28 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



HONGKONG SUGAR TRADE 



For the first time in many years, if not in 

 the history of the trade, Hongkong's output 

 of refined sugar went principally to Europe dur- 

 ing the past year. The unlimited demand for 

 sugar in that market was met by an unusually 

 short demand in China, due to several causes. 

 About two-thirds of the entire output of the 

 refineries went to Europe and an unusually 

 large portion of the high-grade raw sugar 

 went in that direction. However, the sugar 

 trade of Hongkong and its relation to that of 

 China and the Far East was rather unsatisfac- 

 tory during 1916. Present prospects are that 

 the current year will be better, and also that 

 the improved situation will work largely to 

 the benefit of the Philippines. 



Imports during the past year were far below 

 norm.al, being placed by local dealers at only 

 about 324,000 short tons, as compared with 

 al)out 670,000 tons in 1915 and similar amounts 

 in normal years. Of these imports 234,000 tons 

 were from Java, 79,260 tons from the Philip- 

 pines and 6,740 tons were from the lower 

 Chinese coast and about 4,030 tons were from 

 Formosa. The refineries exported about 80,- 

 '000 short tons of refined sugar, of which about 

 85 per cent was Java sugar, the rest Ijeing 

 Philippine. Of the 80,000 tons of refined 

 sugar exported, Europe took about 55,000 

 tons, the United States about 525 tons, and 

 Chinese and various ports the balance. 



Of the raw sugar exported, about 30 per 

 cent went to Japanese factories, while the rest 

 went to Chinese and European ports direct. 

 Much of the decrease in the trade is ascribed 

 to political conditions in China and the im- 

 possibility of distributing sugar even where the 

 people had the money to buy it. High freight 

 rates also were a factor, but it is recognized 

 also that Japanese refineries have cut into 

 the Hongkong trade, both in China and else- 

 where, very materially. At the close of the 

 year there was on hand a stock of about 25,000 

 tons. Hongkong importers are of the opinion 

 that because of a lack of freight service from 

 the Philippines to the United States and 

 Europe, while Java is comparatively well 

 served, the import of Philippine raw sugar into 

 Hongkong the current year will be much 

 larger than usual. — Consul General Geoige E. 

 Anderson, Hongkong. 



PORTO RICO SUGAR 



Up to March 4 there had been shipped from 

 the new sugar crop 106,283 tons of sugar, or 

 somewhat more than 20 per cent, of the 

 estimated crop for the year, which has been 

 placed at slightly in excess of 500,000 tons 

 of 2,000 pounds each. 



Since the beginning of the grinding season 

 weather conditions have been favorable for 

 grinding, but continued dry weather has 

 somewhat retarded growing cane. Recovery 

 of sugar from the cane has been considered 

 generally satisfactory, but the tormage of 

 cane to the acre has been about 20 per cent, 

 short of general estimates, due to poor grow- 

 ing conditions during most of last year. 

 Despite the shortage in cane, however, it 

 is expected that, due to a greater recovery 

 of sugar from the cane, the total production 

 will come up to estimates made at the first 

 of the crop. 



There have been comparatively few agri- 

 cultural strikes during the sugar season so 

 far, although several centrals in the eistem 

 section of the island have been closed down 

 for varying periods. Wages have been higher 

 than in previous years, and in many in- 

 stances centrals have promised bonuses at 

 the end of the crop in the event they had no 

 strikes during the working season. The 

 general demand for $1 a day for an eight 

 hour day has not been generally granted, al- 

 though in many instances the wages are con- 

 siderably higher than that. 



The grinding season will run into July. — 

 Harwood Hull, San Juan. 



DENMARK'S BEET SUGAR PRODUCTION. 



The returns from the Statistical Bureau of 

 Denmark, just published, indicate that the 

 production of sugar from beets for the cal- 

 endar year 1916 amounted to 112,800 tons, 

 compared with 125,200 tons in 1915. The 

 area sown to sugar-producing beets was nor- 

 nal, but the yield of sugar was less. 



The consumption of sugar has been steadily 

 increasing, expecially since 1909. The use of 

 sugar per inhabitant in 1916 is put at 103 

 pounds as against only 88 pounds in 1914. 

 This estimate takes in the industrial and pri- 

 vate use of the article.— Co«su( General E. D. 

 Wi7is'ow, Copenhagen. 



