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CHINA
"Tea accounts for much of the reduced value of Exports, the value of shipments in 1904 being Hk. Tls. 30,201,964, and in 1905 Hk. Tls. 25,445,652, the reduction being occa- sioned both by diminished quantities and lower prices. Black leaf was less by 152,000 piculs, the export in 1905, viz., 597,045 piculs, being valued at an average price of Hk. Tls. 21.30, against Hk. Tls. 22.10 in 1904. The cold, wet spring ruined the flavour of the first crop and reduced the quantity, and when the better quality of the later pickings gave prospect of an improved market, adverse exchange operated to keep silver prices low. Green leaf was pronounced to be generally the worst for years, and though the export, 242,128 piculs, maintained the figures of 1904, the average price was Hk. Tls. 34.25, against Hk. Tls. 39.25 in 1904. Brick Tea, Black and Green together, increased from 447,695 to 518,498 piculs, which still is 10,000 piculs below the ante bellum export of 1903.
"Silk and its products contributed to the total Export trade of the year a sum of Hk. Tls. 70,393,833, being 31 per cent. of all Exports; this sun was nearly 8 million taels less than in 1904, and Silk and Tea together account for the whole of the reduction in the value of the Export trade. In Native reelings of White Raw Silk the export fell from 34,238 piculs in 1994 to 24,270 piculs in 1905; and in Filature reelings, from 47,287 piculs in 1904 to 45,347 piculs in 1905. Yellow Silk was but little altered; while Wild Silk fell from 33,527 to 25,584 piculs. Disease continues to affect the Chinese silkworm, and producers in China will do well to take steps to remedy it.
Beancake, though shipped in largely increased quantities, failed to reach the normal level of 1903, exports being 2,897,948 piculs in 1995 and 3,403,704 pieuls in 1993. Beans attained the level of 1903 shipments, with an export of 2,665,523 piculs.
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"Raw Cotton resumed a low and more normal level, with shipments of 789,273 piculs, valued at an average of Hk. Tls, 15.25, against Hk. Tls. 20.20, the inflated value of 1904; the decrease in the value of the export is therefore greater in proportion than the decrease in quantity, and amounts to nearly 13 million taels. The crop was affected in both quantity and quality by foods, and the market was particularly influenced by exchange, since the crop of 1905 was gathered during the autumn rise in the price of silver. "Cow and Buffalo Hides were exported in much smaller quantities, an indication rather of agricultural prosperity, since, in China, no cattle are raised for a Foreign market, and beef is not an article of diet with the Chinese.
Matting was again exported in diminished quantity, and the hope expressed in my last Report of a revival of this trade has not been realised.
In Metals, shipments of Antimony and Quicksilver were reduced, while the export of Chinese Pig Iron was doubled and that of Tin from Yunnan mines increased by a half.
“Oil Seeds were exported in largely increased quantity, this being especially true of Sesamum Seed, which was benefited by the climatic conditions which injured Cotton, Silk, and Tea. Rape Seed (19,751 piculs), though increased from 1904 (5,417 piculs), did not attain the figures of 1903 (147,433 piculs) and 1902 (236,472 piculs).
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Straw Braid was exported in larger quantities, rising from 86,110 piculs in 1904 to 110,222 piculs. The trade expanded chiefly owing to the readiness with which the Chinese middlemen met the adverse rising exchange by lowering their silver prices; but there have been the same complaints of fraudulent packing, a matter to which the guilds will do well to pay attention.
"Sugar shows signs of recovery, owing to a very large increase in shipments from Kiungehow. South China in general, however, appears unable to compete with the modern methods of the Dutch Indies, and Eastern Sugar is more and more replaced for dainty palates by the refined article.
"On the whole, it will have been seen that the year has been bad for the Chinese pro- ducer and the exporter.
Shipping.—The tonnage entered and cleared was 72,755,547 tons, an increase of 8,980,841 tons, or 14 per cent., almost entirely in steam tonnage, and distributed over all flags. British tonnage was more by 7 per cent. (2,161,785 tons), but the percentage of the whole, 49 in 1903 and 513 in 1904, was 48 in 1905. The German flag increased by 8 per cent. (585,567 tons), being 11 per cent. of the whole, against 12 per cent. in 1904. The Japanese flag was restored nearly to the position it occupied before the outbreak of hostilities, with 7,965,358 tons, in 1903, reduced to 4,290,350 tons in 1904, rising to 6,238,918 tons in 1905; the percentage of the whole rose from 64 in 1904 to 8 in 1905. Norwegian tonnage was more than doubled, constituting 4 per cent. of the whole. The French flag was a little over, and the American a little under, 2 per cent.: and no other Foreign flag attained to per cent.
During the year 23,981 indentured labourers were sent direct from Treaty ports to South Africa.
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