TOE CHUB AY wi VTE Vs 29 
Foreign Commerce of Cuba During 1919-20 
Consul General Carlton Bailey Hurst, Habana 
The total foreign commerce of Cuba during the fiscal year 1919-20 exceeded 
$1,290,000,000, which, compared with 1918-19, shows an increase of $504,000,000, or 
64 per cent. The unusual growth is largely owing to Cuban exports, which surpassed 
those of the preceding year by $385,000,000, while the value of the imports was only 
$119,000,000 more than the year before. 
The increase of $119,000,000 in importations is noted chiefly in the following items: 
Per Cent Per Cent 
Increase of Increase of 
Increase Increase 
Alimentary products........ $49,800,000 41.0 Animals and animal products | $3,900,000 2.6 
PSK GI CS oie ct esos bo hte 25,800,000 21.6 Chemical products and per- 
Mivchimenyect eo). oe eee 18,740,000 157 AINE TV one 2,300,000 1.8 
Stones, earths and ceramic 
OROGUCHS Hs Make os mcrae 5,100,000 4.3 
This marked advance in the value of Cuban imports is accounted for in large measure 
by the phenomenal rise in prices of merchandise in the markets of origin. The increase 
in Cuban importations from the United States and Porto Rico amounted to $88,800,000, 
or 37%, the natural resuit of the intimate commercial relations existing between the two 
countries. Spain’s shipments to Cuba increased by $6,500,000; those from France by 
$4,800,000; and from the United Kingdom by $4,800,000. Commerce with European 
nations that was quiescent during the war is beginning to assume its normal activity 
in this market. France was able to send to Cuba during 1919--20, $13,024,000 worth 
of merchandise, and England $13,607,000 worth; while German imports amounted 
during the fiscal year under consideration to $942,000 in value. 
The following table shows the approximate value of imports into Cuba during the 
fiscal year 1919-20 by classes of commodities, from the chief countries of origin: 
United Ger- United All Other 
Commodities States many Spain France Kingdom | Countries Total 
Stones, earths and ceramic : 
products: 
Stones and earths...| $2,588,733 $678 $19,605 $14,236] $14,228 $256,868) $2,894,348 
Mineral oils, bitu- 
mG, EUs coooo ee (SON LOANS Ie rae neccie'l HSconekteclet curiae | eoeSeceene eeorais 5,294 1,091,998 9,110,094 
Glass and crystal ware 4,704,816 22,150 386,744 135,218 79,533 270,506 5,598,967 
- Earthenware and por- 
Celainiese ia pas... 1,164,507 29,138 213,691 69,042 628,015 191,067 2,295,460 
Metals and their manu- 
factures: 
Gold, silver and plati- 
TOUU OG oro Grats Sea ere 661,738] 133,686 114,538 50,998 35,963 90,449 1,087,372 
Tron and steel...... 20,431,658 75,726 35,514 82,335 646,549 86,976} 21,358,758 
Copper and alloys. . 1,978,287 3,823 74,450 26,421 97,643 11,296 2,191,920 
All other metals.... 693,789 1,921 21,300 27,359 49,443 8,179 801,991 
Substances employed in 
pharmacy, chemical in- 
dustry and perfumery: 
Primary products... 1,222,904 4,741 339,112 3,722 14,614 165,304 1,750,397 
Paints, etc., var- 
nishes and inks.. . 2,290,746 3,518 8,240 9,133 202,272 18,270 2,532,179 
Chemical products. . 9,206,127 72,186 323,559| 1,852,562 254,422 325,062} 12,033,918 
Oils, soap, ete...... 6,013,718 7,870 383,953| 1,081,278 180,429 88,767 7,756,015 
Textiles and their manu- 
factures: 
Cottonsemere ees 34,445,741 35,043| 2,500,216) 1,015,654] 6,002,279) 1,937,979} 45,936,912 
Other vegetable fi- 
[OLSINS eee Ned oe eee 4,123,885 2,426 443,101 46,341] 1,525,496! 8,624,746) 14,765,995 
Wool, hair, etc..... 3,636,330 2,469 202,446 72,965 920,780 88,744 4,923,734 
Silke ere 1,088,828 4,911 74,826 83,364 46,949 434,493 WA 7/33337/11 
