Maroh 1, 1904.] THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
603 
OUR COMMERCE FOR 1903. 
EXPORTS. 
In our reviews of the Export Trade of 
Ceylon for 1901 and 1902, favorable r^ompari- 
eons were noted with precedinf? years, so 
far at least as volume was conoerned. Figures 
for the year just closed show a turn over 
p;reatly in excess of 1902. 
An exceptionally large crop of coconuts, a 
cinnamon crop far ahead of any former year, 
a continued expansion in green tea manufac- 
ture, and a decided improvement in prices of 
black lea, are among the most noticeable and 
favorable features of 1903. 
Exchange — The following quotations 
give the main fluctuations during the year on 
London : — 
1st Janry. 6 ra/s credits 1/4 13/321 
Banks selling d/d 1/4 1/16. 
1st April 6 m/s credits 1/4 3/8 
Banks selling d/d 1/4. 
1st July 6 m/s credits 1/4 11/.32 
Banks selling d/d 1/4 1/32, 
1st Octr. 6 m/s credits 1/4 1/2 
Banks selling d/d 1/4 1/16. 
Ist Deor, 6 m/s credits 1/4 9/16 
Banks selling d/d 1/4 5/32. 
The lowest point reached for 6 m/s credits 
during the year appears to have been Hi 9-.32. 
The margin between credits and D/P bills, 
remained through the year at l/32d. Money 
Was plentiful and che.ap, especially so from 
July to November. As the year closed rates 
hardened considerably, large crops in Burmah 
and India causing money to be diverted there. 
Cardamoms.— More land came into bearing 
during the past year, and it is stated there 
are now over 10,000 acres under the cultiva- 
tion in Ceylon. Crop exported last year was 
909.418 lbs. as against 615,922 lbs. in 1902. 
The sub-Committee of the Planters' Associa 
tion, formed last; year to consider the best 
means of pushing the sale of cardamoms 
in foreign countries, has been working hard 
to extend sales in new markets but with only 
small success so far. 
Cinnamon. — The crop harvested last year 
of quills and chips is not only the largest on 
record, but is also far ahead of the 1902 crop. 
As a spice only and not a necessary article of 
food, we might, with an exceptional export, 
have lojked for poor prices, but prices have 
been good all the year round. Usual Assort- 
ment quills averaged abut 45 cents per lb. and 
Chips tts. 70/- per candy in Colombo. 
The great falling off in export of Cassia 
from China has no doubt greatly helped to 
keep prices of cinnamon steady. Little or 
no cinnamon (other than some fine estate 
Earcels) is consigned now I'or public sale in 
london. Last year in reviewing trade for 
1902, we drew attention to the steady increase 
of direct trade in cinnamon with foreign 
countries, and we have once more to record 
a further increase tif direct foreign trade. 
Germany is again the largest buyer (or it may 
be distributor); next comes the United King- 
dom, then the United States, Spain and Bel- 
gium in close succession. This increase of 
direct export is a most favorable feature in 
connection with the future of the cinnamon 
crops of Ceylon. 
76 
The following figures show the fluctuations 
in exports to main consuming countries : — 
Quill.s lbs. 
1901 1902 1903 
To Uoited Kingdom 812,280 413,.531 486,P76 
To Germany 869,932 895,639 997,494 
To America 358,300 413,340 68.5,621 
To Spain 310.162 324,902 376,620 
To other countries 405,,596 507,901 497,.3o3 
Total Export 2,756,270 2,555,313 3,043,714 
To United Kingdom 
To Germany 
To America 
To Spain 
To other countr'es 
1901 
238,658 
619,941 
27,837 
86.500 
543,147 
Chips ]hs. 
1902 1903 
190,985 494,924 
591,305 687,159 
28,675 125,101 
132,660 97,688 
820,054 848,397 
Total export 1,516,083 1,763,679 2,2.53,269 
Cinchona Bark as an article of export 
is now so small as to be hardly worthy of 
remark. 
Cocoa.— Exports last year were much the 
same ,as for 1902. A serious falling off in 
export to the Straits has been noticed, while 
on the other hand direct trade with the 
United States and Germany has been in- 
creased. Fine bright estate parcels were 
worth Rs. 47 00 per cwt. in Colombo as_the 
year closed. 
1901 1902 1903 
cwt' cwt. cwt, 
United Kingdom 42,344 44,209 45,430 
Germany 2,710 4,119 4,834 
Straits 1,797 8,641 3,724 
America 1,636 7 2,028 
Other Countries 972 8,479 3,688 
Total export 49,459 60,455 59,704 
Coffee. — P'xport is now very trifling and 
calls for no special remark. 
Essential Oils.— Citronella again shows a 
shrinkage, and cinnamon oil has gone back 
compared with 1902. 
Products op the Coconut Palm.— In 
concluding our review last year of these pro- 
ducts for 1902 we observed, "Exceptional 
prices for products which are also obtained 
from competing colonies and foreign countries 
cannot be maintained indefinitely and as the 
year closed we observed a tendency in prices 
to recede to a lower level. A large yield of 
nuts is expected during this year." 
The year 1903 shows not only an exception 
ally large crop of nuts, but .a crop far ahead of 
any other year. More land comes into be.ar- 
ing every year, but the demand for the pro- 
ducts of the coconut seems to increase pro- 
portionately. Prices were not maintained at 
the high average of 1902, but these during 1902 
were kept abnormally high through exceptio- 
nal circumstances which could only las tor a 
limited time. The average prices during 
1903 were good, and especially so when we 
keep before us the unprecedented increase in 
export. 
As 1903 closed, trees were not giving good 
crops, and it is reported that for the first half 
of the present year the supply of nuts will be 
unusually small. To this shrinkage in supply 
of nuts is no doubt due the sharp rise in values 
as this year opened, 
