THE CUB A RE V I EW 29 



The Sugar Industry 



Decrease in World Crop Figures for 1921-1922 



A substantial shrinkage in the size of the world's sugar crop, which promises to be 

 felt more particularly in the Western hemisphere, is indicated by the preliminary figures 

 for the world's production for the 1921-22 crop year. 



Decrease May Reach 1,000,000 Tons 



In some quarters it is beUeved that the world's production will fall roughly 1,000,000 

 tons short of last year's crop. Whether this figure will prove correct or not depends to 

 a great extent on the Cuban output, for while figures for North America generally show 

 some falling off as compared with last year, it is likewise true that other parts of the world 

 show some indications of increased production, according to the information available 

 at this date. 



The outlook, however, undoubtedly seems to be brighter so far as this part of the 

 world is concerned, for while last season's surplus of sugar was held in the Western hemi- 

 sphere, largely through the exchange situation which discriminated against European 

 buyers, such increased production as may appear this year for the most part is to be 

 found in countries with depleted currency, which may make the marketing of the surplus 

 easier. 



The possibihty of these sugars reaching the American market, however, seems remote, 

 in view of the tariff prevaiHng in this country; this, instead of being to Cuba's disadvan- 

 tage, may result in saving for her her principal market. 



The following figures show a sHght falling off in the United States production, wliich 

 would have been considerably lower had not the Louisiana crop shown such a substantial 

 advance. For North America, however, the figures show a faUing off of approximately 

 790,000 tons, the 1921-22 crop showing as 5,776,500 tons, as against 6,565,500 last year. 



For the Western Hemisphere, taking in the shght decrease in production indicated in 

 South America, the total decrease is over 800,000 tons. 



Europe, despite the drouth of the past summer, shows a shght gain over last year, 

 owing to the comparatively large increase in planting. The amount available, however, 

 is far from suflacient to take care of the needs of the continent, which will have to draw 

 much of its supply from abroad, especially in view of the fact that virtually all govern- 

 ment control is ended, and that an open market prevails there. 



The Far East shows a shght gain, chiefly represented in the Java crop, wliich more 

 than offsets a shght faUing off in the production of India. 



The world's total production, as indicated by the figures, appears to be in the neighbor- 

 hood of 16,269,000 tons, as compared with 16,818,500 tons last year, or a decrease of 

 roundly 550,000 tons. 



SUGAR CROPS OF THE WORLD FOR 1921-22 AND 1920-21 



Tons of 2,240 lbs. 



North America— 1920-21 1921-22 

 United States — 



Beet Industry 973,250 904,000 



Louisiana and Texas 157,2.50 238,000 



Hawaii 501,000 483,000 



Porto Rico 437.400 398,000 



Virgin Islands 5,600 8,000 



Total United States 2,074,500 2,031,000 



Equivalent in tons of 2,000 lbs 2,323,440 2,274,720 



Canada (beet) 34,000 23,000 



Mexico : 100,000 110,000 



Central America 40,000 37,000 



Cuba 3,935,000 3,200,000 



