THE CUBA REVIEW 



13 



tons had been produced. The estimate 

 for the crop is now placed at about 

 4,000,000 tons. 



During the past few weeks world condi- 

 tions have caused marked advances in the 

 price of sugar, and at the date of this 

 report sales had been made at S0.0375 per 

 pound. The benefits of this advance, how- 

 ever, do not accrue to the planters, as most 

 of these were paid for their sugar on a 

 basis of approximately $0,018 per pound 

 (the average price prevailing earlier in 

 the year when they were forced to sell 

 their share of the crop). The planters did 

 not receive, as a rule, an amount sufficient 

 to leave them a margin with which to 

 liquidate their accounts with sugar mills, 

 stores, banks, etc. 



However, if the present prices for sugar 

 continue, next year is expected to be a 

 period of real financial readjustment. 

 Planters predict a shorter crop in Cuba 

 for next year because of restricted plant- 

 ings for two years. This, combined with 

 an alleged shortage of 350,000 tons in the 

 United States sugar-beet crop and an ex- 

 pected continuance of large European 

 purchases, gives them hope of the main- 

 tenance of favorable sugar prices. There 

 is a feeling of optimism in the sugar in- 

 dustry in Cuba such as has not been felt 

 since the panic of 1920. 



Iron and Steel Imports— Cement Sales 



Iron and steel imports for June were 

 greater than those for May, and the in- 

 dications are that July will again show 

 an increase. Purchases are being made 

 for repairs which can no longer be post- 

 poned. Barbed wire was especially in de- 

 mand in June, while structural steel for 

 use in small construction has sold actively. 

 No complete construction projects of im- 

 portance are reported, but the activity in 

 repair work has been brisk. Inquiries have 

 indicated some interest in steel rails. Sales 

 and collections have shown improvement 

 over May. Orders could be increased if 

 more liberal credit terms could be allowed. 



Cement sales decreased slightly during 

 June, but the change was not large enough 

 to be significant. Building throughout the 

 island is irregular and no large construction 

 projects were begun during the month. In 

 Habana there is continued activitv in re- 



pairing and working over small buildings, 

 and work has begun on several medium- 

 sized apartment houses. 



Market for Sugar-Mill Machinery, 

 Automobiles and Tractors 



Practically no new sugar-mill machinery 

 is being installed. Whatever buying has 

 taken place has been for repairs and for 

 minor replacements. Earlier inquiries for 

 machinery have not developed into pur- 

 chases. Strict credit terms prevail and 

 extreme economy is being practised by 

 mill owTiers, with the result that the pres- 

 ent season has been a very discouraging one 

 to dealers in this class of machinery. 



Automobile imports for June show a 

 slight falling off from those in May. Con- 

 ditions in the United States delayed the 

 arrival of one large shipment of auto- 

 mobiles ordered for June delivery. The 

 number of cars entered in June was 98, 

 compared with 113 in May. All of these 

 came from the United States. Inquiries 

 for tractors during the past month have 

 been more frequent. In general, auto- 

 mobile dealers, especially those selling low- 

 priced cars, are encouraged with the pros- 

 pects for the future. 



Trade in Fertilizers, Textiles and 

 Foodstuffs 



The fertilizer business showed a marked 

 improvement in June, although ordinarily 

 in June this business shows a decrease. 

 Last year the June sales were negligible. 



The improvement in the textile trade 

 for May has been followed by a slight fall- 

 ing off in June. The main demand has 

 been for low-priced materials used for 

 workmen's clothing and women's and chil- 

 dren's dresses. Colored drills, prints and 

 ginghams have met with a satisfactory de- 

 mand. The season for beach cloths is at 

 an end, and there is no demand for wool- 

 ens. Dealers report that the stock of 

 woolen goods still on hand is sufficient to 

 last for many months. No revival of the 

 textile trade is expected during the sum- 

 mer months. 



During the month of June the sales of 

 foodstuffs were better than during May or 

 any previous month of this year. — Assis- 

 tant Trade Commissioner C. A. Livengood. 

 Habana. 



