Feb. 1, 1902.] 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICyLTURLST. 
529 
OUR EXPORT, IMPORT AND SHIPPING 
TRADE FOR 1901. 
I.— EXPORTS. 
In our review of the Export Trade of 
Ceylon for the year 1900, comparison with 
the preceding year was found unfavourable; 
but exports for 1901 compare favourably 
with previous years, so far at least as volume 
is concerned. (Sxcepting coffee and cinnamon 
chips all our more important products show 
an increased export. For some exports 
prices ruled high, especially the products of 
the coconut palm, which as the year closed, 
advanced in value above all former records. 
Overtrading in one or two articles, which was 
a feature of 1900 and the earlier part of 1901, 
has practically ceased, and it is anticipated 
that business in the current year will be 
generally of a stable nature. 
Exchange fluctuated somewhat during the 
year as the following rates prove : — 
G months credits, highest 1/4 9/16 lowest 1/4^ 
8 do do 1/4 3/8 do 1/4 7/32 
Again between credits and documents on 
p.ayment bills the n)argin fluctuated only 
from 1/32 to 1/16. Money was not dear during 
the year and became very cheap towards 
the close. 
Last year will be memorable for the passing 
of an ordinance making sovereigns legal 
tender for R15. Already a quantity of gold 
has been imported from Australia and de- 
posited in the Treasury, releasing silver for 
local circulation. 
Cardamoms. — More land came into bearing 
during the vear, and the crop ex- 
ported is ahead of 1900 by 22,249 lb. The 
Indian demand was good, showing an in- 
crease of 26,407 lb. The better parcels went 
to London where the market has been a 
fairly good one for well-known marks. Ex- 
ports aggregated : — 
1899 .. ... 499,959 lb. 
1900 ... .. 537,455 lb. 
1901 ... .. 559,704 lb. 
Over one-fifth of the entire crop appear 
to have been shipped in December, owners 
would appear to have been holding for better 
rates. 
Cinnamon.— Returns show the largest ex- 
port of Quills yet recoi-ded, notwithstanding 
which prices fluctuated very little, and remain 
at a high average. 54 cts. per lb. would 
appear to be the average price realised for 
usual assortment quills in Colombo, which 
must mean a good return to the grower. 
Germany is now the chief buyer Ijoth of 
Quills and Chips, the United Kingdom only 
taking second place, while Spain and America 
took large supplies compared with previous 
years. The continued increase in direct busi- 
ness with foreign countries is a marked 
favourable feature in connection with cin- 
namon, and planters may reasonably look 
for present values being maintained. The 
expor ts of chips was smaller, but prices were 
good, averaging from R70 to R72-50 per 
candy. 
Most of the cinnamon shown as exported 
to America goes eastward to San Francisco, 
which is now becoming the port of distri- 
67 
bution for Mexico and other countries of 
Central America, and the west coast of 
South America. Exports to America were : — 
balef. 
Exports 1900 259,425 Qnilli. 
do 1901 358,300 do 
Total exports were : — 
lb. lb. 
1899 Quills 2,515,031 Chips 1,829,127 
1900 „ 2,678,111 „ 1,863,406 
1901 „ 2756,270 „ 1,516,083 
Exports of wild cinnamon have practically 
ceased. Some old stock in London was reported 
as sold at M per lb. during the past year. 
Cinchona.— Market has been better of late, 
and returns show a small increase in ship- 
ments. 
Cocoa, — Crops gathered during the year were 
large — the largest on record — and there were 
shipped 49,459 cwt. against 33,47G cwt. in 1900. 
Quality on the tiverage has not been good, 
and prices ruled low both locally and in 
London. Well-known marks, which as the 
year opened were selling at R55 to R57"oO 
per cwt., were at the close to be got for 
R45 to R47-50 per cwt. Out of the total 
export of 49,4.59 cwt. there were shipped to 
the United Kingdom, mostly for spot sale 
42,344 cwt. More direct business with foreign 
countries is very necessary, and our American 
and Continental Commissioners ought to be 
addi-essed on the point by the Planters' 
Association. Total exports were : — 
1899 ... .. 42,745 cwt. 
1900 ... ... 33,47S 
1901 ... .. 49,459 „ 
Coconut Palm Products show a large 
increase in shipments compared with 1900. 
Crops were generally reported as small, 
owing to unfavorable 'weather during the 
preceding 12 months, which if generally 
correct, would, in view of the export! 
detailed later on, go to prove that a consider- 
able acreage must have come into bearing 
during the year. Short supplies of copra 
from the Philippines, the Straits and other 
main sources of supply for the copra oil mills 
of the Continent, brought about a rapid 
advance in Europe for copra and oil, as 
the year closed, which was followed here by 
a rise in value above any previous records. 
In reviewing trade for 1900 we predicted a 
continued good demand for these products, 
and although present extreme prices cannot 
be expected to last very long, everything 
points to a steady demand at high rates during 
the year just entered upon. 
A., Coconut Oil fluctuated in price durinjf 
the first half of the year, and then advanced 
rapidly, more especially as the year closed. 
The following prices ruling during the year 
are of interest :— 
1901. per^ton. 
On 1st Jan. Coconut oil was worth E325 
lat April do 335 
1st June do 322-50 
ist October do 375 
Slat December do 445 to R437-50 
The latter transactions marking the record 
prices paid in Colombo. The danger of a 
continuance of present values for any tirat, 
