768 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [May t, 1889. 
GEO. WHITE & OO.'S ANNUAL INDIAN 
CEYLON AND JAVA TEA EEPORT. 
London, 31, Fenchubch Street E.G., 
21st March, 1889. 
Indian. 
The market for Indian tea has not been subject to 
great fluctuations in value during the present season, 
and any changes that have occurred have been gradual. 
To continue from the date of our previous Annual 
Report, on the 19th March last. During the remainder 
of that month, after Easter and throughout April, an 
improvement took place in the value of all the lower 
grades, but the demand becoming slack, prices com- 
menced to fall away, and continued weak and irre- 
gular, especially for the better descriptions, until the 
arrival of the "new crop in June. The quality of 
first shipments was not liked, and having to compete 
with unusually large supplies of New Ceylons, open- 
ing rates were consequently low. Later on, when 
some improvement was apparent, the market strength- 
ened, though, owing to the earlier and tuoie rapid 
arrivals this season, any material rise was prevented, 
aud occasionally, under heavy sales, weakness was shewn. 
Trade generally was quiet during the autumn and up 
to Christmas, but as importers refrained from unduly 
pressing their teas, a better tone was noticeable after 
the turn of the year — particularly for fine and finest — 
as it became evident that the excess in th6 outturn 
over the previous season had been already received, 
and the greater portion sold. During the first weeks 
of this month, however, sales were heavier, as 
importers were desirous of securing the im- 
proved prices established, and the quantity forced on 
the market p-oving too much for the trade, there was 
a general decline for all except choice, parcels, coun- 
try buyers, as is usual on "a fall," holding off, and 
thus adding to the general depression. 
Probably, owing chiefly to the crop as a whole, this 
season having been under the average, we have had 
a large proportion of the medium grades, composed 
principally of undesirable Pekoes and Broken Fekoes, 
to deal with, and a comparatively small supply of 
fine and good liquoring Teas. The latter have there- 
fore generally been in request, but the former, through- 
out most of the period under review, have continued 
more or less depressed. A most noticeable feature 
was the nnprecedentedly low range of prices ruling 
for medium Pekoes, say during September to De- 
cember, sales having been made at only a little above 
the rates obtained for Pekoe Souchong, which, as 
well as Broken Teas, until after the turn of the year, 
were selling as fast as they arrived. Broken Pekoes 
from 8d to Is per lb. were also unusually cheap, the 
Teas being much mixed in leaf and many of them 
thin in cup. 
The total import for the season which ended 
30th June, 1888, was 86,729,000 lb. against 
78,632,000 lb. in the previous year, though, as deli- 
veries were proportionately increased, being 85,381,000 
lb. against 76,199,000 lb., the stock was not materially 
added to, as it stood at 20,150,000 lb. against 18,803,000 
lb. on the 30th June, 1887. This season the trade 
has still further expanded, and we shall probably 
receive about 93 millions from all ports, while up to 
the present deliveries are nearly keeping pace with 
the increased supply. Considering the severe com- 
petition which exists, the position is not an unfavour- 
able one, though, looking at the tendency to probable 
further shrinkage in values, it calls for continued effort 
on the part of those interested to endeavour to keep 
up the quality of their produce, and at the same time 
to exercise the strictest economy with regard to ex- 
penditure. 
CEYLON. 
The principal feature in the Ceylon Tea industry 
is the enormous stride which has been made in its 
development during the current season, the imports 
from 1st July, 1888, to 28th February, 1889, being 
15,832,000 lb., against 9,109,000 lb. last year, while 
deliveries (15,099,0001b. against 8,169,000 ib.) during 
the same period kept up so well with the inoreased 
suppb' that the bonded stock was not materially . 
added to, considering the large production, and stood 
at 5,901,000 lb. on the 28th February, against. 
3,874,000 lb. at the close of the same month in 1888- 
The total outturn for the season ending 30th Scp- 
tember,1889, is estimated at about 3^ million lb., where 
as, ten years ago the crop was under 100,000 lb- 
After the issue of our Annual Circular last year the 
market improved for a time, but, consequent on 
heavier arrivals of inferior tens, there was a general 
decline iu value, the lowest monthly average recorded 
to that date being lOJd per lb. for 35,500 packages iu 
June. After that month some improvement in quality 
took place, with a proportionate rise in prices until Oc- 
tober, when the average of Is 0|d per lb. was secured 
for 27,100 packages. A slack autumn and winter trade 
caused a dull market, with drooping and irregular 
rates for all except choice flavoured parcels. The 
largest monthly quantity yet brought to auction was 
in January, when 41 600 packages were sold at an 
average of 10|d per lb. The slightly better quality 
of some invoices prevented any further marked decline 
in the monthly average and imparted a stronger tone 
to the market for all fine grades, which has been well 
sustained to date. Poor liquoring parcels, on the other 
hand, continued to sell at prices in favour of buyers, 
as they are not considered to afford such good value 
as low-priced Indian teas java which are stronger in cup. 
Shipments from Java to Great Britain, were rather 
larger than those of the previous season when the 
crop was short, but, as deliveries also increased, the 
stock on the 28th ulto. was not much in excess of the 
same month last year, standing at 1,064,000 lb. against 
861,000 lb. The quality, on the whole, was fully up 
to the average, and many of the teas were equal to, 
while others were little behind Iudiau, some descriptions 
tn which they approach in character, being raised from 
seed introduced from that country. The low prices 
current for many grades of Indians and Oeylons 
throughout the season, adversely affected the value 
of common and medium Java teas, but at the same 
time their cheapness and impioved quality no doubt 
rendered them useful, both for Home Trade aud 
Export, and thus stimulated consumption. 
It is noticeable that tlr; average pric< s, ranging 
from 8id to 9§d per lb., realised during Augii9t and 
September, for several large invoices, were compura- 
tively good. 
Alteration in Days and Mode of Selling. 
An alteration was made in August last as to the 
days for sellinp Indian and Ceylon tea at auction — 
Monday and Wednesday being set apart lor Indian, 
Tuesday for Oeylou, and Thursday being common 
to both. Javas follow either the Indian or Ceylon sales 
as heretofore. Since the middle of January the name 
of ship, date of import, and sometimes the marks, have 
been omitted from the sale catalogues, a change which 
has met with the approval of most of the trade, as it 
avoids publicity which formerly attached to sa'es by 
auction. 
The average prices obtained this season have been — 
say, for Ceylon, lljd. per lb. Indian, about lOjd per 
lb. China, 8d per lb. as compared with Is. Id, lid and 
8d during 1887-8, and Is ljd, lid and 8jd in 1886-7. 
According to the Board of Trade returns, the total 
Home consumption of all Tea in the United King- 
dom shewed an inorease for the year 1888 of nearly 
2 million lb. over that of 1887 — the figures being 
185,556,000 and 183,636,0001b. respectively; while the 
export trade — including a small increase of Indian 
and Ceylon, also was expanded from 31,741,000 lb. in 
1887 to 37,957,000 lb. in 1888, an excess of nearly 3} 
millions — or say, a total addition to the deliveries 
of over 5 million lb. was made dining the year 1888. 
The China export for the current season will pro- 
bably close at rather over 20 million lb. less than 
the previous one. This important reduction, together 
with a larger export to Russia than was anticipated, 
has enabled the market to take, without much incon- 
venience, the increased supplies from India and Cey- 
lon, so that a larger business has been done, while the 
total bonded stock iu the London warehouses remains 
much as in 1888 — the figures on the 28th February 
being 107,805,000 lb., against 107,469,0001b, at the close 
of the same month in 1887. 
