THE CUB A RE VIE W 23 



Exports of Lumber and Timber From the United States to Cuba, 



1913, 1919, 1920, AND 1921 

 Kinds of Lumber and Timber 1913 



Southern pine : M feet 



Sawed timber 1,137 



Planks, deals, and boards 58,911 



Cypress: Planks, deals, and boards 143 



Douglas fir: Planks, deals, and boards 



iVhite pine: Planks, deals, and boards 1,629 



■ledwood : Planks, deals, and boards 



spruce : Planks, deals, and boards 



3ther pine: Planks, deals, and lumber 76,717 



jum: Planks, deals, and boards 



3ak: Planks, deals and boards ' 



Poplar: Planks, deals, and boards 121 



\11 other species: Planks, deals, and boards 350 



a Preliminary figures. 



h Not including small quantity of shortleaf pine. 



c Figures not available. 



Sources of Supply 



Owing to its geographical position, Cuba has practically only two sources of supply 

 :or its requirements of lumber, viz., the United States and Canada. High freight rates 

 Tom the European lumber exporting countries exclude European lumber from entering 

 the Cuban market. Eastern Canada has in the past had a small but steady market, chiefly 

 ;tor its spruce and white pine. The total exports of logs, timber, and lumber (not including 

 lies) from Canada for the period 1913-1920, according to Canadian official statistics, are 

 lis follows : 



I Exports of Lumber and Timber From Can.ada to Cuba, 1913-1920 



V^ear M feet Value Year M feet Value 



1913 19,844 $354,642 1917 9,971 $199,908 



1914 11,739 227,125 1918 6,470 174^435 



1915 17,169 303,097 1919 4,713 177,100 



1916 12,247 231,594 1920 7,013 259,513 



The exports as shown above consist almost entirely of planks and boards, as only small 

 quantities of logs or timber were shipped to Cuba from Canada. 



Methods or Import 



Although Cuba is closer to many of the producing regions in the United States than a 

 number of our own domestic markets, local customs and trade conditions in Cuba are very 

 different, and methods of importation often suggest those followed in European countries. 

 Most of the lumber dealers in Cuba are Spaniards, who naturally foUow the business 

 customs prevailing in their own country. Successful exporters in Canada and the L^^nited 

 States in most cases operate through agents or brokers located in Habana. These agents 

 are fully acquainted with local conditions and visit the various importers throughout the 

 island at regular intervals. In case of claims these agents care for the exporters' interests, 

 and usually attend to the collections, credit information, etc. Many American concerns 

 have tried to deal directly with Cuban importers, but experience has generally proved that 

 this business has not been satisfactory. 



The Cuban importers know very little about grades, and by simply ordering "madera" 

 (lumber), the temptation to make complaint has often arisen on almost any grounds, 

 particularly on a falling market. This may not be typical of Cuban importers, but might 

 happen in any country where no definite understanding in regard to quality of goods and 

 other conditions has been reached between buyers and sellers. 



Importance op Formal Contract Emphasized 

 The lack of a formal contract between buyers and sellers has caused severe losses to 

 American exporters during the latter part of 1920 and during 1921. The strong demand 

 for lumber in Cuba during the boom years of the war and immediately following the armistice 

 caused many exporters in the United States with little or no knowledge of Cuban conditions 

 to enter the Cuban market; also many speculators in Cuba without knowledge of the lumber 



