Feb. 1, 1901.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
553 
OUR EXPORT IMPORT AND SHIPPING 
TRADE FOR 1900. 
The Export trade of 1900 compared with 
1899 must be recorded as not altogether satis- 
factory. For some products, prices were 
maintained ; for a few prices were dearer ; 
but against this, two of our most important 
exports fell seriously in value, and one 
furtlier fell off ia volume considerably. 
Cardamoms.— The export to India increased 
last year UA) percent, but prices generally 
were lov/er both locally and in London. A 
slightly firmer tendency was noticeable as the 
year closed. The total exports exceeded 
those for 1899 by 37,496 lb. More land is 
coming into bearing and a heavier export 
must be looked for in 1901. 
Cinnamon.— The crops for 1900 were good, 
the result being an increase in export of quills 
to the extent of 16.3,080 lb and of chips to the 
extent of 34,279 lb. Prices, notwithstanding 
the increased production, have been main- 
tained. Quills (taking usual assortment as 
average) have not fluctuated locally during 
the year more than 14 cent per lb and values 
in London have not shown much rise or fall. 
Chips have fluctuated between R87 o0 and 
R92'o0 per candy. Both quills and chips are 
more and more I)eing shipped direct to the 
consuming countries, and the result of get- 
ting at the consumer direct is very clearly 
shown by a perusal of the following figures : — 
Quills lb. Chips, lb; 
lu 1890 the exports were :— 1,894,514 441,447 
1900 „ „ 2,678,111 1,863,406 
Increase 783,597 1'421,959 
In 1890 usual assortment waa worth 30 cents per lb. 
Chips K60 per candy. 
In 1900 usual assortment was worth 57^ cents per fib. 
Chips. R90 per candy. 
Notwithstanding that during the decade we 
have inci^eased our exports of quills by .35 per 
cent and quadrupled our export of chips, the 
value of quills has advanced nearly 100 per 
cent and chips about 35 per cent. 
The export of wild cinnamon, which for a 
short time threatened to injure sales of 
plantation and garden cinnamon, has now 
practically ceased. The value of wild cinna- 
mon in London is barely sufficient to pay 
the freight and dock charges there. In one 
or two instances wild cinnamon chips have 
been mixed to a small extent with usual 
chips, and exporters will have to very closely 
watch deliveries. 
Cinchona. — This bark continues to decrease 
as regards quantity harvested and shipped ; 
and some years must elapse before recent 
plantings, tell. 
Cocoa —The export for 1900 (33,476 cwts 
compared with 42,745 iii 1899) shows the 
lowest record in volume since 1896. Prices 
in Europe ran high for good bright beans, 
and for really fine bright bold beans extreme 
prices were realised, the latter were worth 
R57'50 per cwt. locally at the close of the 
year, compared, with R47 at the same time 
i899. It is hoped this year's crop will be a 
larger an<la better one, 
COCONUT PALM Products.-AU the pro- 
ducts of the coconut palm :— coconut oil, 
copra, poonac, desiccated coconut, coco- 
nuts, coir rope, yarn and fibie exported— 
show a material increase in volume and 
prices have been fully maintained. Every- 
thing points to a continued good demand for 
these products, and coconut land may be 
looked upon as one of the soundest local 
investments. 
A. , Coconut Oil did not fluctuate as much 
as usual during the year, prices in Colombo 
varying from RS15 to R330 per ton f. o. b. 
Shippers have practically ceased sending oil 
to London and New York for " spot" sales, 
and the almost entire absence of unsold stocks 
at these ports has kept exporters in Ceylon 
well supplied with orders. Exports show an 
increase of 2,149 tons over 1899, the increase 
being principally for U K and India. As the 
year closed, value of f.o.b. oil was R325 per 
ton. 1892 still remains the record year 
for export of coconut oil. 
B. , Copra.— The increase in export for 190O 
was 1,853 tons, principally for Germany, 
Austria and Italy. Russia and United 
Kingdom show a falling-ofE. Prices gene- 
rally have been good, and during the last 
three months of the year ran very high, the 
arrivals not meeting the demand for expoi^t. 
Extreme prices led to eagerness on part of 
growers to get copra into Colombo before 
reaction set in. This led to imperfectly 
dried copra arriving, the loss in weight 
on which must be a serious item for shippers. 
C. Poonac— With an increased export of 
oil, we must of course, be prepared for an 
increase in shipments of coconut cake. The 
export for 190u was 9,299 tons against 8,739 
tons for 1899. Prices dropped during the last 
six months of the year from R8 J to R7o and the 
outlook for 190l was not very promising. 
D. , Desiccated Coconut.— The export for 
1900 was 13,604,913 lb. against 13,571,084 lb. for 
1899. 
E. , Coconuts.— A large increase in nuts 
exported took place last year, the figures 
being for 1900,14,995,909 nuts'against 11,723,392 
nuts for 1899, the increase being practically 
divided between U, K. and Egypt. 
F. , Coir Rope, Yarn and Fibre.— All 
these show an increase in volume exported, 
and prices have also been well maintained. 
Coffee.- This product in 1899 had improved 
somewhat over 1898, but figures for 1900 show- 
even smaller exports than for 1898. 
Essential Oils.— There is not much change 
to record in these oils. 
Plumbago.— The fall in values indicated as 
taking place at the close of 1899 continued 
steadily during last year, notwithstanding a 
large decrease in quantity exported. In 1899, 
30,819 tons were exported against only 19,167 
last year. The principal decline in offtake was 
to U. K. 2,821 tons, Germany 1,159 tons and 
America 6,905 tons. The restricted local de- 
mand led some dealers to consign portions of 
their stocks to London and elsewhere for sale, 
a course of action more than any other calcu- 
lated to depress the market and force prices 
down. Shipments of an article Ulie pluiubagg 
