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“...1901 respectively are shown in the accompanying table :— o7l902.haIf
These figures are taken from official returns. It would thus
■appear that imports for the first half of 1902 were in excess of imports
for the corresponding half of 1901 by 222,049/., while exports for
the first six months of 1901 exceeded those for the same period of
1902 by 458,2042. The whole total of trade was in favour of 1901
by 236,1551.
The following figures represent the trade for the whole year Total of trade
Value.
£
Imports 27,739,232
Exports .......... 26,368,320
Total........ 54,107,552
; These figures include articles re-imported and re-exported.
Compared with 1901 we find an excess in favour of 1902 of 1,624,6162.
for imports and 607,6382. for exports, giving a total in favour of
last year of 2,232,2542.
Imports were still in excess of exports, but the margin yearly
becomes narrower. In 1902 it was only 1,370,9122. The difference
was even less noticeable in 1901.
During the first five months...”
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“....6
japan.
Nevertheless the value of the cotton imported last year, 8,144,697?.r
was in excess of that of the year before by nearly 2,000,000?.
Cotton yams. The trade in cotton yarns is, in consequence of the Japanese
mills which have sprung up all over the country, practically at an
end. The year opened badly, but improved a little in February,
clearances becoming somewhat brisker though the absence of itp-
country demand prevented any real improvement. In April the
„ rumours of a sudden exhaustion in the Egyptian crop, together with
telegraphic advices of a sharp advance all round, brought some
- demand for 2/60's and 2/80's. But it did not last, nor had the rise in
Manchester prices, which took place at the end of that month, any
effect in Japan, prices declining notwithstanding the contrary
movement which, following the price of the raw material, still con-
tinued at home. A certain improvement was noticeable in July,
but the heavy rains and unseasonable weather speedily stopped
this...”
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“...Tokio
papers is also responsible for a statement made quite recently to
the effect that a sugar refinery is to be established in Formosa, with
a capital of 1,000,000 yen. A subsidy will probably be granted
to it. A British firm in Yokohama is said to be interested.
The following table shows the value of the sugar imported during
the year from Japan's principal suppliers :—
In 1901 the value of the sugar imported from Germany was
899,529?. ; from Hong-Kong, 1,109,615?.; and from Austria-
Hungary, 414,668?. These figures are much in favour of that year
therefore, but it should be remembered that the desire to escape the
new sugar duty levied in October, 1901, was mainly responsible for
the high value during that year of this particular import.
Owing to the prospects of a poor rice harvest, prospects which
were ultimately amply fulfilled in the eastern and north-eastern
provinces of Japan, the import of foreign rice, more particularly
from Rangoon, began early, the first instalments arriving...”
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“...000Z. On the rice exchanges, however, opinions vary between
3,200,000?. odd and 1,100,000?. or thereabouts. The following is a
comparative table of the rice imported in the years 1901_andl902,
with the chief supplying countries :—
Yal ne.
Country.
1902. 1901.
£ ; £
British India 737,601 S9,431
Straits Settlements 31,122 ;
China 34,881 ! 88,534
Corea .. ;. 404,384 ! 613,484
French India 474,289 ! 326,607
Siam 129,234 ! 91,579
Other countries .. 653 8
Total...... 1,812,061 1,212,643
The value of the kerosene imported into Japan during 1902 was Kerosene.
1,524,838?. as compared with 1,525,472?. in 1901. This shows a
very slight falling-off. There was a big drop in prices during the
first three months of the year, but the quotations in the middle of
April showed a marked advance. The demand however fell off in -
June and July, the market subsequently becoming firm again in
August and September and remaining so till December. In June
the International Oil Company, mentioned in the trade...”
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“....10 japan.
and the United States on the other hand show proportionately a
very noticeable increase. The figures for these two countries are as
follows:—
Chinese The total value of paper imported into Japan in 1902 was
paper). 374,075/;. as against 219,719;. in 1901. Austria-Hungary and
Belgium with France show a very noteworthy increase in this trade ;
that of Germany and the United Kingdom on the other hand is not
proportionately so noticeable.
The following figures for the two years and for the countries just
mentioned will make this evident:—
Value.
Country.
1902. 1901.
Austria-Hungary France Germany United Kingdom £ 81,940 71,220 31,690 107,451 51,373 £ 42,757 16,206 11,196 77,383 43,909
By Imperial Ordinance No. 219, published in the Official Gazette
of September 30, 1902, the specific import duties are revised, the
new tariff coming into force on April 1, 1903, when Imperial Ordi-
nance No. 220 of 1898 will be repealed.*
Import duties. The import duties for 1902 amounted...”
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“...fluctuations in the market
price of rice during the year :—
Price per Koku
(4 -9629 Imperial Bushels).
Month.
, Currency. Sterling.
Yen sen. £ s. d.
January io 32 1 1 5}
February.. ..; ii 6 1 2 7
March 10 85 1 2 lj-
April .. i 10 98 1 2 6
May- .. 11 44 1 3 4i
June .. 12 33 1 5 2.
July 13 29 1 7 H
August 13 1 1 6 6f-
September 14 31 1 9 2i
October 14 45 1 9 6
November 13 85 1 8 3i
December 14 45 1 9 6
The above prices represent the average price of the three qualities
of rice.
Camphor. The value of the camphor exported in 1902 amounted to 347,5772.,
while in 1901 it reached the sum of 398,0322., leaving a balance in
favour of the latter year of 51,0552. The United States, United
Kingdom, Germany, British India and Hong-Kong are the chief
consumers.
At the beginning of the j^ear the market was very unsettled,
owing to the uncertainty prevailing with regard to the Monopoly
Bill, which had been referred by the Diet to a committee. In March
this Bill was thrown out by the House of Peers...”
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“...have hitherto
been looked upon as articles of luxury, for every day use. This of
course produces a demand for the cheaper sort of goods, which is
expected to show a marked increase.
The quality of the cocoons was up to the average, but complaints
were made about the quality of the silk produced, and the market
in this staple seems to have proved considerably more profitable
to the native producer than to the foreign exporter.
The following table gives the value of the monthlj7 shipments of
raw silk throughout the year :—
Month. Value. Filature I'pto, Filature over1 n,, 12 Denier. 14 Denier, i tncvs- Total.
£ £ £ £
January- 352,598 283,648 52,078 688,324
February 102.433 424.949 16,010 543 392
March 48 962 212,214 12,823 273,999
April 158,556 351,842 7,762 518,159
May ...... 88,725 384,305 7.H53 480,383
June 16,797 100,959 5,911 123,697
July ...... 117,537 221,119 16,261 354,91G
August 250,291 455,212 40,i 08 745,511
September 242,154 775,418 118,131 1,135,706
October 227,847 712,656...”
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“....14 japan.
The comparative figures for the past 11 years are :—
Year.. Value.
£
1892 ............ 5,440,460
1893 ............ 3,784,996
189 4............ 4,263,258
1895 ............ 4,936,207
1896 ............ 3,153,347 5,736,892
1897............
1898 ............ 4,292,340
1699 ............ 6,449,765
1900 ............ 4,558,738
1901............ 7,622,290
1902 ............ 7,846,072
The silkworm cards of the spring species produced in the Hok-
kaido in 1902 was 4,473 and the harvest cocoons 3,488 koku (17,289
bushels). The number of those engaged in this industry during the
year above mentioned was 4,454, an increase of 880 compared with
1901. Ishikari province, with a cocoon harvest of 2,414 koku
{11,980 bushels), claimed nearly 69 per cent, of the entire production
of the island.
The following is a short record of the general state of the local
markets during the year. From January to March, owing to an
improved demand from Europe and America alike, a large business
was done in...”
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“...of habutae. The trade is, however, reported to have been
greatly damaged by the discovery of extensive customs frauds in
the United States, by which " Japanese silk " evaded the revenue
laws. The total value of habutae exported in 1902 amounted to
2,519,969?., of " kaiki " to 272,857?. In 1901 the combined exports
of these two tissues amounted to 2,575,352?. This leaves a balance
in favour of 1902 of 217,474?.
In connection with the general question of the silk trade of Japan
it may be interesting to note the gradually increasing area of land
planted with mulberry trees. The following figures, taken from the
"Resume Statisque de l'Empire du Japon " for 1902, show the
area up to 1900. Since then it has probably considerably in-
creased :—
The exportofNoshi and waste silk amounted in value to 456,187?., IToslii and
being 31,386?. in excess of last year's. waste.
The following is a table showing the highest prices per picul paid
•each month during the past year for Noshi and Kibiso filatures...”
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“...supplies brought in for sale at the. beginning, owing
to the weather and to the action of the native dealers who kept
stocks back with a view to holding up prices, not nearly as plentiful
as in 1901. As, however, the crop was poor and the duties on tea in
the United States were to be taken off from January, 1903, the
demand was great, the object of the merchants being to get their
supplies across to America before the beginning of this year. This
accounts to a certain extent for the difference in value between the
export in the two years.
The first crop began to appear in May. Its quality was con-
sidered barely up to the average. The second crop came in at the*
end of June, the quality being up to par but prices higher than
usual. The " draw " was also found in many cases to be dark and
wanting in flavour. In the middle of August the third crop was
brought to market and found little if at all better than the second.
The market was in Yokohama very active in the latter part of
November and...”
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“...Osaka
merchants, who, in anticipation of a rise in prices, which did not
take place, made heavy purchases.
The following table shows how the market varied during the
different months of the year :—
The value of the export of fish oil in 1902 was 153,391?., consider- Fish oil.
ably in excess of the figures for 1901. The herring catch was excep-
tionally large and the sardine likewise was very successful. As a
result the good prices of the earlier part of the season were not kept
up. Prices for common oil in the spring were as low as 6 yen 25 sen
the case. The December catch (1902) was a failure.
Owing to the Trust in America and to the fall in the value of Copper,
silver the export of copper was last year not so good as usual, being
in quantity 1,359 tons less than in 1901, and in value 371,811?.
Hong-Kong, the Straits Settlements and China are Japan's chief
customers for this article, and it is believed that the demand from
China, where electrical undertakings are being started in consider-...”
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“...[■*;: Shanghai and the United States are the chief customers, for it
appears that under the present conditions of packing, the fruit will
not stand a voyage as long as that to Europe. Accurate figures for the
export of this fruit are not obtainable.
Malting- 1902 was a record year in the fancy matting business. The
(fancy). trade first began in 1891, when a little over 100,000?. worth of
fancy matting was exported. Since that time the export has gone
on steadily increasing, till now it is in value eight times what it was
in 1891, in quantity more than twice what it was in 1896. The bulk
of this trade goes to the United States, which took last year 654,880?.
worth, Canada coming second with 15,844?.
Tobacco. According to a report recently issued by the Central Tobacco
Dealers' Association it would appear that in 1902 the total export
of tobacco, including cigarettes, amounted to 241,508?., the import
to 101,672?. There was thus a difference of 139,836?. in favour of
the export trade. Compared...”
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“...interests
of the exporters, who were refunded 20 per cent, of the selling price
of the goods. The premium has since been raised to 160 per cent, of
the purchasing price but the rebate remains unaltered, and this
the metropolitan journal thinks unfair.
The following table shows the distribution of trade among the Distribution
countries most interested :— of trade
among
foreign
Table showing Distribution of Trade during the Year 1902 co,mtries-
among Countries chiefly interested.
Country. Value.
Imports. Exports. Total.
British Empire— United Kingdom IIong-Kong .. British India.. Australia .. Canada £ 5,141,327 250,602 5,032,999 170,705 52,805 £ 1,770,753 2,641,514 517,283 323.818 355,316 £ 6,912,080 2,892,116 5,550,282 494,523 408,661
Total 10,148,438 5,609,214 16,257,652
China Prance Germany United Slates of America 4,143,650 484,464 2,635,1 69 4,966,643 4,781,434 2,785,186 483,571 8,190,433 8,925,084 3,269,650 3,118,640 13,157,076
Comparing the figures for 1902 with those...”
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“....20
japan.
Country. Value.
United Kingdom Imports Decrease £ 21,618
Exports Increase 598,581
Total increase 676,963
Hong-Kong-" Imports Decrease 886,789
Exports Decrease 1,624,206
Total decrease 2,510,995
British India .. .. Imports Increase 665,884
Exports Decrease .. .. 468,596
Total increase 197,288
Imports Decrease 10,768
Exports Increase 65,205
Total increase 54,447
Imports Increase 34,248
Exports Increase 21,410
Total increase 55,658
Imports Increase 1,361,167
Exports Increase 399,448
Total increase 1,760,615
Imports Increase .. 101,363
Exports Increase 794
To lal increase 102,157
Germany.. .. Imports Decrease 256,941
Exports Decrease 52,476
Total decrease 308,417
United States of Ameriea Imports Increase 600,598
Exports Increase 808,853
Total increase 1,409,451
Eritisli trade. Like that of other European countries during the past year the
export trade of the United Kingdom to Japan showed a decrease
amounting to 21,618?. This was of course due...”
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“...japan. 21
The figures appended show the comparative volume of importa-
tion of British staple manufactures during the past five years :—
Cotton Yakns.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. British India.
1898 ........ 1899 ........ 1900 ........ 1901 ........ 1902 ........ £ 867,731 503,849 716,655 496,229 177,852 £ 3,536 2,176 1,141
Shirtings and Cotton Prints.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. G ermanj. Holland. Switzerland.
1898 1899 1800 1901 1902 £ 706,957 605,519 975,084 447,299 923,555 £ 4,642 580 2,376 242 673 £ 283 3,137 6,750 1,910 5,523 £ 5,448 2,890 2,932 4,896 13,109
Cotton Satins and Cotton Velvets.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. Germany.
£ £
1898 247,48 8 3,131
1899 131,783 5,237
1900 455,493 16,216
1901 • • « • « • 204,067 9,712
19U2 ....... ^90153 16,908...”
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“...22
japan.
Italian Cloths.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. Germany.
£ £
1898 94,367 14,400
1899 .. * • 112.559 2,581
19C0 105,410 T,264
1901 • • .. 58,700 2,307
1902 114,213 4,563
Woollen Cloths.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. Germany. Belgium.
£ £ £
1898 . 136,210 140,788 2,246
1899 . 129,289 62,944 5,370
1900 . 176,998 97,586 15,216
1901 . . • * • • • 77,001 47,196 5,123
1902 , 119,345 65,981 8,200
Machinery and Engines.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. United States. Germany. France. Belgium. Holland.
1898.. 1899.. 1900.. 1901.. 1902 . £ 622,576 299,514 418,007 659,440 385,733 £ 124,388 115,588 270,001 287,S53 285,338 £ 174.284 108.285 156,578 186,848 111,655 £ 28,499 24,146 13,668 20,148 10,246 £ 8,197 10,202 16,677 46,401 19,258 £ 762 18,044 29,386 26
Flannels.
Yalue.
Year. United Kingdom. Germany.
1898 ........ 1899 ........ 1900 ........ 190 1........ 1902 ........ £ 16,020 2,723 5,602 1,437 1,993 £ 121,991 35,498 86,370 30.175 45.176...”
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“...23
Iron, Bar and Eod.
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. Belgium. Germany. United States.
1898 .. 1899 .. 1900 .. 1901 .. 1902 .. £ 186,373 79,758 189,311 67.992 64,766 £ 168,897 159,730 255,086 141,£05 161,954 £ 46,817 20,014 77,381 132,475 128,024 £ 5,480 2,280 5,692 8,881 694
Rails.
Year. Value.
United Kingdom. United States. Belgium. Germany.
£ £ £ £
1898 81,850 164,327 7,700 13,780
1899 17,529 23,429 2,465 297
1900 92,463 322,726 12,655 57,394-
1901 36,195' 101,861 5,526 20,882
1902 139,692 707 21,840 5,903
Ikon and Steel (other).
Value.
Year. United KiDgdom. Belgium. Germany. United States.
1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 £ 420,680 491,381 773,018 443,369 497,982 £ 35,227 68,692 11»,3T6 64,580 89,064 £ 25,166 20,814 60,328 85,207 78,578 £ 37,649 .5,177 15,601 59,335 17,211
Locomotive Engines and Railway Carriages
Value.
Year. United Kingdom. United States. Germany.
1898 ...... 1899 ...... 1900 ...... 1901 ...... 1902 ...... £ 319,788 158,394...”
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“...increase, and the straw plait trade was
four times the value of that of 1901. Camphor showed a marked
increase. Of her exports to this country mousseline de laine, iron
and steel, with paper, show a considerable increase, particularly iron
and steel, the trade in which in 1902 was in value three times that
of 1901. Flannels, shirtings and woollen cloths also show an increase.
Trade wUli As will be seen from the tables which precede, both the import
Siaies"'1"1 an<^ exPork trade with the United States in 1902 show an increase.
Of exports silk, noshi, kaiki, straw plait and copper exhibit the
biggest increases. Raw silk and habutae show a slight increase,
mats and carpets a satisfactory one. The value of the export trade
in tea was one-third more than in 1901. Handkerchiefs, porcelain,
lacquered ware and rice show a decrease. Of imports from the States
raw cotton, indigo and paper show the largest increase. There was
also a slight one in the value of the kerosene oil, but a very
noticeable decrease...”
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“...26
JAPAN.
Bridge work. A considerable amount of bridge work in the way of finished
trestles, &c., was imported from the States for Formosa during the
year, nevertheless there is a very marked falling-off in the total
value of this import when compared with 1901. The heavy duty,
20 per cent., imposed on the finished work prevents its competing
with the unfinished material, which pays a duty of less than 5 per
cent, ad valorem. The result is that there is a growing tendency to
import the unfinished material, a great quantity of which comes from
the United Kingdom, and make it up in Japan.
Trade with The trade between Japan and China in 1902 was nearly 2,000,000?.
China. less in value than that of 1901, exports to China showing a decrease
of 400,000?. odd, and imports of about 1,400,000?. The main cause
of the former was undoubtedly the fall in the price of silver. At the
same time, according to Japanese Government experts, other and
weighty reasons have contributed to lessen Japan's trade...”
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“...in mind that ships,
though entering that port and clearing from it, invariably lie off
Moji, there being no anchorage for ships of any size off Shimonoseki.
Muroran, hitherto an open port for certain exports only, was, by
an Imperial Ordinance coming into force on the February 1, 1903,
made an open port for all exports and for the following imports :—
Sugar, beverages and comestibles, rails and bolts, nuts, chairs,
dogspikes and fishplates for rail, farming and industrial implements,
Port. "Value. Total.
£ £
Yokohama Imports.. 9,115,276
Exports 14,191,184
- 23,306,460
Kobe and Osaka Imports.. 15,965,000
Exports 9,166,947
25,131.947
Nagasaki Imports,. 952,012
Exports.. 456,739
1,108,751
Hakodate Imports '285,343
Exports 204,731
--- 490,074
Taketoyo Imports . 82,836
Kxports 313
----- 83,179
Yokkaichi Imports 251,489
Exports 873
---- 252,362
Sliimouoseki .. Imports.. •• 230,963
Exports 49,083
--- 280,046
Moji .. .. ' .. Imports 443,553
Exports 1,195...”
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