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“...advanced to 31. 3s. in December, with still higher prices in the
spring of 1910, while similar advances prevailed in Chinese and still
more in Egyptian cotton. These high prices were of course exceedingly
advantageous to holders, though with the exhaustion of stock the con-
tinued high prices will doubtless re-act unfavourably on the spinning
industry.
Cotton yarn.—The decline in the import of cotton yarn continued
during 1909, being only half the quantity and little more than a third of
the value of the import during 1907. Prices were practically stationary
during the year, and with the exception of some of the better class
yarns but little business is to be anticipated under this heading in
future.
Cotton goods.—After the bad year of 1908 the year under review
must be held to be fairly favourable in that it allowed a certain recovery
from the great depression prevailing. The imports, of course, declined
practically all round, in some cases very considerably. A strong
(357)...”
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2 |
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“...as usual for the
greater part of the import of cotton goods. The decline in the import
of grey shirtings was mainly one of value, the quantities coming in
being 35,478,869 square yards in 1908 and 34,833,551 square yards in the
year under review. Pure grey shirtings were in March about 135. per
piece (44 inches by 46 yards), and this quotation (duty paid) only
advanced slightly during the year. In the case of other qualities the
advance was also slight. In the case of white shirtings the decline in
value was about equalled by the decrease in quantity. Prices
increased very slightly as the year wore on.
Other cottons.—Cotton satins and cotton Italians, which had shown
a sharp advance during 1908, fell off very considerably. Business was
exceedingly dull with but little demand. Prices for Italians were
steady during the year.
Cotton prints, both in quantity and value, declined lower than for
many years past. Prices of fancy prints were steady the whole year
between Ss. 2d. and 9s. Id. per...”
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“...declined.
Machinery.—The imports of machinery in 1909 were but little more
than half those of 1908. As will be seen by the figures of Table 1 nearly
all items participated in this decline. The effects of the bad trade con-
ditions of 1908 are very noticeable here, the conservative feeling regard-
ing the formation of new companies, and the extension of old, checking
the demand for new machines to a considerable extent.
Rice.—The import of rice continued to fall off sharply, both in
quantity and value, and the figures for 1909 were the lowrest for many
years. The home crop was above the average for previous years,
naturally diminishing the demand for the foreign product.
Exports.—The recovery in exports anticipated in last year's report
was realised and almost record figures were touched. The following
table shows the items of increase :—...”
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4 |
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“....... 777,300 689,900 87,400
Tobacco ...... 152,300 78,800 73,500
Oils and waxes 176,700 110,300 66,400
Machinery 74,300 24,600 49,700
Metal manufactures ... 113,900 88,200 25,700
Timber 50,100 33,500 16,600
Paper, &c....... 169,300 157,100 12,200
Silk handkerchiefs ... 389,100 377,400 11,700
Silk.—The total of all items under the heading of silk was about
16,572,000?., being over 79 per cent, of the total exports of the port.
Raw silk.—Raw silk showed a most noteworthy increase not only
in value of export but also in quantity. The crop was very large and
was produced under most favourable conditions of weather. The
increased export went all to Europe where conditions for the silk
trade seem to have been more favourable than in America. According
to the report of the Yokohama Foreign Board of Trade : " Conditions in
the silk trade in America went from bad to worse ; ribbons which con-
sume about 30 per cent, of all the silks imported into the United States
went out of fashion, whilst broad...”
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“...clearing
the market here of much of the inferior cargo that has accumulated,
thus giving us a better standard of quality to select from.
Tea.—The export of tea went up in quantity as well as in value,
but the season as a whole was not regarded as especially good on
account of the inferior preparation of the tea. The crop appears to
have been good, but though very good samples of early tea were
brought in, all three crop deliveries were ultimately found to be disap-
pointing. The cause of this was apparently carelessness and haste
in preparation and also faulty packing.
The exports from Shimidzn surpassed in quantity those from
Yokohama, and the former port seems more than ever to be destined
to be the premier tea port of Japan.
Copper.—Copper exports decreased both in quantity as well as in
value. The depression in copper prices throughout the world has had
of course an adverse effect on trade in this metal, and exports from
Japan at present show no signs of expanding. The average price...”
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“...Trade as (1) the improvement in discharge of obliga-
tions by dealers, whose irregular execution of orders had been a great
source of difficulty for exporters, and (2) the ability of the Japanese
now to make a plait in considerable demand hitherto largely made in
Italy.
Other exports.—Cotton yarns show a large increase both in quantity
and value. About 99 per cent, of these go to China and Hong-Kong,
and th3 steadier position of silver there has greatly improved trade.
The improved figures for the export of sugar point to a gradual
recovery in this trade from the disastrous blows of 1907 and 1908, but
it does not seem probable that the high value of the exports for 1906
will be regained for a considerable time.
Export of iron and steel manufactures declined considerably, not
from Yokohama only but also from Japan as a whole. The production
of iron goods generally has not been in a satisfactory condition in Japan
during the last year, and the whole question of its future prospects and...”
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“...mainly—
Raw silk ...
Waste silk...
Habutsa ...
Copper
£
985,300
99,600
14,300
10,500
Imports from the Dutch Indies were mainly—
Sugar
Kerosene oil
Indiarubber
£
481,000
166,000
32,100
Imports from Belgium consisted principally of—
Window glass
Iron bars and rods
Printing paper ...
£
99,600
55,200
53,000
Together with other paper, iron and steel goods, &c.
The imports from Egypt were practically limited to one item, raw
cotton, of which 307,400?. worth was imported.
Rice to the value of 232,500?. was the leading import from French
Indo-China.
The Philippine Islands imports comprised mainly flax, hemp and
China grass (32,000?.), and sugar.
The imports from Austria-Hungary were mainly paper, malt,
paraffin wax, soap, &c.
Swiss imports were chiefly watches and parts thereof, condensed
milk and aniline dyes.
British trade.—The trade of Yokohama with the British Empire
declined considerably in the aggregate from the figures for 1908, the
decrease being from 8,526,030?. to 7...”
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“...the Years 1907-09—continued.^
to
to
Articles. 1907. 1903. 1909. 1907. 1908. 1909. Remarks.
Other oils and waxes...... Total Dyes, paints, &c.— Indigo— Dry, natural ... ... Tons Artificial... ... . ... „ Aniline dyes ... „ Other Total ... ...... Yarns, threads, materials— Raw cotton, giruied ... ... Toms Cotton yarns ... ... „ Hemp, jute and Manila hemp ... „ Wool- Tops ... „ Other ... „ £ 125,680 £ 279,133 „ £ 224,890 Includes 12,000,000 gallons crude pretroleum from Peru (value 85,000Z.) Mostly from India „ „ Germany More than 85 per cent. German; 10 per cent. Swiss 50 per cent, from United States; 18 per cent. China ; 15 per cent. British India; 17 per cemt. Egypt ! Over 90 per cent, from United j Kingdom i \\ 60 per cent, from United King- J dom; 24 per cent. Australia
611,370 774,356 629,075
180 361 1,117 44 553 904 53 455 1,461 68,060 150,090 91,750 122,170 15,687 216,728 76,151 137,641 18,519 165,312 116,445 249,275
| ... 432,070 ! 446,207 549...”
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