26 THECUBAREVIEW 



OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS 



GREAT OPENING FOR GLAZED WARE, PORCELAIN AND ENAMEL WARE 



(Report of Ross E. Holaday, United States Consul at Santiago.) 

 On account of the war in Europe, an exceptional opportunity is presented to American 

 manufacturers of china and porcelain tableware to increase their trade in the Santiago de 

 Cuba consular district. Glazed ware and porcelain have heretofore been purchased principally 

 from Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom, but it is believed that as a general rule 

 Cuban importers prefer to buy in the United States when prices and credits are on a par with 

 those extended by manufacturers and exporters of other countries, since the proximity of 

 the market and superior transportation facilities insure the prompt delivery of merchandise. 

 This fact is worthy of the careful consideration of American firms; and in view of the excellent 

 banking facilities throughout the island, whereby the financial standing and commercial 

 repute of importers can readily be ascertained, and of the comparatively few failures that 

 have occurred among them, the tableware manufacturers of the United States should endeavor 

 to meet the terms of European competitors. The value of the porcelain and glazed earthen- 

 ware imported into Cuba during the fiscal year 1912-1913 was: 



Glazed 



Imported from: Earthenware Porcelain 



United Ivingdom $106,396 $1,101 



Belgium 60,670 837 



Germany 48,131 48,761 



United States 37,736 8,287 



France 27,682 8,519 



Austria 644 3,639 



Spain 1,071 78 



China 143 1,035 



Japan 88 1,840 



All other countries 126 442 



Totals $282,687 $74,539 



The present situation has also opened a market in this consular district for American 

 enameled iron ware. The demand for this class of merchandise has heretofore been supplied 

 by Germany, but the stock on hand is about exhausted and importing merchants are forced 

 to look elsewhere for replenishing their stock. Blue and white kitchen and toilet ware is in 

 general use throughout the island. 



It is generally conceded that American manufacturers make a better grade of enameled 

 ware than do the European, but their prices are said to be correspondingly higher, for which 

 treason they have not been able heretofore to compete with over-sea firms. It is believed 

 that the present offers Americam manufacturers of iron and enameled kitchen and toilet 

 ware an exceptional opportunity to enlarge their trade, and it is recommended that those 

 interested take up the matter direct with the importing merchants or send representatives, 

 interested take up the matter direct with the importing merchants or send representatives, 

 so as to avoid a possible loss of orders. 



CUBA'S IMPORTS FOR TWELVE MONTHS 



The imports of Cuba for the fiscal year ended June 30th compare as follows. The imports 

 are of merchandise only and exclude money imports. 



1912-13 1913-14 



United States $70,705,746 $70,946,127 



Other countries of America 9,933,898 9,359,735 



Germany 9,515,104 8,275,766 



Spain 9,412,251 11,155,671 



France 6,580,776 6,937,287 



Great Britain 16,097,681 14,587,556 



Other countries of Europe 6,996,611 8,064,143 



All other countries 3,047,547 3,461,639 



Total $132,289,614 $132,787,927 



