— IO — 



exports to China, Korea, British India, the Philippines and Asiatic 

 Russia were: 



in 1905 1459678 doz., value 596059 yen 



„ 1904 808477 „ „ 316889 „ 



» I9°3 554265 „ „ 194 184 „ 



Although these figures make it already sufficiently clear that the 



Japanese soap export acquires a growing importance, the quantity 



reached in the months from January to June of last year is quite 



striking: the exports from January 1 to June 30, 1906, were already 



ioi33iodoz., value 459096 yen. 



Before entering into the usual discussion of the individual articles 

 of our branch, we wish to mention still that the past commercial year 

 has with few exceptions brought upward movements in the prices, 

 which have stimulated to a not inconsiderable extent the interest of 

 purchasers. 



Commercial notes and scientific information 

 on essential oils. 



Almond oil, bitter. The demand for both sorts of essential oil 

 of bitter almonds continued to be very brisk, so that our own production 

 was insufficient to meet the requirements. As a makeshift we distilled 

 several truck-loads of Italian press-cakes, which, however, also could 

 be obtained only with difficulty. 



Almond oil, pressed, from apricot-kernels. The tone 

 of the Syrian market of apricot-kernels, has, unfortunately, bitterly 

 disappointed all hopes, as the speculators succeeded, in spite of the 

 favourable results of the harvest, in keeping the prices above 70 marks 

 per 1 00 kilos, so that pressed oil could not be supplied below 1 90 marks 

 per 100 kilos. As already reported by us, the result of this year's 

 harvest could be characterised as a very rich one, for whereas with 

 a good average yield about 6000 to 7000 bales are usually put on 

 the market in Damascus, there were this time optimists who talked 

 of a crop of 20000 bales, which, however, in the opinion of our 

 informants, must be considered as a somewhat exaggerated estimate. 

 As, moreover, the reports from the country behind Mersina and from 

 Aleppo announced an exceptionally rich crop, it was all the more 

 necessary to reckon on a fall in the prices, as according to previous 

 experience the consumers were not capable of absorbing such quantities. 

 On the other hand, the failure of the harvest in California had not 

 been allowed for sufficiently, and as, in consequence of the high prices 



