Directory_and_Chronicle_1899 — Page 593

SHANGHAI

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imports, there was a remarkable rise in 1896, the value in that year being 44 per cent greater than in 1895, but 1897 shewed a decline of 20 per cent. The import of Kerosine Oil was 35,179,205 gallons in 1891, 21,027,848 gallons in 1892, 28,751,050 gallons in 1893, 43,314,254 in 1894, but fell to 29,716,480 in 1895, rising, however, to 42,821,383 gallons in 1896 and t› 67,359,323 in 1897. American declined in 1895 to less than half of the import in 1894, namely from 361 to 16 million gallons, but increased to 25 million gallons in 1896 and to 37 millions in 1897, while Russian case oil increased from 4 million gallons in 1894 to 7.85 in 1895, 7.83 in 1896, and to 17 in 1897, and Russian tank oil from 3 in 1894 to 5.85 in 1895, to 7.65 in 1896 and to 7.41 million gallons in 1897. The importation of Sugar, which was 247,894 piculs in 1892, rose to a million and a quarter in 1894, falling to under a million in 1896, but, although prices were higher, rose to a million and a third in 1897 ; of this 474,888 piculs was refine, almost entirely fron Hongkong. The value of in whinery imported in 1892 was Tls. 231,937, in 1893 fis. 651,453, in 1894 Tls. 1,029,670, in 1895 Tls. 1,674,288, in 1896 Tls. 1,643,163 and in 1897 Tls. 2,242,473. Of coal more than half a million tons were imported in 1897 at an advance of over thirty per cent. in price. As regards imports 1896 greatly exceeded the figures for any previous year, amounting to 130 million Haikwan taels, or £21,683,051, while, notwithstanding the very heavy stocks of almost all commodities at the close of that year, there was a slight increase in 1897, the total amount being 1323 million taels, equal to £19,768,003.

The total export trade in 1897 amounted to 122 million taels. of which native produce to foreign Countries aggregated over 78 million taels, an increase of 234 millions on the 1896 total. Of this increase Raw Cotton accounts for 4 millions although the price increased by 25 per cent., Raw Silk increased from 48,472 to 23,979 piculs. The shipments of Filature Silk mor› than doubled, while the value of Silk Piece Goods exporte lincreased by 14 million tels. The exports and re-export of Tea increased from 103 to 173 million tails, but this ingrase consisted to a consi·lerable extent of Brick Tea for Russia, formerly bought exclusively at Hankow In Struw Braids, Hides and Wool the values exported in 1897 were nearly double those of 1896. The net import of silver fell from 35.6 million taels in 1895 to 6.6 in 1896 and to 4 million taels in 1897. The net export of gold has considerably increased in recent years, having been 6.85 million taels in 1895, 7.2 in 1896 and 8.67 million taels in 1897.

The following tables show the export of Tea and Silk for six years:-

Tea-- Black

1892...picuis 269,730

Brick 281,739

Green

Silk

Wild

Waste

Cocoons

187,995

1892...61,160

9,173

39,864 3,316

1893...

49

231,339 353,910

234,072

1893...57,674

6,034

40,628 6,887

1894... 1895...

304,267

338,028

230,215

1894...69,657

9,909

48,191

6.703

**

358 631

412,694

249,689

1895...68,384

10,065

37,743 7,973

1896...

151,850

175,398 217,425

1896...46,329

9.487

25,877 7.939

1897...

251,166 507,039 204.358

1897...64,914

12,166 33,900 8,845

From Great Britain

Hk. Tls. 37,831,227

The Import trade in Foreign Goods for 1897 may be summarised as follows:-

From British America ..... Tls. 6,435,216

From Hongkong.....

29.135.353

From Straits and Australia

2.108,742

From India

20,068,183

From other Countries

924,596

From Japan and Formosa

13,952,927

From Chinese Ports

489,089

11,132,111

From Continent of Europe

10,630,830

Hk. Tls.132,708,274

From United States

The following were the values of the principal classes of Foreign Goods imported

during that year:-

Cotton Goods. Tls. 41,486,675

Seaweed......Tls. 783.705 604,891

Matches Wine, Beer, Sp'ts. 601,979 Leather and L. Gds. 596,323 Tobacco, Cigars, &c. 571,501 Beche de Mer... 567,860 Glass and 'ware 566,125 Needles

485,375 478,477 459,528 444,414

Silk & Silk Goods Tls. 313,295

Cotton Yarn

...

Opium

Kerosine Oil...

19,366,530 17,446,497 8,839,951

Indigo

303,255

Buttons

298,050

Paper

296.175

Sugar

5,940,233

Household Stores

283,877

Metals

5,767,835

Fans

280,673

Woollen Goods... 3,931,994

Clocks & Watches

271,509

Coal

2,777,390

Medicines

269,404

Machinery

2,243,246

Horns

Rattans

A

244.522

Ginseng...

1,281,040

Birds' Nests

Telegraphic Matls. 226,487

Dyes and Colours

1,205,525

Sharks' Fins

Isinglass

217.035

Timber

1,028,616

Soap...

428,419

Sundries

9,364,280

Cotton (Raw)

919.720

Mats and Matting 370,009

Sandalwood

808,713

Umbrellas

337,141

Total Hk. Tls. 132,708,274