February ij 1888] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
557 
CHINA TEA MARKET REVIEW FOR 1887. 
(From S terming, Inskipp d) Co.'s Report.) 
London : 9, Great Townu St., Jan. 1888. 
The year under review will be a memorable one for 
Hie revolution in tavor of Indian aud Ceylon teas, and to 
the consequent displacement of China growths. The large 
deficiency iu the China export (vi/.., : 8,000,000 lb.) coupled 
wall [he deorease ol 21,700,000 In the delivery ol China 
Congous is about balanced by the larger deliveries of 
Indian/ 14,691.000 lb., and Ceylon isW.a.tiya 000 lb, 
Tlieiinuliiy of the Northern teas ot Ohiiift of the present tai a 
has proved most disappoiutmg, the proportion of lino leas 
being most unusually small; later on ill thu sea-on when 
the trade realized the position, a demand sprung up for 
fine teas, and numerous contracts were made at a sub- 
stantial advance on the original cost ; present rates shew 
very dear us compared with Indian leas. 
The .|ii;ility of the early arrivals of the Southern leas 
showed a marked improvement on the past two or three 
seasous, und the teas sold readily; later on, however, 
large quantities of very low undesirable teas arrived; these 
met with a very poor reception, prices at one time be- 
ing down to :)id and 4d per lb. (about the lowest on 
record.) At the close of the year fair medium i ongous 
shew relatively very good value whilst finest grades remain 
exceptionally dearer. 
The strong hold on the Home Trade which Indian and 
Ceylon leas have now taken should be a wurning to the 
Chinese growers to do their utmost to improve their 
quality . 
Iu Common Congous the fluctuations have been from 5}d 
to 4d per lb. 
Pubhc auctions still continue in favour for common teas, 
and mousl kinds of fancy teas. 
The China export shews ti4, 800,0(0 lb., against HH.UiiO.ooO 
lb. last year, and Mi.OOO.OOU lb. iu 1885. The stock of con- 
gou in Loudon shews 19,010,000 lb. against 51,00j,0u0 lb. last 
year, and 5:i,0U0.UUU lb. IU 1885. 
Public sales contained 4)9,71)1 packages, against 65,822 
package! in 1£8>J. 
REVIEW OF COFFEE FOR 1887. 
(From /. .!. liucher <t Benora/t's Price 
Currrttt.) 
•January 111), 1688, 
Lias consumption ducreasedr 1 To lorui a sound opi- 
nion, us broad u range as possible should be glanced at 
and tlio following figures compiled by us some little 
time ngo at the request of one of our friends, are, we 
believe worthy of study. Each period comprises twelve 
mouths, either January -December or July- June, and 
the deliveries during December IfcbV, are of course es 
timuted, a fact which can have no influence ou the 
tenor of the figures. 
July-Dec July-June 
18*7. 
Deliveries- 
United States 
Europe 
Dolive 
ries — 
tons 
77,707 
155,020 
2112,787 
1887-88. 
tons 
at 
the ruto 
of 
406,00.) 
1886-87. 1886. 
tons tons 
United States 212,562 231,254 
Europe 433,120 4-10,200 
1885-86. 
tons 
226,1131 
428,430 
1887. 
tons 
176,000 
363,000 
530,0(10 
1885. 
tons 
230,048 
424,810 
6-15,682 671,154 650,301 654,858 
The average price of each period works out us to! 
lows as applteu to good average Santos in Havre: — 
103 = 103 06 75 53 46.75 48.50 Innoa 
In thu twelve months of 18o0 deliveries were 671,434 
tons, or 5,000 tons heavier than the largest record up 
to that period, viz., 066,299 tons in the twelve mouths 
1884-85. Iu the twelve mouths 1886-87 deliveries were 
c uly 645,682 tons, and this in luce of the popular as 
»ertlou that during that period the trade was stocking 
itselt heavily. As a matter of fact the figure 645,682 
t,ns is lar loo large, aud is very misleading, becausi 
it it tit Undoubted lact. that during the period 1886-87 
latgo quantities of 0< Ifee went iu and out of stock in 
ei.e p it oi.'v to apjM ir in in other port, owing to the 
si normal ulnic ol trade then current. I i real authori- 
ties h.iv. compute. I this abnormal iu and out move- 
went of stock at | K) 0,01.11 bags, or 80,000 tons. If we 
wish to be wwll witlnu the murk let us calculate it nt 
i-tily 2(>,o00jtons, and thou iu the light of it the figures 
of the twelve months 1887 become easier to under- 
stand, aud the probable figures of the twelve months 
1887-88 on a basis of 103 francs follow as a natnra 
sequence. Thus — 
1886 deliveries ou a basis of 53 francs 071,454 tons 
1886- 87 „ „ 75 „ 625,682 „ 
1887 „ „ 96 „ 530,000 „ 
1887- 88 „ „ 103 „ 466,000 „ say 
500,000 tons 
These figures appear to us to prove that the rise in 
price has checked the consumption of coffee, and that 
every advance from 53 francs upwards has had a 
direct inllueuce on the requirements of consumers. 
The foregoing may be treated as direct evidence, all 
indirect evidence tends, we think, to corroborate the 
above. At an average price, therefore, of 96 francs, 
deliveiies thould be in Europe and America about 
45,000 tons per month. Increase the price, and deli- 
eriea would become further curtailed. 
What do our supplies appear likely to total for the 
neict twelve months '/ The following little table shows 
the absolute past and the probable future of llrazil 
figures. The calculation is formed on the assumption 
h t the current Brazil crops will give tec pts of 
3,000,000 hags, that the 1888-e'J crops will give receipts 
ot 6,250,000 hags. At the present moment up to date 
receipts iu Rio and Santos total 1,549,000 bags. We 
are told that Rio will give another 900,000 bays, and 
Santos we presume at least another 600,000 bags. 
It is far easier to imagine the total above than below 
3,000,000 bags. As regards the 1888-89 crops at the 
present momeut we helieve the best inlormation 
points to crops above the figure giveu. Directly the 
large houses publish their official estimates, the fol- 
lowing little table can be adjust! d. 
Shipments to Europe and the States. 
January 1st. 
Jan. to July, to 
June. Deo. bags tons 
1885. 6,208-3,394=2,814 + 2,986 -5,800,000=348,000 
1886. 5,096—2,986=2,110 + 3,276=5,385,0U0--=323,100 
1887. 5,691—3,275=2,416 + 1,350=3,766,000=225,960 
1888. 3,000—1,250=1,650 + 3,350=5,000,000=300 000 
Say 300,000 tons of Brazil Coffee available for 1888. 
Below wo give the importations of coffee during the 
last three years, and deduct from them the Brazil 
shipments, thus getiug at the importations of coffee 
from countries outside the Brazils. 
1887. 1886. 1885. 
tous tons tons 
Imports United States 181,000 220,119 226,124 
„ Europe 355,000 373,350 431,110 
Deduct Brazil ship- 
ments 
Coffee from other 
countries 
536,000 593,469 
225,960 
323,100 
270,309 
657,234 
348,000 
309,234 
310,040 
After deducting 20,000 tous, abnormal movement in 
1886 and 1887 already referred to, we find that dur- 
ing the last three years coffee producing countries 
outside Rio and Santos have given us a yearly average 
of 290,000 tous. During 1887 they gave us say 300,000 
tons, and our readers can form their own opinions as 
to whether the out-turn during 1888 is likely to bo 
above or below the average. As far as we are concern- 
ed we shall estimate the weight as likely to be avail- 
able at tho average of 290,000 tous. 
With current Brazil crops estimated at 3,000,000 bugs. 
They must count the bag as 1 cwt. The "sack" used 
to be 1J cwt. 
With 1888-89 Brazil crops estimated at 6,350,000 bags. 
It appears likely that wo shall have available dur- 
ing 1888— 
about 300,000 tous Brazil Coffee 
290,000 „ Coffee from other Countries 
about 590,000 tons + the visible supply now current. 
If values are to rule on a basis of 96 francs for good 
average Si.ntos. and if our deductiou be fairly correct 
thn* on that I atii the trade will lake delivery during 
ISSs of ileci.l dly under 55o,0o0 tons of eolfrf.it i« 
evident that additions during the second half of Its* 
will be mado to slocks. 
