498
CHINA
The total carrying trade, foreign and coastwise, in 1926 was divided amongst the different flags as under:-
Entries and
Clearances
Tonnage
Japanese
British
29,654
Values Hk. 38,948,844 Tls. 1,450,661,833
Percentages Tonnage Trade
28.92
31.55
36,474
47,645,090
""
1,346,331,348
35'38
29.28
Chinese
78,163
28,393,631
,, 1,070,828,970
21'09
23.29
American.
5,338
6,496,351
>>
213,577,562
4.83
4'64
French
Norwegian
.....
2,262
2,321,632
""
141,268,643
1.72
3:07
2,407
3,301,874
99,641,993
2.45
2.17
German
813
2,995,127
,,
88,221,637
2.23
1.92
Russian
376
454,504
""
86,729,069
0'34
1.89
Dutch
556
1,891,772
49,250,782
1'40
1'07
Italian.....
1,045
731,499
""
23,306,785
0.54
0.51
Danish
283
707,211
""
11,881,747
0'53
0'26
Portuguese
...
1,444
447,094
**
8,296,283
0'33
0'18
Swedish
138
.....
252,258
""
6,392,653
0.19
0'14
Brazilian
31
31,713
994,203
0'02
0'02
Belgian
2
6,142
268,840
0.01
Spanish
18,884
>>
84,443
0.02
Austrian...
2,980
**
Non-Treaty Powers...
2
15,980
0.01
Total....... 158,996
134,659,606
» 4,597,739,771
100'00 100.00
Mr. L. de Luca, Statistical Secretary of the Chinese Customs, in concluding his annual report on the Trade of China for 1926 says:-
"It would be pleasant to be able to strike a hopeful note for the future of China's trade, but, while there is no occasion for unrestricted pessimism, it is difficult to predict any improvements in the near future. There is no doubt that the tenacity, resiliency, and perseverance of the Chinese people and their marked capacity to trade under the most trying circumstances are a great asset, and it is no exaggeration to say that there is a great boom in store for all those who can afford to mark time and wait for more normal and peaceful conditions. Meanwhile, merchants and producers, foreign and Chinese, must face such problems as disrupted railway services, brigandage and piracy, high taxation, and reduced production. What will be the results achieved by the end of 1927 no one can forctell. Very likely the consequences of the civil war, which is now affecting the whole nation, will be felt to a greater extent and will have a greater repercussion on trade, as the months go by, than has been the case until now. But there is this certainty: if China is to maintain her place in the world's markets, and even gain some ascendancy, she will have to produce more, at cheaper prices and of better qualities. China's industries are still in their infancy, and since she has to rely almost entirely on her natural produce for her export trade, she should not forget that when her products are unsatisfactory as to price or quality, there are other countries well able, and more than willing, to enter into competition with her."
Value in Silver and Sterling of the Foreign Trade of China, 1892 to 1925:-
Year
Average Exchange.
Imports.
Exports.
s. d.
Hk. Tls.
£
Hk. Tls.
£
1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1900..
...
1901.
...
1902 .. 1903.
...
* 20 CM ∞ ∞ MENN
4
4+
140,298,086
30,544,061
102,583,525
22,333,288
3
11
149,928,703
29,517,212
116,632,311
22,961,986
3 23
163,897,525 26,206,530
128,104,522
20,483,379
3 31 172,853,145
3 ·4
2 11
113
2 102
28,268,688 209,106,866 34,851,143 204,554,227 30,470,055 217,761,975
143,293,211
23,434,411
131,081,421 21,846,903
163,501,358
24,354,889
31,416,701 159,037,149
22,944,422
3
0:
280,907,296
42,282,402
195,784,832
29,469,696
3
11 223,791,888
34,734,365
158,996,752
24,677,621
2
11
280,472,693 41,559,625 169,656,757
25,139,243
2 7
2
||
...
335,601,739 343,300,115
43,628,226 45,296,542
214,181,584
27,843,605
214,352,467 28,282,616
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