MALT AND BEER IN SPANISH AMERICA. 



MEXICO. 



REPORT BY CONSUL GENERAL BUTTON OF NUEVO LAREDO. 

 MAT/1% 



The imports of malt into Mexico are small and unimportant ; nor is 

 it likely that they can be greatly increased under present conditions. 

 I have only been able to identify small importations at Matamoros and 

 here. They are so small and unimportant that they are not specially 

 quoted in the Mexican tariff, and it is not certain that the article called 

 malt is the same at different custo m-houses. At Matamoros the so- 

 called import of malt is stated at about 500 bushels per annum, used 

 only by bakers and druggists, and paying duty at the rate of 5 cents 

 per kilogram. At this port what is called malt, that is, barley prepared 

 for making beer, is classed under fecula, and dutiable at 10 cents per 

 kilogram. The imports of fecula of all materials for the six months 

 ending December 31, 1884, the last date published where this article is 

 stated separately, amounted to 4,307 kilograms; United States gold, 

 invoice values, $656 j Mexican plaza value in Mexican silver dollars, 

 $1,369; on which $517 duties were paid in Mexican coin. 



The special reason why there is not likely to be any increase in the 

 import of malt is because barley is extensively grown, comparatively 

 speaking, in most parts of Mexico. As the local cost of this grain is 

 usually low, it will be cheaper to use the home product than to import. 

 One or two importations of malt made through here sometime since 

 were understood to be for making high-priced English beer in the City 

 of Mexico. As I have been unable to find any recent shipments it was 

 probably not a profitable business. 



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