THE CUBA REVIEW 



•i\ 



United States Trade with Cuba 



The dominating factor in Cuban prosperity is the production and marketing of 

 its immense sugar crop, upon which banking and credit transactions are primarily based. 

 Any prolonged depression in the sugar market, therefore, such as the one beginning in 

 1920, affects all phases of the island's commercial life. Next in importance is the 

 tobacco crop, which, while its total value does not approach that of sugar, is of im- 

 portance because of the fact that it provides employment for a large number of people. 

 Coffee, cacao, and tropical vegetables and fruits are also grown in Cuba, but do not 

 figure prominently among its exports. 



Decline in United States Exports to Cuba During 1922 

 Our exports to Cuba fell from $515,000,000 in 1920 to $188,000,000 in 1921 and 

 $127,873,185 in 1922. While these figures would seem to indicate a less healthy eco- 

 nomic condition in Cuba in 1922 than in 1921, such is not the case. A steady economic 

 readjustment is perceptible when a comparison is made of Cuban imports from the 

 United States by quarters during these two years. The lowest level was reached in the 

 last quarter of 1921. Since then there has been a slow increase, the total for the last 

 quarter of 1922 far exceeding that for the corresponding period of 1921. During the 

 past few years our chief exports to Cuba have been automobiles and accessories, includ- 

 ing tires; railway equipment; sugar machinery; building materials, of which lumber was 

 the principal item, cement, structural iron and steel; iron and steel products, such as 

 nails, pipes, and fittings, sheets and plates, tin plate and wire; cotton textiles, principally 

 bleached and printed goods; boots and shoes; fuel, principally coal and petroleum: and 

 a wide variety of food stuffs. Exports of practically all these articles fell off during 

 1922, although in a few cases slight increases were shown. The most striking reductions 

 appear to have been in coal, certain foodstuffs, such as eggs, wheat flour, and canned fruit, 

 while very considerable increases were recorded in textiles, such as cotton hosiery, printed 

 cotton cloth, and dyed piece goods. 



Increased Imports from Cuba. 

 Cane sugar represents, on an average, 80 per cent of our total imports from Cuba. 

 The quantity of sugar sent to the United States in 1922 was far in excess of 1921 

 shipments, but the value of the 1922 sugar imports did not increase in the same pro- 

 portion, due to the slump in sugar prices. Of the minor exports, tobacco showed no 

 change in 1922, but shipments of cacao and copper decreased while bananas and iron 

 ore showed increases. Cuba's balance of trade with the United States is more favor- 

 able in proportion to the total value of the trade than for any past year. Her exports to 

 us in 1922 were $267,840,867, against imports valued at $127,873,185. She holds 

 fourth place among the nations of the world in the value of exports to the United States 

 during 1922, the three leading countries being Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. 

 As an importer of American goods Cuba ranks seventh among the nations of the world, 

 preceded only by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and Italy. 

 The following table shows the trade of the United States with Cuba in 1913-14, 1021. 

 and 1922: 



trade of the united states with CUBA 



Articles 



Imports from Cuba 



Cacao, pounds. 



Copper ore, matte, etc. ,2 pounds 



Bananas, bunches 



Iron ore, tons 



Quantity Value 



2,818,188 



10,216.596 



2.isi.i9i 



1,289.663 



S326,642 



1,270.182 



85,S.536 



3,717,975 



Quantity \'alue 



4,570,691 



17,956,447 



1.774.161 



123.222 



5317,864 



2,809.976 



871.991 



493,092 



Quantity Value 



2,660,592 



25.277.622 



2,009.099 



381,746 



8226,318 

 2.414.449 

 1.054,852 

 1.580.504 



1 Year ended June 30, 1914. 



- Copper content. 



