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“...its tendency to check the import of foreign manufactured goods,
but, in view of the continued rise in the price of all commodities in
this country, it seems more than doubtful whether the Japanese
consumer is not a loser rather than a gainer by this result.
Raw cotton.—The large increase in the import of this staple forms
the most conspicuous feature in the import returns and accounts for
nearly 50 per cent, of the total increase.
The additions to the number of spindles in most of the Osaka
mills, necessitated by the rapid growth of the markets for Japanese
cotton yarn and piece-goods in China, "Manchuria and Corea, is the
cause of this advance, which brought the total importation up to
16,330,3482., of which some 10,005,4942. in value came from India
and 4,733,603Z. from the United States.
The amount of American cotton imported to Kobe showed
an increase of about 10,000 bales over the figures for the
previous year. There was a scarcity of certain grades in the
American 1912-13 crop,...”
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“...than
in 1912. This item forms one of the most satisfactory features in
the import returns, and is, moreover, one that must eventually increase
in value as industrial development progresses, though the existing
depression in trade and other causes will probably prevent any notable
advance during the present year. In Kobe, spinning machinery
forms the most important branch of the import and reached the large
total of 454,000?., being mainly deliveries against orders for the
extension of spinning mills placed in 1912. A fair proportion of such
orders still remained to be fulfilled at the end of 1913, but most
manufacturers have now completed such extensions of machinery
as are at present warranted by the state of the industry, and it is
therefore only to be expected that orders will fall off for the time being.
At the same time there can be no doubt that the Japanese spinning
industry has a bright future before it, and that the fast growing
markets.in China and Corea will be the cause of still...”
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“...regards other parts of the Empire, exports to Hong-Kong
benefited by the general improvement in the China trade; other
colonies and dependencies show no changes worthy of note.
Yarns.—Japanese manufacturers benefited largely by improved
conditions in China, and the value of yarn exported increased by over
900,000/. Of the total exports of 4,306,0082., China took 3,580,874/.
and Hong-Kong 393,3112.
The considerable additions to the number of spindles in operation
made by most of the more important mills during 1912-13 greatly
increased the output and, with the growing demand for cotton piece-
goods in Manchuria and the Yangtse Valley, the export of yarns
should make still greater advances in the future.
The increased exports during the last half of 1913 were, however,
not entirely warranted by the demand, exporters having transferred
large stocks to Shanghai in order to avert the glut in the local market
which the great increase in production threatened to produce. This
is, indeed, what has...”
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“...was but a poor market for the
second crop.
Oils and waxes.—The year again witnessed marked developments
in this export, which has increased from 272,7321, in 1911 to 394,580/.
in 1912, and last year reached the large figure of 507,133/.
Peppermint, colza, whale and herring oils all shared this advance,
but soya bean oil forms an exception to the general tendency, the
expense of transporting the beans to Japan and the lower freight
rates from Dairen to Europe making it difficult for the oil mills in this
country to compete successfully with those in Manchuria.
Fish oils from the Hokkaido were formerly exported almost entirely
from Yokohama, but during the last few years, reduced freights
and strong competition amongst dealers have been the causes of
increased quantities being brought to Kobe and Osaka for refining and
export.
Camphor oil was exported to the value of 42,000/., an increase of
75 per cent., but the export of raw camphor suffered considerably,
chiefly owing to the development...”
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