218
455,005
Printed -
313.413
30,966
350,536
Yarn:-
Bleached
15,044
31,458
Dyed
38,652
72,500
Handkerchiefs
7,956
16,811
26,923
Lavea
436
11,956
14,952
Total
980,889
298,634
1,458,950
This tendency towards American control of the textile market has been accentuated since the outbreak of war. In 1915 the imports from the United States constituted 85 per cent. of the total import during a record year. Japan is also
45
becoming a more serious competitor, particularly in grey, bleached, dyed, and mercerised yarns, while Swiss mauufacturers have been able to work up a successful trade in fancy printed muslins, largely on account of being able to produce the straight threads required. The value of this market to American manufacturers is shown by the fact that the shipments of piece goods thither in 1915 were more than five times the value of those consigned to China during the same period, and were approximately 16 per cent. of the entire amount of cloth exported from the United States.
Iron, Steel, and Machinery.-The United States in 1914 contributed 1,061,1037. out of a total of 1,454,844, the balance being principally drawn from the United Kingdom and Germany. The business previously done in goods of British manu- facture is steadily drifting towards the United States so far as similar goods are made there, such as galvanised corrugated sheets, bar iron and steel, &c., the only exception being in the case of cheap hardware, enamelled hollowware, and cutlery made in Germany and Austria, which articles can apparently be produced much more economically in those countries than elsewhere.
Under the sub-heading of Machinery, out of an aggregate import of 506,4581. in 1914, the United States contributed 344,375., the United Kingdom 82,5007., and Germany 79,583. Of the British total, 51,458, consisted of steam engines and boilers, and in the other main items, such as sugar, machinery, and electrical plant, British makers were beaten by their American competitors. Sewing machines (141,6677.), typewriters (15,8334), and wood-cutting machinery (10,000) were obtained almost exclusively from the United States.
Rice. Of the heavy rice imports, amounting to 682,5317, the principal supplies are drawn from Saigon, with smaller quantities from Singapore and Bangkok. The islands are at present largely dependent upon overseas supplies, but there is no doubt that good rice lands exist in the southern islands, if only they were cultivated, and the Government are making strenuous efforts to stimulate the production by granting large areas of suitable land in the southern island of Mindanao to settlements of botli American and Filipino colonists.
Meat and Dairy Products.-The large total of 621,7812. is comprised mainly of fresh and tinned meats, bacon and hams, lard, butter, fresh and condensed milk. Of these Australasia contributed the bulk supplies of fresh meats and butter, the United States supplied tinned meats, lard and substitutes for lard, while the United Kingdom supplied the majority of the tinned milk. This United Kingdom trade has been much increased since the establishment of branches of the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company at Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo. The heavy Australian imports have been considerably stimulated by the Philippines Cold Stores at Manila, a pro- gressive firm managed by Messrs. G. S. Yuill & Co., the large Australian produce exporters, who import their supplies direct by the vessels of the Australian-Oriental line, for which they act as agents.
Cereals and Cereal Products.—427,0767.
Of this total 233,3187. worth came
from the United States. Imports of wheat flour account for 335,625, of which 218,750 were drawn from United States, and 116,667. from Australasia. Bread and biscuits amount to 29,375., of which 25,417, were imported from the United Kingdom.
Oils.---432,2611. This total is made up of large imports of kerosene oil, together with smaller quantities of petrol. The principal sources of supply are the United States and the Dutch East Indies, according to whether the oil is imported by the Standard Oil Co. and the Texas Oil Co. (American), or by the Asiatic Petroleum Co. (British).
Cars and Carriages (including Motor Cars).-309,868. These imports were divided as to —
Cars and Carriages.-United States, [95,3091.; other countries 114,5897. Motor Cars. United States, 108,3337.; France 34,5831. Tyres.-United States, 31,250L.; France 13,7501
Rolling Stock for RailwaysOf a total of 47,708, the United Kingdom supplied 45,4171., largely on account of the Philippines Railway Company being a British
concern.
Coal. The dependence upon Japanese supplies is most marked, although Australia and China are increasing their quantities.
F 9
619
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.