ASMI EPIDEMI KENTAARE LUGAR NAY PERFEKTLEDERNE,
274
COMMERCIAL.
SHANGHAI-From statistical point of view the year 1902 was Hery satisfactory as both Imports and Exports showed very large increases. Cotton Goods alone were responsible for the increase in Imports, the total value being Hk. Tis. 99,000,000 or 27 Millions more than the previous year. Although satisfactory from a revenue standpoint, this enormous advance was more the result of over-trading, as the heavy stocks at 80th June and 81st December 1902 clearly proved, than due to actual inprovement in demand. For the merchants engaged in the trade, both Foreign and Native, the year did not show very good results. Tientsin opened well but the serious drop in the value of their Tael interfered greatly with Imports, and, for a time, completely put a stop to business. Newchwang also suffered from the game cause, and then, in addition to this, came the collapse in sterling ex- change. A number of the largest Piece Goods dealers in Shanghai were very heavily hit by the latter, as they had sold a quantity of cargo (bought by them on a sterling basis) to the mer- chants before the drop and neglected to settle their Exchange. In addition to this they had to bear the cost of carrying the cargo left on their hands owing to the cessation of demand from the North, and with Native Interest at a very high level this proved most expensive. Altogether the year, which opened so auspiciously, ended in very reduced profits and in some cases showed actual losses.” The Export Trade did not show up so well as was to have been expected, sided as it was by the low Exchange. The Silk Crop was a failure and the quantity available for Export was very much below the average of previous years. Owing, however, to the higher level of prices, consequent upon the very short crop, the value of the Silk exported was fully equal to previous years, and it is satisfactory to learn that on the whole this branch was profitable for those engaged in it, The Chinese Cotton Crop only yielded half its normal amount, and the Local Mills were seriously handicapped by the abnorm- ally high prices of the raw material. In face of this it is strange to read in the report that "There was an increase of 27 million Taels in the value of Native produce exported. To this increase Raw Cotton for its share alone contributed 8 millions, large shipments of this staple, amounting to nearly treble the previous year's figures, went to Japan." The Straw Braid trade did not show the expansion that might have been expected, and this is attributed to a great extent to the tricky practices of the plaiters. Carelessness of produc. tion and malpractices on the part of most of the Natives engaged in the Export trade of China seems to be the universal complaint throughout all the Reports.
AMOY.-A Foreign Office report on the trade of Amoy (China) for the year 1802 states that tak- ing the average exchange for the twelve months at 28. 71-5d. against, s. 11d. to the Haikwan Tael in the previous year, the gross seaborne traffic amounted to 23,868,000 as compared with 23,809,000 for the previous year. Excluding re- exports, consisting mainly of Formosan tea tran- shipped en route to foreign countries and Hong Kong, the net value of the trade of the port was £2,231,000, as against £2,177,000 in 1901, or £54,000 increase. Both imports and exports generally show a falling-off, and the apparent increase is more than made up by the increased importation of rice and opium, these two items alone accounting for an additional import value of £380.001, namely opium £67,000 and rice £24,000. Owing to the exceptional drought the early rice harvest was very poor, and during the spring and summer months plague and cholera prevailed as usual in the principal inland centres of consumption. Heavily increased taxation, in every possible direction, accompanied by general lawlessless thoughout the province, further inter- fered with trade, while in October a disastrous fire occurred in Amoy, which destroyed a large part of the business quarter of the town and entailed a partial suspension of business for over three weeks. General loss resulted and very few business men made money during the year. Th value of the direct trade with foreign countries was £2,579,000, including re-exports 2550,000, almost doublé the value of the exports. Of this total the trade with the United Kingdom and Britian dependencies am unted to £1,286,000, nearly the whole of which was with Hong Kong and Singapore.
SIBILK.
SHANGHAI-Messrs A. R. Burkill and Son, in their circular, dated the 1st October, state:--The home markets are unchanged. Gold Kiling is
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Raw Silk.-There are no settlements of Tsatlees to record; some Taysaams have been taken at full rates, otherwise the market is very dull for all white Silks. Yellow Silks-continue in request and extremely high prices are being paid, and this is the more pronounced when the quantity of the cargo is considered. Hand Filatures-are neglected. Steam Filaturos-are weak, with very little business doing. Wild Silk-contracts for the new Season's Filatures are recorded on the basis of Spinning Girls 8 Cocoons at Tls. 411. Waste Silk.-Market quiet, moro for want of supplies than from any falling off in the demand. Shantung B has been due at Tis, 41} (whole bales.).
A
In
CANTON, 24th September.-Exports Re-reels.- No transactions are reported in this class, and. local value; have weakened about $20 per picul Filatures.-The lower Exchange has brought buyers nearer to the firm level of prices eatab- lished by holders, and a very fair business has resulted. Prices if anything still incline upwards owing to unfavourable rumours on the 5th crop. the cocoons of which are reported plentiful but as giving a poor yield of silk. From settlements we quote Sam Yu Ye, Kai Lun Che ng 9/11 at $980, On 10/12 at $010, Yu Loong Hing 10/12 at $830 Cheong Kee 9/11 (2nd crop) at 945, King Tack
Min Lan On, Kam Lun 10/12 at $900, Chee Lee Yuen Hing, Mei Lun Hing 10/12 at $813, Chung Wo 11/13 at $940, Lee Yuen Hing 13/16 at $375, Wai King Wo 18/22 at $820.
filatures Native "
large bu iness bas been done at 3850 for Best 3e Order 11/13, $825 for 11/13, 13/15, $790/800 for 18/15, $760/770 for 14/18, $740 for 18/22.Short-reels.-Havelalso had at $940 and Tien Po Hang at $935, early in the fair share of enquiry. Miu King Lon was done fortnight. Extra chops have now advanced and $950 was since paid for Kwong Wo Hing. In other grades, Quang Wo Hing has sold at $920, Mee Kee at $910 and Koun King at $885. Waste Silk-Has advanced heavily under Dative speculation in the interior, where the bulk of the stock is now held. Supplies in the hands of dealers are very light and sales made show considerable divergence according to the cost price of the holdings. Steam Ext. Sel. opened has sold from 142 up to $146 and Ext. Ext. that it is difficult to quote accurately. Punjum opened at $106/103. Other kinds are so scarto
Books No. 3 have been done at $141 (now held in the country for $145) and a small sale of Nos. 3 and 4 was made at $185.
h
CAMPHOR.
HONGKONG, 9th October. No arrivals.
RICE.
+
Messrs. Wm. G, Hale & Co. of Saigon, in their circular dated September 25th say - As there is hardly anything to be called a demand for any direction, and as the weather proved, lately, very seasonable, our market shows marked signs of weakness. Real Cochin China Paddy is not plentiful and the little that comes to the market is indeed of a poor average showing more or less yellow and red grains, which are Cambodia Paddy has been coming in freely lately unavoidable at this advanced stage of the Season.
and there is quite a stock of it in Cholon godowns: but the quality of the latter is much inferior to Cochin China Paddy, as it contains a larger percentage of red grains, is much smaller in appearance, and turns out with more broken grains. The latter is sold much cheaper than the former. As regards new Crop, the weather has been lately very favourable and the prospect, so far, looks very fair.
We quote for October delivery: No. 2 White sifted steam milled (round) No. 2 unsifted Do.
**
5 per cent. Cargo team milled 10 per cent. per cent.
20
*1
"
$5.00
31
JI
J
**
$4.00 $3.70 $3.55
A statement of this year's Exports of white rice, cargo rice, and paddy shows that the total has been 7,294,500 piouls, as compared with 10,984,800 p:culs for the corresponding poriod of last year.
The exports of the month to date have been as follows:-
To Hongkong
Manila
"
Iloilo
"
Cebu
21
21
Japan
75
Europe
[October 10, 1903.
The prices are going
HONGKONG, 9th October. downward, market being weak. Saigon, Ordinary ........................................
Round, Good quality Long
Siam, Field mill cleaned, No. 2
Garden, White.
"
ور
No. 1
"
Fine Cargo
SUGAR.
Do.
Do.
17
.....$3.06 to $3.10
4.80 to 4.85 ..... 5.05 to 5.10 3.85 to 3.70 4.15 to 4.20 ........... 4.85 to 4.90 5.15 to 5.20
39
HONGKONG, 9th October.-No demands having come forward, the prices are declining. Shekloong, No. 1, White......$8.85 to 88.40 pcl.
2, White..... 7.50 to 7.55 No. 1, Brown...... 6.10 to 0.15 2, Brown...... 5.00 to 5.95 No. 1, White...... 8.25 to 8.30 2. White...... 7.85 to 7.40 Do.
1, Brown...... 5.85 to 5.00 Do.
2, Brown. 6.70 to 5.75 Foochow Sugar Candy .........12.65 to 12.70 Shekloong
.10.70 to 10.75 34
Do. Swatow,
Do.
*
11
COTTON.
#
It
**
12
H
HONGKONG, 26th Sept.-Fair business done ata
Stock about 1,500 bales.
decli
Bombay... Bengal (New), Rangoon
and Dacca... Shanghai and Japanese, Tungchow and Ningpo, Sale-700 bales.
YARN.
*
23.50 to 24.00 picul 24.50 to 26.50 28.0 ) to 29.00 28.00 to 29.00
"
**
14
Mr. P. Eduljee says in his Report, dated Hong- kong, 9th October: Tightness of money has continued to act prejudicially on the market, and the depression has been much aggravated by the prevalence of the usual mid-autumn festivities; the result being a considerable falling off in the volume of business, and a further general deprecia- tion of $1 to $3, in price. Importers are becoming anrious sellers, and exceptional offers have been laid before dealers, but in no case have they been accepted, and our quotations, in consequence, have become quite nominal. We may mention that the country is almost bare of stock, and that when buying does commence it will sharp, sudden, and excited, more especially as the prospects of while competition amongst holders still continues an abundant rice crop are encouraging. Mean-
and the war of rates is unabated--warket closing quiet and depressed.
Local Manufacture :- Quotations are maintain- ed and about 800 bales No. 10's are reported sold at $101. No enquiry for No. 12's.
Japanese Yarn-In sympathy with the Indian article, is experiencing little or no demand, the only sale of the interval being 200 bales No. 203 Yellow Joss at $124.
Raw Cotton-The market has been featureless, China Cotton is scarce and wanted, and a small importation of 300 bales Ningpo is reported sold at from $281 to $29. No stock. There is still no life in Indian descriptions, the country being irresponsive. About 350 bales superfine Bengal have changed hands at from $24) to $25, leaving a stock of about 1,400 bales on the market. Quota- tions are Indian $20 to $27 and China 828 to $31.
the interval, and closes to-day at Ba. 1884 for T/T Exchange on India has kept steady throughout and Rs. 1384 for Post. On Shanghai 72 and on Yokohama 891.
The undernoted business in imported and local spinnings is reported from Shanghai during the fortnight ending the 25th ultimo, vis-
Indian :--Total sales 11,425 bales, comprising 4.803 bales No. 10's, 1815 bales No. 12′s, 40 bales No. 14's, 1020 bales No. 16's, and 9720 bales No. 20's, prices showing an advance of 1 Taèl in No. 1's, and about 2 Taols in other counts, market closing firm. Estimated unsold stock 86,00 bales.
JapanesePrices steady, market firm. Total sales 2500 bales on the basis of Tis. 83) to 90} for No. 16's, and Tla. 90 to 95 for No. 20's.
Local:-There has been no improvement in the demand and the market is unsteady. Sales com- prise 200 bales No. 80's, at Tis. 81 to 814, 800 bales No. 12's, at Tis. 871, and 000 bales No. 14's, at Tla. 85 to 89.
OPIUM.
HONGKONG, 8th October.-
Quotations are:-Allowance net, to 1 citty. Malwa New ............... $970 to Malwa Old
27,800 picnla 270,200
142,300
"
per picul.
$1,030 to
do. ~
Malwn Older
..$1,060 to
do.
30,400
Malwa A. Old
*
$1,090 to
Persian fine quality
..$850 to
do đó.
Total 470,400
Persian extra fine
do.
Patna New
Benares New
Freights to Hongkong are 8 cts. per picul; Patna Old
quoted at Lyons at Més. 86, and in London at 18/- to the Philippines 21/22 cents.
$810 to $1,100 to
to $1,100 to
per chest
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