1« THECUBAREVIEW 



LAST YEAR'S CUBAN TRADE 



[By United States Consul General James S. Rodgers] 



In 1911 there was a steady inflow into Cuba of foreign capital for investment in 

 sugar cane and grazing lands, for amplification of banking and industrial capital, and for 

 the encouragement of many enterprises upon which foreigners have embarked in Cuba, 

 indicative of entire confidence in the ultimate development of Cuba's prosperity. 



The year saw many important public and government works in course of completion, 

 among which may be mentioned the improvement of the ports, the construction of docks 

 in Havana, the sewering and paving of the city, similar works in Cienfuegos, the 

 reclamation of swamp lands in Matanzas Province by the Roque Canal, preliminary 

 surveys for irrigation projects and the construction of new roads. 



The abundance of money produced by the great sugar output of the 1910 season was 

 primarily responsible for the increase in the value of imports last year over 1910, 

 since purchases of machinery for sugar mills, luxuries of various kinds, and extra 

 necessities of life naturally followed, but a close analysis of the import trade cannot 

 fail to cause surprise, first as to the purchasing power of such a small population and 

 second as to its dependence upon the outside world, although possessed of one of the 

 most fruitful of countries. 



The total imports last year were valued at $113,266,997, compared with $107,959,198 

 for 1910. Cotton and manufactures accounted for over $2,000,000 of the increase; 

 iron and steel over $1,000,000, and machinery and apparatus over $1,000,000. 



The percentages given in the table following show that the United States leads in the 

 supplies which cannot well be obtained elsewhere and as cheaply. Only in one item — - 

 textiles — is there a gratifying result, which indicates that American manufacturers are 

 at least beginning to gain upon the Europeans. 



The following table shows the percentages of the distribution of the imports into 

 Cuba from the United States and other countries during 1910 and 1911 : 



From United States From other countries 



1910 1911 1910 1911 



Products — Percent Percent Percent Percent 



Stone, earth and ceramics 57.20 54.93 42.80 45.07 



Metals and manufactures of 65.40 69.56 34.60 30.44 



Chemicals and drugs 54.68 57.14 45.32 42.86 



Textiles and manufactures of 12.68 18.57 87.32 81.25 



Paper and paper goods 43.41 44.56 56.59 55.44 



Wood and manufactures of 71.61 71.38 28.39 28.62 



Animals and products 77.10 76.46 22.90 23.54 



Machinery, etc 71.47 73.64 28.53 26.36 



Foodstuffs, etc 47.14 43.90 52.86 56.10 



Miscellaneous 49.50 53.33 50.50 46.67 



Articles free of duty 87.52 86.28 12.48 13.72 



There was a large decrease in the total value of the exports last year compared with 

 1910, due to the sugar output falling far below normal. The tobacco crop, however, was 

 fair. The exports of sugar, crude and refined, amounted to only $77,616,367 in value, 

 compared with $108,762,632 for 1910. Tobacco and products increased in the value of 

 shipments from $27,873,950 in 1910 to $31,740,018 last year. 



The percentages of distribution of exports to the United States and other countries 

 for 1910 and 1911 are given in the following table: 



To United States To other countries 



1910 1911 1910 1911 



Products — - Percent Percent Percent Percent 



Animals and animal products 30.60 25.55 69.40 74.45 



Sugar and products 93.74 99.02 6.26 .98 



Fruits and vegetables 91.37 92.27 8.63 7.73 



Marine products 31.12 32.89 68.88 67.11 



Mineral products 99.97 99.94 .03 .06 



Forest products 56.50 54.29 43.50 45.71 



Tobacco products 61.00 63.71 39.00 36.29 



Miscellaneous 23.43 22.03 76.57 77.97 



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