THE CUBA REVIEW 



1 



Car Market Highly Competitive 



Passenger-car manufacturers, before at- 

 tempting to introduce their product into 

 Cuba, will find it necessary to make a 

 close study of the Cuban market and to 

 estabhsh personal contacts with their dis- 

 itributing organizations there. The Cuban 

 i motor-vehicle business has been the ob- 

 ject of most careful study by various ex- 

 port managers of companies whose cars 

 I are already on the market, and the in- 

 troduction of a new car must be taken care 

 of by a factory representative, as its 

 reputation will be permanently injured if 

 the first few customers are dissatisfied in 

 any way. The leading makes of American 

 cars now on the market are represented by 

 American agents, who supervise service 

 and repair stations as a regular part of 

 their business. It is almost necessary to 

 sell on credit and an exhibition stock must 

 be maintained in the country. — Acting 

 Commercial Attache Paul L. Edwards, 

 Habana. 



The Cuban Jewelry Market 



There is noticeable at present a slight 

 improvement in the jewelry business in 

 Cuba, but the trade is still far from normal. 

 Importations of European goods (particu- 

 larly German) are increasing in volume, 

 but the American machine-made jewelry is 

 able to compete with European manufac- 

 tures and such goods are still principally 

 brought from the United States. 



All classes of jewelry are sold in Cuba. 

 Earrings are worn universally and form an 

 important item, as do articles of religious 

 use or significance, for which there is an 

 excellent demand. This is particularly the 

 case as regards medallions of saints. 



A manufacturers' agent has stated that 

 the best method of handling sales is through 

 a local agent, who could deal directly with 

 the merchants and obtain correct credit in- 

 formation; and that reliable credit ratings, 

 through banks and commercial reporting 

 agencies, are difficult to obtain as regards 

 the jewelry trade. — Consul John R. Put- 

 nam, Habana. 



Fountain Pens and Ink Pencils in Cuba 



American fountain pens are sold in fair 

 quantities in Cuba. There is a certain 

 amount of competition, to be sure, but the 

 quality of the American product has in- 

 trenched it firmly in the market. Prospective 

 buyers of fountain pens almost invariably 

 ask for one made in America. The demand 

 for fountain pens is on the upward trend 

 and should increase still more in the near 

 future. With sugar seUing at a good price 

 the purchasing power of the Cubans is 

 much greater than a year ago. Importers 

 are still buying cautiously, as they learned 

 their lesson at the time of Cuba's financial 

 crisis. Small orders of fountain pens are 

 usually paid for on the basis of cash against 

 documents. In other cases credit from 30 

 to 90 days is requested. — Vice-Consul 

 James V. Whitfield. Matanzas. 



Exports Show Increase 



Sugar exports for the week. June 15 as 

 reported by the Secretary of Agriculture, 

 were larger than for the week preceding by 

 about 67,000 bags, being as follows: 

 Bags From To 



19,800 Mariel New Orleans 



4,200 Havana Key West 



14,427 Matanzas New York 



20,211 Cardenas New York 



18,106 Sagua New York 



24,333 Caibarien Not given 



81,184 Nuevitas New York 



20,000 Nuevitas Savannah 



29,000 Gibara New York 



50,287 Nipe New York 



4,000 Guantanamo Philadelphia 



5,000 Santiago New York 



2,000 [Manzanillo Philadelphia 



10,000 Manzanillo New Orleans 



10,478 Santa Cruz New York 



2.495 Tunas New York 



5,000 Cienfuegos New York 



320,521 



The official promedios for the second 

 half and entire month of June have been 

 annoimced by the Secretary of Agriculture 

 as follows, in cents per pound: 



Second Entire 



half month 



Havana 5 . 3507405 5 . 617026 



:Matanzas 5 . 4393246 5 . 7498505 



Cardenas 5 . 3769486 5 . 677366 



Sagua 5 . 4424833 5 . 7247553 



]Manzanillo 5 . 3626582 5 . 6622322 



Cienfuegos 5.4112711 5.7032261 



