18 THE 
CUBA 
REVIEW 
Cuban Commercial Matters 
Importations of Cement 
Importations of cement into Cuba dur- 
ing the fiscal year 1918-19 show a decrease 
compared with those of 1917-18. How- 
ever, during the latter period the United 
States was the only country from which 
cement was imported. The quantities and 
values of cement imports during the two 
most recent fiscal years for which statistics 
are available were as follows: 1917—18— 
United States, 1,456,839 barrels, worth 
$2,032,744; France, 2,968 barrels, worth 
$10,042: total, 1,459,807 barrels, worth 
$2,042,786; 1918-19—United States, 787,- 
338 barrels, worth $1,392,967. 
It is stated that large amounts of Ger- 
man, Belgian, and Norwegian cement are 
being imported into Cuba and are quoted 
in all parts of the island. They are said to 
compare favorably in tests and quality 
with American cement. Local dealers in 
cement and large construction companies 
state that the price of American cement at 
the mills in the United States is practically 
the same for the different grades as the 
price of the European product at the mills 
where it is manufactured, and that, there- 
fore, the mill price would permit a suc- 
cessful competition on the part of dealers 
in American cement, on account of the 
preferential tariff and because the standard 
brands of American cement are well known 
and preferred in this market, even in the 
fact of fractionally higher prices. 
It is also claimed that inland freight and 
handling charges for cement at United 
States ports are higher in about the same 
ratio than those in Europe and that this 
fact also adds to the consumption price 
which dealers must charge for. American 
cement. It is the general belief that in- 
creasing quantities of European cement 
will be marketed in Cuba as the result of 
the conditions set forth above. 
—Consul General Carlton Bailey Hurst, 
Habana. 
Importations of Cement into Santiago 
Consul Harold D. Clum, Santiago, 
states in a recent report that the diminu- 
tion in imports of cement into the Santiago 
district from the United States is due 
principally to the suspension of building 
operations, owing to the financial crisis 
and economic depression which Cuba has 
been experiencing for the past six months, 
with increasing intensity up to the present 
time, rather than to foreign competition in 
prices and freight rates. Importations of 
cement into this port in the first three 
months of 1921 were only 1,624,493 kilos 
(1 kilo=2.2 pounds) from all sources, as 
against 8,655,825 kilos, all from the United 
States, during the first three months of 
1920. Statistics furnished by the Santiago 
customhouse show the following importa- 
tions through this port during the year 
1920 and the first three months of 1921: 
Calendar January- 
Countries year March, 
1920 1921 
Kilos Kilos 
United States.... 16,240,291 774,353 
Netherlands. .... 180,000 saa 
Canada.) 142°555” 7 eee 
Jaa ACa eee 73,600. 25 eeeeee 
Germany........ 17,640 760,140 
SONI eon Cake 4,525 2. epee 
Beletumiscs > 32. sate 90,000 
SLOtale eee 16,658,611 1,624,493 
German Trade with Santiago de Cuba 
The values of imports of merchandise 
into the port of Santiago de Cuba from 
Germany in 1920 amounted to $275,231. 
The customhouse statistician who fur- 
nished this information states that the 
principal articles imported from Germany 
were hardware (tools, cutlery, and alumi- 
num ware), cement, beer, pianos, and 
toys. Up to the end of the year no textiles 
were imported. Dutch vessels brought 
about 90% of the imports from Germany, 
American vessels about 5%, and Nor- 
wegian vessels about 2%. 
Leather Belting 
Leather belting exported to Cuba from 
the United States in 1920 amounted to 
359,106 pounds, valued at $807,715. 
