January 2, 1888.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
157 
CHINA AND JAPAN TEA EXPORTS 1887-8. 
The Prospects of a Decline in the China Tea 
TliADE. 
As the arrivals of tea at Foochow for the current 
season are all but over, wo are in a position to 
estimate what the entire season's shipments to 
Great Britain are likely to be, since, henceforth, 
they must bo altogether out of the stocks at Shanghai 
and Foochow. 
The stock of black tea at the former place is 
estimated to be about 100,000 half-chests of 50 lb. 
each or about live million pounds. Add to this 
5 million lb. green tea, which however is chiefly 
for local consumption, only a small poriion being 
likely to bo shipped to America. At Foochow the 
stock may be computed to be 1)5,000 chests of 
90 lb. each or about 8J million pounds. Another 
million pounds may be put done for Canton, making 
a total of ll.J or say 15 million pounds. 
Tho export from all China so far has been accord- 
ing to the subjoined ligures : — 
Exports from China ami Japan to lb. 
United Kingdom... 1887-8 98,70-1,453 
„ „ „ „ ...1886-7 127,513,072 
„ „ „ „ ...1885-6 130,433,560 
America ...1887-8 46,459,001 
„ ...1886-7 5-',995,564 
„ ...1885 6 49,760,091 
Australian 
Colonies ...1887-8 20,811,569 
„ ...1886-7 19.007,742 
1S85-6 20,817,817 
,i „ ,, Continent 
of Europe. ..1887-8 13,199,579 
„ ,. „ „ ...1S86 7 8,317,410 
„ „ 1885-6 8,618,678 
The total export for the season at the end of April 
will therefore probably be 114 million pounds against 
150 million poundf at the same time last year, or a 
decrease of 30 million pounds. 
Tho .statistics issued by tho London Tea Brokers' 
Association and by the India Tea Association to the 
end of October are interesting and instructive. By 
tho former wo learn that the imports from all quarters' 
are 17jf million pounds short of the previous year, 
owing to tho decrease from China of 28 millions, 
which was partly compensated for by an increase of 
about H millions from India and 2 millions from Ceylon. 
The deliveries of all descriptions were 5J million 
pounds below those of last year, but, as the home 
consumption was a million pounds in excess, the 
decrease in the deliveries was owing chiefly to a 
falling-oil in tho export of 5 million pounds. That 
there should bo this falling-oil in the export is 
strange in tho face of tho export from Chiua and 
Jupan to America being so short, but this is partly 
counterbalanced by the increase to the Continent of 
Europe. We can scarcely think that consumption 
has fallen cIT in Amorica and the Continent so 
largely, and, if it has not, the present decrease 
is in favour of a larger export later on. 
By the India Toa Association's returns, we learn 
that not only had tho wholo season's increased 
supply been shipped in tho first six months, but 
two millions pounds more. The total increase 
this season from India is estimated at seven 
million pounds, whereas an increase of nine 
millions hag bonn shipped, namely 50 millions 
against 11 millions. As the total shipments 
to England to tho ond of April next are Mtimj 
ated at Hi million pounds, thorn are just 31 
millions to bo shipped during the aix months end- 
03 
ing tho 31st March. The probability is, this quan<,ny 
will be shipped during November, December and 
January. Tho increase from India has fortunately 
been disposed of, but there is little room for doubt 
that the largo quantity of Indian tea placed on the 
London market during the dull season of the year 
accounts for the depression recently telegraphed 
in the face of more favourable statistics than wo 
may ever see again in the history of tho tea 
trade unless the Continental and American peoples go 
in specially for tea. The increase from Ceylon 
tor the last six months of the current year is 
about three million pounds, and that of tho 
first six months of next year will be about 
six millions, or an inoreaso of nine millions 
for the year: this with the seven millons increase 
from India reaches sixteen millions, against the 
decrease from China and Japan. 
Since writing the above we find in the China papers 
the following long deliverance on the causes of the de- 
cline in the China Tea Trade and the remedy therefor. 
The information given respecting the adulteration 
of China teas, and especially as to the mode of 
cultivation in former times, is rather amusing. Wo 
cannot believe that tea shrubs pruned annually, 
cul ivated and manured regularly, and only plucked 
three times a year, were found to be used up in eight 
years and accordingly taken out of the ground and 
burnt. Impossible! We have heard of tea bushes 
in China, properly treated, bearing crops for a 
hundred years. 
+ 
THE DECLINE OF THE CHINA TEA TRADE. 
THE OPINIONS OF TIIE FOOCHOW MERCHANTS. 
Sir Robert Hart having requested, through the Com- 
missioners of Customs at the various pons, the opinions 
of tlm merchants as to the faults found with Chinese 
tea and the remedies suggested to improve its quality, 
a valuable report has been drawn up in reply lo tho 
request by the Foochow Chamber of Commerce, and 
has beeu printed together with some correspondence 
on the same subject. A separate report having beeu 
asked for in regard to any steps thought desirable 
nnd practicable to be taken with a view of placing 
the teas ou the London market at cheaper rates, tho 
Chairman of the Chamber writes as follows : — 
Foochow, 3rd Nov., 1S87. 
Sir, — In connection with my other letter of this 
date, I have the houor to wait upon you with a 
separate Report, as requested, having reference, solely, 
to the excessive taxation with which tho Chiua Tea 
Trade is burdened, as compared with the Free Trade 
ol Inrlia ami Ceylon in the same produce. 
The Export Duty amounts to TIs 2.5 Haikwan 
Sycee per picul, that is TIs 2 75 currency, which to- 
gether with Lekin and oiher small Taxes (say 'lis 
1.75) gives a Total Taxation of TIs 4.50 per picul, or 
about 2d per lb iu London. 
Taking the average cost of Congou at this port duriug 
the past season at TIs 14 per picul, duties alone thus 
amount to no less than 32 per cent, an exorbitant tax, 
which the article cannot reasonably be expected to bear. 
It is a significant fact that in the matter of 
Dust and- Sifting*, Indian teas of this grade oan 
actually be laid down in London at the equivalent 
cost of the Duty levied in China. 
It is obvious that this question of Duty is the 
vital point, and it rests wuh the Chinese Authori- 
ties themselves to determinu whether tiny are 
prepared to go with the times, and the altered con- 
ditions of the trade, by relieving it of these taxes, or 
allow it to puss into tho bauds of their free trado 
competitors. 
lu couclusiou, I would point out, it is estimated 
that iu Iho year 1890 tho ou'iro crop of Indian t« a 
will bo laid down iu London at a cost of 6.1 per lb. 
■ ,r under, while tho average value of the Qrop "i 
Foochow Congou this year wan TIs. It or the equi- 
valent of thl per lb. laid down in Loudon for tens 
immeasurably inferior to thote of Indian grow;b.— 1 
