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“...connected with other large concerns are the main causes for the
unsatisfactory showing of the foreign trade of Japan during the year
under review.
To supplement these remarks, the kind permission of the Foreign
Board of Trade of Kobe (formerly styled the Foreign Chamber of
Commerce) has been obtained to make extracts from that body's
annual report and from the report of its annual general meeting. The
chairman drew attention to the large increase in the value of cotton
imported during 1909, due in a large measure to the rise in its market
value, but also to the increase in the number of spindles and new mills
which tended to stimulate consumption. As to trade in general, he
said he was afraid that few of the members would be able to regard the
year 1909 as being anything else than a disappointing year. Several...”
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“...s
kode.
industry in Japan almost entirely depends, exceeded those of the two
preceding years both a? regards quantity and value. This increase is
no doubt due on the one hand to the additional spindles in many of the
mills, and on the other hand to the fact that Indian cotton in many
instances replaced American and Chinese. Quotations gradually
advanced in sympathy with the tendency of American cotton and in
view of the fact that the total crop of the previous year was ascer-
tained to be much below the expectations of the market. Notwith-
standing frequent reports to the effect that the new cotton crop would
be heavy, the high prices ruling for American cotton induced the
purchase of Indian by European and American markets, the consequence
being that there was hardly any decline in quotations ; on the contrary,
there was at times a tendency to advance. Although most of the
Japanese mills failed to secure their cotton at low rates, they contracted
forward at the beginning of the year...”
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“...KOBE.
9
figures of the import having fallen from 550,0002. to 450,000?., being
some 850,0002. value less than the average for the previous five years.
Owing to the high price which the Japanese staple commands, much of it
remained in the country, keeping out the foreign import, whilst there is
a far greater consumption of it in the country as an article of daily diet.
Metals. Imports.—Metals had already declined by nearly
800.000Z. from 1907 to 1908, and in 1909 they showed a further
falling-off of over 350,0002., bringing the total down to some
500,000Z. less than the average for the preceding five years. The
greatest decrease was in bar and rod iron, plates and sheets and
sundry forms of mild steel. On the other hand, copper, zinc, tin plates,
pipes and tubes, rails and pig iron showed recovery. Pig iron increased
by some 18,000 tons in quantity and 14,0002. in value, most of it being
Cleveland. The increased demand is attributed to the extensions of the
gas and water companies, their...”
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“...profit, and there was no heavy
stock to carry over. The decrease amounted to over 23,000Z. in the
total import in 1909 as compared with 1908. Imports of Italian
cloths show a falling-off of 20,000Z. in value, or 66 per cent., due to the
competition of similar Japan-made cloths which can take their place.
The import shows a loss on that of 1908 of 66 per cent.
Oils and waxes.—The good showing in this import in 1908 has not
been sustained, the figures having fallen from 780,040L in that year to
497,506^. in 1909, a drop of over 280,000?. in value. Every item shows
a decrease; kerosene oil, the largest item of all, having fallen 47 per
cent., and accounting, with the exception of about 50,0001., for the
whole of the decrease under this heading.
Sugar.-—Although there is a slight increase in the value of the import
of foreign sugar into Kobe during 1909, there is a very serious falling-
of£ in the general import into Japan of the foreign article, amounting
to more than 30 per cent, of the total...”
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“...is equipped with British machinery and has the services of a British
cable expert.
Distribution of the import trade.—Annex 3 (A) to this report shows
the total British import trade of 1909 for the port of Kobe. This
amounted to 9,119,5112. as against 8,627,0092. in 1908, a slight recovery
of some 500,0002. or 5 per cent. The import trade from the United
States and from Germany showed a decrease of 16'5 per cent,
and of 4 "2 per cent, respectively. There is a drop of about 1,000,0002.
in the value of imports to Kobe from the United Kingdom, more than
made up for by an increase in the trade from India of nearly 1,600,0002.
Exports.—There was an increase in the total exports of Kobe in
1909 over the previous year of nearly 1,685,0002., the figures having
risen from 8,586,7 1 62. to 10,271,2732., being an improvement of some
600,0002. on the preceding five years' average. There was a steady
recovery shown nearly all along the line, the items showing the largest
increases being cotton yarn...”
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“...increased by over 21 per cent.,
but it is not possible to say if any or what proportion of the total credited
to Hong-Kong should be added to the totals for the other destinations,
that port being primarily a distributing and transhipping centre.
The fact remains, however, that the export of cotton goods to British
India, consisting chiefly of underwear, is increasing at the expense of
British manufacturers of the same articles. Of the whole export of
cotton underwear from this port, amounting in value to 349,2582.,
British India absorbed at least 269,997?., or 77 per cent, of the total.
Indian and Japanese cotton yarns.—The total production of various
counts during 1909 reached a total of 1,025,244 bales, this being an
increase on the previous year's figures of 146,674 bales. As regards the
volume for export in 1909, this reached 258,878 bales, an advance on
the previous year of 91,036 bales. Notwithstanding the curtailment of
spindles to the extent of 27J per cent, for home consumption throughout...”
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“...kobe.
13
Straw braids and chip braids.—There was an increase of 106,4052. in
these goods over 1908, the export for 1909 having reached a value of
472,3732.
Of the seven special open ports notice need only be taken of two,
viz., Yokkaichi and Tsuruga. A separate report has been prepared
for Osaka, and is annexed at the end of this report.
Yokkaichi.—In spite of the promising outlook presented last year,
it cannot be said that much extra benefit appears to have accrued to
British trade in 1909. Compared with last year's returns, Annex 6
(A) shows that only 17 British vessels called at Yokkaichi in 1909 as
against 28 in 1908. Apart from the Japanese steamers, the tonnage of
the United States takes the lead, although British call there in greater
numbers. The United States steamers of fairly large burden are the
trans-Pacific liners which find it to their profit to call there for cargo.
Altogether 301 vessels of 817,169 tons entered and cleared during 1909.
It is quite certain that, with...”
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“...40
osaka.
Osaka.
Mr. Vice-Consul Cunningham reports as follows:—
Total trade.—The total value of the foreign trade of the port
of Osaka for the year 1909 was 7,454,292?., an increase of 20,664?. or
0'28 per cent, as compared with the figures for the year 1908. The
following table shows the total value of the foreign trade of the port for
the years 1908 and 1909 and the value of the imports and exports
respectively, together with the amount of increase or decrease in each
case:—
1908. 1909. Increase or Decrease in 1909 as compared with 1908.
£ £
Exports ... 4,690,559 4,813,028 + 122,4692. or 2-61 per cent.
Imports ... 2,743,069 2,641,264 - 101,805?. „ 3-71 „
Total ... 7,433,628 7,454,292 + 20,6642. or 0 -28 per cent.
Though these figures do not show any great improvement in the
trade of the port during the year they are at least more encouraging
than those for 1908, which showed a falling-ofE of 2,210,103?. or about
23 per cent, as compared with the figures for 1907. The figures...”
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“...42
osaka.
Imports from the United Kingdom during the Year 1909.
£
Bicycles and parts 37,136
Galvanised iron sheets ... 23,105
Caustic soda 21,060
Machinery and parts 15,023
Bails 9,356
Other articles 108,785
Total 214,465
Raw cotton.-—The chief article of import into Osaka is raw cotton.
The year 1909 showed a large increase both in quantity and value over
the figures for the year 1908 and a slight increase in value over the
figures for the year 1907. The Osaka mills use large quantities of
Indian cotton, and more than 90 per cent, of the cotton imported direct
to Osaka during the year 1909 came from British India. American
and Chinese cotton, which is also extensively used, is imported through
Kobe.
The quantity of raw cotton used by the chief mills in Osaka Pre-
fecture during the year ending June 30, 1909, was 167,423,681 lbs.
The quantities of the various kinds of cotton consumed by the
above mills during the same period were as follows :—
Lbs.
Indian ... 98,173,728
American...”
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“...ore to the value of 23,2271, was
imported during 1909 from Sfax in Tunis.
Grain and seeds.-—The import of rice showed a decline of 11,183 tons
in quantity and 192,993?. in value as compared with 1908. The import
was all from Corea. The decrease is due to the plentiful harvest in
Japan in both 1908 and 1909, that in the latter year having been
exceptionally good.
Exports.—More than 96 per cent, of the export trade of the port of
Osaka during the year 1909 was with China and Corea, the proportions
being 72f and 23| per cent, respectively. Of other countries the
United Kingdom was first with about 1 per cent., followed by
Hong-Kong.
The export trade of the port during 1909 amounted to 4,813,028?.
as compared with 4,690,559?. in 1908, an increase of 122,469?. The
improvement in this respect was principally due to an increase in the
export of textile fabrics, matches, refined sugar, tobacco, European
umbrellas and toilet soap. Practically all other articles show a decrease
in value, notably...”
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“...white............79,392
T-cloths........................22,004
Other ........................24,164
Ropes, bags and mats ... ... 91,710
Sak6 ........................78,281
Cotton yarns—
Counts of 20 and under ... 37,771
„ over 20 ... ... 10,750
Cotton wadding............,.. 29,864
Matches ..................... 23,253
Allother..................... 585,639
Total 1,141,163
Cotton yarns.—Cotton yarn is by far the most valuable of all the
articles exported from Osaka. In 1909 the total value of the export
of this commodity was 926,8552., or over 19 per cent, of the total
exports of the port. These figures show an increase of 221,3562. as
compared with those for 1908. Nearly 92 per cent, of the yarn is sent
to China, the remainder principally to Corea and Hong-Kong. Both
China and Corea took considerably larger quantities in 1909 than in
1908 ; the export to Hong-Kong, on the other hand, declined....”
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“...was in a fairly
flourishing condition and orders were numerous. In the great fire,
however, which occurred in the city at the end of July, 120 factories
are said to have been destroyed, and it was estimated that the quantity
of goods available for export would fall short of the quantity exported
during 1908 by 20 per cent., as many of the makers were quite unable
to fulfil their contracts. In spite, however, of this check to the industry
the final figures for the year show an increase in the value of the exports
from the whole country of over 45,0002. as compared with 1908, and
the industry is now in a most flourishing condition. The chief com-
petitors of the Japanese in this respect are goods of German, British
and Spanish make. The trade in Europe, however, has been suffering
recently from the rise in the price of cotton and yarn with the result
that the price of the goods has also risen. In Japan, on the other hand,
the spinning mills held during the latter part of the year considerable...”
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“...securing a preponderating interest. The gas is to be
supplied by means of a main from the Osaka works, and it is hoped to
begin operations in the autumn.
Sakai is a city with a population of about 60,000, situated 6
miles to the south of Osaka on the edge of the bay. The most charac-
teristic industry of the place is the manufacture of rugs and carpets of
excellent quality. These carpets are made in large quantities in the city
and there is a considerable export, chiefly to the United Kingdom, the
value of the export to that country in 1908 having been 21,9422. out of
a total of 34,0702. There are also cotton spinning mills and several
large factories in the city, which has developed rapidly of late years.
The electric cable factory mentioned in the report for the year 1908
as being in course of erection by Mr. Sumitomo is now turning out
considerable quantities of cable, chiefly for Government use. Plant has
also been installed at the Sumitomo copper works for the making of
brass tubes.
The...”
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“...Annex 3.—Table showing the Total Value of Imports from and Exports to various Foreign Countries during the Years 1908-09,
together with the Increase or Decrease in each case.
i n AO Increase or Decrease in 1909 as
1908. compared with 1908.
Country.
Imports. Exports. Total. Imports. Exports. Total. Imports. Exports. Total.
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
British India '... 413,308 39,952 453,260 805,752 16,510 822,262 + 392,444 - 23,442 + 369,002
United Kingdom......... 270,051 130,224 400,275 214,465 52,201 266,666 - 55,586 - 78,023 - 133.609
Hong-Kong 6,654 85,010 91,664 4,894 42,385 47,279 - 1,760 - 42,625 - 44,385
Australia ... 45 22,579' 22,624 34 17,113 17,147 - 11 - 5,466 - 5,477
Straits Settlements 2,720 11,094 13,814 157 14,958 15,115 - 2,563 + 3,864 + 1,301
Total British 692,778 288,859 981,637 1,025.302 143,167 1,168,469 + 332,524 — 145,692 + 186,832
'China ............ 562,508 2,830,813 3,393,321 479^009 3,497,398 3,976,407 _ 83,499 + 666,585 + 583...”
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“...60 osaka.
Annex 4.—Table showing the Value of the Exports and Imports passing
the Osaka Customs, which were Shipped or Discharged at the Ports
of Osaka and Kobe respectively, during the Years 1908-09.
1908. 1909. Increase or Decrease in 1909 as com- pared with 1908.
Osaka— Exports Imports £ 2,076,860 1,454,857 £ 2,758,299 1,483,625 £ + 81,433 + 28,768
Total 4,131,723 4,241,924 + 110,201
Kobe- Exports Imports 2,013,693 1,288,212 2,054,729 1,157,639 + 41,036 - 130,573
Total 3,301,905 3,212,368 89,537
,, trade 7,433,628 7,454,292 + 20,664
Annex 5.—Table showing the Quantity of Goods Imported into and ^Exported from the Port of Osaka during the Years 1908-09.
1908. 1909. Increase or Decrease in 1909 as com- pared with 1908.
Exports ... Imports ... Tons. 307,634 308,454 Tons. 283,980 317,610 Tons. 23,654 + 9,156
Total 616,088 i 601,590 14,498
Annex 6.—Return of all Shipping engaged in the Foreign Trade of the
Port of Osaka during the Years 1907-09.
Entered.
Nationality. Year...”
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