PETROLEUM 



Trade 



MINERAL OIL 



I mports. 



Russia and the 

 United States. 



Becent Returns. 



Foreign and 

 Local Supplies. 



Prices. 



Rs. 12,42,601. Exports of mineral oils, other than kerosene, amounted 

 in 1904-5 to 164,253 gallons ; 1905-6, 12,962 gallons ; and 1906-7, 881,452 

 gallons. India also re-exports large quantities, amounting in 1904-5 to 

 2,097,472 gallons ; 1905-6, 1,161,012 gallons ; and in 1906-7, 486,676 

 gallons. 



Imports. The IMPORTS of mineral oils are large and important. Accord- 

 ing to Holland, during the years 1897-1903 they averaged nearly 85| million 

 gallons, valued at 2,314,801. Of the two great producing countries, 

 Russia and the United States, which during the years in question supplied 

 between them about 93-5 per cent, of the imported foreign oil, Russia has 

 been gradually increasing its predominance over the States. " In 1897-8 

 Russia contributed 58-1 per cent, of the imports and the States 29-7, but 

 in 1901-2 the former had secured 85-5 and the latter only 9-5 per cent, of 

 the Indian custom, though a slight reversal occurred in 1902-3 " (Holland). 

 In the Imperial Gazetteer of India (in., 139) later particulars are given. 

 Of the imports, it is said of the foreign oil that " about 75 per cent., 

 amounting to 64 million gallons a year, comes from Russia, and 19 per 

 cent, from the United States, while large quantities are now being obtained 

 from the productive fields in the Dutch East Indies." 



In the Review of the Trade of India (1905-6, 15-6) the total value of all 

 mineral oils imported in that year into India is stated to have been Rs. 

 222-9 lakhs, or 32 per cent, less than in 1904-5. Of this total, Rs. 178-3 

 lakhs, or just 80 per cent., had reference to kerosene. During the years 

 1900-6 the imports of kerosene (omitting last three figures) are quoted 

 as follows : 1900-1, 72,602 gallons, valued at Rs. 3,10,34 ; 1901-2, 

 91,467 gallons, valued at Rs. 3,51,57 ; 1902-3, 81,451 gallons, valued at 

 Rs. 3,14,61; 1903-4, 71,559 gallons, valued at Rs. 3,07,58 ; 1904-5, 

 76,190 gallons, valued at Rs. 2,97,56 ; 1905-6, 50,949 gallons, valued at 

 Rs. 1,78,32. During the same period, it is interesting to note that the 

 exports from Burma (omitting last three figures) rose from 8,269 gallons, 

 valued at Rs. 33,53, in 1900-1 to 47,160 gallons, valued at Rs. 1,62,34, 

 in 1905-6, and that while in 1905-6 the imports of foreign kerosene 

 declined by 33 per cent, in quantity and 40 per cent, in value on the 

 imports of the previous year, the exports from Burma to India are 

 stated to have increased by 10 per cent, in both respects. 



Analysing the figures of supply, we learn that Russia gave to India 

 (omitting last three figures) in 1901-2, 84,478 gallons, and in 1905-6, 

 7,617 gallons ; the United States, 5,768 and 22,332 ; the Straits Settle- 

 ments, 1,023 and 10,391 ; and Sumatra, nil and 5,401 gallons. As a 

 parallel to these records, it may be here added that Burma supplied India 

 in 1901-2 with 13,463 gallons, and in 1905-6 with 47,160 gallons. It is 

 also stated that " case oil " is giving place to " bulk oil " importation, and 

 that " more than half of the above decline in total imports is to be traced 

 to the falling off of 11 million gallons in arrivals of case oil from Russia 

 alone, this being due to the destruction and anarchy that prevailed in the 

 Russian oil region." 



Prices. The following average prices in Calcutta, during 1905-6, of 

 various classes of kerosene are quoted in the Review (I.e. 16) : American, 

 Chester, per case, Rs. 4-2-9 : Russian, Rising Sun, per case, Rs. 3-10-6 ; 

 Anchor, per case, Rs. 3-6-8 ; Ram, per case, 3-9-7 : Burma, Victoria, per 

 2 tins, Rs. 2-11-5 ; Gold Mohar, per 2 tins, Rs. 2-14-6 : Borneo, Cobra, 

 per 2 tins, Rs. 2-11-9 : Sumatra, Silver Light, per 2 tins, Rs. 2-11-9 : 



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