March i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



5^0 



THE TEA MAEKET FOR 1886. 

 We devote large space in our present issue to 

 the elaborate review of the course of the British 

 market for teas during the past year. The year 

 was notable for the collapse of tine China teas, 

 notwithstanding an improvement on the past season 

 which is described as "vast." This seems to es- 

 tablish the fact that, even with the most careful 

 preparation possible, China teas cannot compete 

 in intrinsic value with those from India and 

 especially those the produce of Ceylon. The figures 

 for consumption now that, they are brought up to 

 the end of 1886, prove more strongly than ever 

 the large and increasing extent to which Indian 

 teas are superseding those from China in public 

 favour and in the markets, while Ceylon teas, so 

 far as the comparatively small quantity yet produced 

 shews, are ahead of all in the market. Looking, 

 however, at the figures for total consumption in 

 Britain, they are not so encouraging as could be 

 wished. From 139J millions of pounds in 1874, 

 there was an advance to 174 millions in 1883, 

 but the average for the succeeding three years has 

 but slightly advanced. The highest figure ever 

 attained was 175,203,000 in 1885, but the quantity 

 recorded against 1886, shews only 174,665,000. Owing 

 no doubt to the prevailing depression, the con- 

 sumption of tea in Britain has been nearly station- 

 ary for four years. If war can be averted and 

 trade improves, we may expect to see an increased 

 demand. The great facts for planters in India and 

 Ceylon are that whereas the percentage which 

 their teas bore to the whole consumption in 1874 

 was only 12J it rose to 42f in 1886, and that in 

 the 5 years between 1882 and 1886, while China 

 shewed a decrease of 11 per cent, Indian and 

 Ceylon increased by 48 per cent. The actual 

 figures will give a more vivid idea of the great 

 and rapid increase the consumption of Indian 

 kinds, viz. from 17| millions of pounds in 1874 

 to 74,665,000 in 1886. This process seems likely 

 to proceed at an increased ratio, so that before 

 a total consumption of 200,000,000 lb. is attained 

 one-half will be Indian and Ceylon. The deli- 

 veries of Indian teas (excluding Ceylon) are now 

 up to an average of 7 millions per mensem. The 

 average for Ceylon was a little over half-a-million 

 for 1886, but the actual deliveries had increased 

 from 285,000 in January, to 471,000 in December, 

 the highest ligure yet, 818,000 having been attained 

 in August. There can be little doubt, we think, 

 that for 1887 the average monthly deliveries of 

 Ceylon tea will rise to 750,000 lb. The prices 

 for our teas have, we regret to notice, decreased 

 from Is 2|d and Is 3Jd to Is Id; but the latter 

 figure will pay well and with increasing care in 

 preparation here and increasing prosperity at home 

 we may hope for keener competition and higher 

 prices for our tea^, which now take the highest 

 position in Britain and are finding favour on the 

 Continent of Europe. They will ultimately make 

 their way in America. 



STENNING INSIKPP & CO.'S INDIAN & 



CEYLON TEA MARKET REVIEW FOR 1886. 



London:— 29, Mincing Lane, Jan. 1887. 



The Couuse of the Maeket. — The steady tone that 



pre\ailed at the closing sales of 1885 soon gave place 



to duluess and lower values. Common kinds attracted 



soiiH attention foi- a time, but prices foil again in April 



dan medium sorts likewise showed a decline. Broken 

 Pekoes had been difficult to sell even at very low prices 

 since the beginning of the year, but in May their posi- 

 tion improved. Just prior to the arrival of the New 

 Crop, fine Teas, being scarce, commanded more money, 

 whilst low and common grades went weaker. New 

 Darjeeliugs proved of poor quality and obtained low 

 prices ; a parcel here and there having flavour sold 

 well, but Ceylon Teas again affected the value of Indian 

 growths. Late in August, owing to some improvement 

 in quality, more attention was given to New Indians, 

 and also to Teas for price at a slight advance, which 

 was maintained for a short time, but on heavy arrivals 

 of poor quality taking place at end of Se^jtember, a 

 decided fall occurred, and only very low prices for all 

 but fine and finest could be obtained. October opened 

 with a steadier feeling, but inferior Teas being offered, 

 the month closed with a further fall, whilst good 

 liquoring Tea from Assam sold at high rates. Heavy 

 auctions then occurred, and values, chiefly for Broken 

 kinds, again fell, whilst former prices were with 

 some diSiculty obtained for the finer grades. After- 

 wards, for a time, less pressure to sell was shown, 

 but towards the close of business for the year consider- 

 able sales took place, and with the exception of com- 

 mon to medium whole leaf, which sold firmly, all Teas 

 marked a giving way, Broken Pekoes being quoted at 

 a decided fall from the highest point. 



Present Prices are much below those ruling at 

 end of 1885 : common to the extent of about 3d per 

 lb. ; medium, about 4d ; fine and finest, a little below 

 to par. 



The season has been generally unfavourable for 

 the grower, except in the case of some Assam Gar- 

 dens, which were able to produce a fair quantity of 

 desirable liquoring tea, but in other gardens in this 

 district, as well as in Cachar and Sylhet, the mis- 

 take has, apparently, been made of aimmg too much 

 at quantity, notwithstanding the repeated warnings 

 from this side. In our Annual Review of 1885, and 

 again in our Circular of 25th March, 1886, we par- 

 ticularly drew attention to this point, viz. : "Season 

 1886 87. A word of caution to planters at this time 

 may not be out of place, and we would urge, as we 

 have often done before, the advisability of adhering 

 to a moderateli/ fine susteui of pluchin/j. The compar- 

 atively high prices that have ruled for the commoner 

 classes throughout the past season (f. e. 1885-86) have 

 been mainly due to better quality, the result of a 

 careful method of plucking, and not so much to 

 short supply. Moreover, it is probable that the 

 improved position of common China Congou will 

 lead to a large export from that quarter next 

 season, in which case common grades of Indian 

 " if of poor quality resulting from coarse plucking, 

 will only realize low prices." Not only as produc- 

 tion increases will it be more than ever necessary 

 to avoid coarse plucking, that is, producing inferior 

 Teas, as buyers here find much difficulty in dispos- 

 ing of them, but Ceylon as a competitor can no 

 longer be ignored. 



FiGUUKS. — In no previous season has the con- 

 sumption responded so slowly to the fall in values ; 

 the low prices ruling in September failed to influ- 

 ence the Deliveries in October, and it was not until 

 the following month that any expansion could be 

 said to have taken place. Current low values should 



cause a great increase in 

 Teas being now so much 

 latter should be largely 

 possible to sell them at 



consumption, and Indian 

 cheaper than China, the 

 supplanted, unless it be 

 still lower than present 



prices. So largely has the use of Teas other than 

 China increased that their consumption in November 

 amounted to 7,965,000 lb., against 12,035,000 lb. (in- 

 cluding 4,250,000 lb. taken for export) of China. 



The quantity shipped on Garden Account shows 

 a slight increase over that of last year. The same 

 causes as last season have again been in operation, 

 namely, the low exchange, the low average selling 

 price in Calcutta, and the increasing attention paid 

 by buyers in London to successive complete Garden 

 Invoices. 



