T II E C U Ii A R E V I E W 33 



SUGAR REVIEW 



Specially written for "The Cuba Review" by li'illett & Gray, Xew York. 



Our last review for this magazine was dated April 28, 1010. 



At that date 195 centrals were grinding the sugar cane in Cuba, which number 

 is now reduced to 13G. Reports from those centrals which have closed indicate the 

 outturns well up to the early estimates. 



With regard to the total outturn of sugar to be expected, in November, 1018, we 

 stated that we were inclined to look for the Cuban crop during 1018-10 to outturn 

 3,600,000 tons, and further stated there were still some months of growing weather 

 to be experienced, and that our figure of 3,600,000 tons might be changed by future 

 developments. Since that time, the weather has been generally very favorable, par- 

 ticularly as regards harvesting. The Cuban crop during the first five months has 

 reached a height of production hitherto unknown, and our recent cable advised that 

 the production to the end of April reached 2,438,705 tons. Last year the production 

 for the same period totaled 2,220,044 tons. Since April 30th, present crop has made 

 a further advance over last year. Of course, the wonderful progress being made in 

 sugar production in Cuba may not be continued at the present rapid rate, and it is 

 even possible that the crop may end suddenly, clue to the cane supply running out, 

 or to a long spell of rainy weather. However, it seems practically assured that our 

 figure of 3,600,000 tons will be materially exceeded. Messrs. Guma-Mejer and Mr. 

 Himely have stated that there was sufficient cane in the fields in Cuba to produce 

 approximately 4,000,000 tons, and if the present rate of production continues for the 

 balance of the crop as has already been outturned, the crop should reach the figures 

 estimated by the above mentioned authorities. 



As regards our domestic cane crop in Louisiana, the final outturn for 1018-19 is 

 250,082 tons, or slightly in excess of our estimated figure. Regarding the new crop 

 it is not likely at the present writing that the outturn will reach this figure, although 

 just recently the weather has been favorable and the crop is being greatly benefited 

 by the sunshine after the long period of unfavorable weather. According to our 

 correspondents in New Orleans, a lack of labor is the chief source of concern to the 

 planters at the present time, as the force available for field work is only limited. 



Preparations for the 1010-20 domestic beet sugar campaign are in full swing. 

 Crop prospects in California, owing to unfavorable weather and other reasons, are 

 not very brilliant, but in various other beet growing sections of the country good 

 increases in acreage have been contracted this year over last, and if the favorable 

 weather continues, prospects for a good increase over last season are very promising 

 despite California's poor showing. 



Our Java cable under date of May 23rd gives exports of sugar during April as 

 follows: England 48,000 tons, Belgium 5,000 tons, Norway 5,000 tons, Spain 4,000 tons, 

 Finland 3,000 tons, and Sweden 2,000 tons, a total to Europe of 67,000 tons, and 

 serving as confirmation of our previous reports as to the business done in Java sugars 

 with the various European countries. Exports to other countries during April 

 amounted to 36,000 tons, of which 3,000 tons were for Vancouver and 9,000 tons to 

 Australia. Total shipments for the month were 103,000 tons, against only 37,633 

 tons in April last year and 38,887 tons in 1917. Some months ago it was the intention 

 of the Java Government to restrict the area devoted to sugar throughout Java. At 

 that time it was thought that there would be sufficient supply of Java sugar to war- 

 rant a restriction in the sugar acreage. However, owing to an extraordinary demand 

 for Java sugars from Eastern countries, aided materially by money exchange in favor 

 of the Eastern countries, sellers in Java disposed of the surplus carried over from the 

 1917 crop as well as the entire 191S crop, amounting to over 2.000,000 tons. Under 



