THE CUBA REVIEW 



17 



Market for American Cement 



Importation of cement from the United 

 States into Cuba in 1922 showed a de- 

 crease of 65 per cent in quantity and of 

 53 per cent in value as compared with 

 1920. A large percentage of this decrease 

 was no doubt due to the suspension of 

 practically all construction work during the 

 financial depression through which Cuba 

 has just passed, the total consumption of 

 cement in the island having decreased 47 

 per cent during this period. Shipments of 

 cement from the United States to Cuba 

 during the past four years have been: 1922 

 —443,391 barrels; 1921 — 447,706 barrels; 

 1920—1,275,169 barrels; 1919—1,061,786 

 barrels. In 1920 (the latest year for which 

 figures of imports from all countries are 

 available) the remainder of the imports 

 of cement into Cuba came mostly from 

 Canada (40.507 barrels), with the Nether- 

 lands, France, Belgium, and other coun- 

 tries making small contributions. 



A higher rate of duty levied on imports 

 from countries other than the United 

 States and slightly higher ocean freight 

 rates have served to offset any price ad- 

 vantage that European exporters might 

 have had through cheapness of labor. 

 While several European countries have pre- 

 viously enjoyed a share in the cement 

 trade, the greatest competition of the 

 present and future is furnished by local 

 manufacturers. The domestic product, 

 which is manufactured by the "wet" 

 process, and is equal in quality to that im- 

 ported, amounted to 500,000 barrels in 

 1922, 435,000 barrels in 1921, 460,000 bar- 

 rels in 1920, and 310,000 barrels in 1919. 

 An advantage is had by American exporters 

 over the local manufacturers in that the 

 combined steamship and railroad freight 

 charges on cement exported from New 

 York destined for the central or eastern 

 interior of Cuba are from 10 to 20 per 

 cent less than the railroad freight charges 

 from Habana, notwithstanding the local 

 producer is allowed a small preferential 

 rate by the local railways. 



An extensive advertising campaign is 

 now being carried on by a local factory, 

 no doubt in view of the fact that the eco- 

 nomic situation has improved considerably 

 in the past six months and that a large 

 amount of construction work will take 



place this year. It has been unofficially 

 stated that work will be resumed in the 

 near future on a number of government 

 projects which were suspended during the 

 financial depression. In this event the 

 consumption of cement for 1923 would be 

 greatly increased. — Ben. B. Sampselle, 

 clerk in American consulate general, Ha- 

 bana. 



American Watches 



Cuba is still somewhat overstocked with 

 watches, and sales are still slow. Except 

 to a very few strictly reliable houses, sales 

 of watches are made entirely on a cash 

 basis. Representatives of Swiss watch 

 manufacturers report that the greater part 

 of their business is on a cash basis and 

 credit terms are very strict. It is the gen- 

 eral opinion that the liberal credit terras 

 extended before the Cuban financial crisis 

 will not again be granted. 



So far as competition is concerned, Swiss 

 watches are very popular in Cuba. They 

 have been established in the market for 

 many years and are furthermore able to 

 sell many types of watches at from one- 

 third to one-half the price of American 

 watches. This applies particularly to small 

 wrist watches and ladies' watches, and is 

 accounted for both by lower production 

 costs and rates of exchange. Another 

 feature which aids the sale of European 

 watches in Cuba is that they supply 18- 

 karat cases, which the Cubans prefer to 

 the 14-karat cases supplied by x\merican 

 manufacturers; also the European cases 

 are elaborately chased and decorated, while 

 American cases are plain. 



American watches have been sold Cuba 

 to a certain extent through resident agents. 

 One of these secured a contract with the 

 railroad companies to supply their em- 

 ployees with watches. In general, sales 

 have not been brisk, however. So far as 

 the future is concerned, American watch 

 manufacturers must be prepared to meet 

 keen European competition if they wish to 

 secure any great share in the Cuban watch 

 market. There is no question that at pres- 

 ent European watches are preferred by 

 the majority of Cubans. — Assistant Trade 

 Commissioner Howard Tewkesbury. Ha- 

 bana. 



