The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-11-13 00:00:00

THE SUGAR TRADE

TA Liverpool paper lately published a statement respect-
ing the present state' and future prospects of the sugar
trade. A correspondent has called our attention to some
very erroneous statements in that and similar circulars,
which are calculated (and perhaps are designed) greatly
to mislead the public.
First—lt is stated "that the consumption and export of
sugar are now only about 2,50010ns less than last year,"
whereas the fact is apparent. from the Board of Trade
Returns made up to the 30th Sopt. last, "that there is the
large decrease of 22,743 tons, to which adding the export
of English refined sugar of 11,580 tons, giving a total
decrease of 34,322 tons in this consumption of nine
months."

Second—lt- is said, "That a very small quantity is
held in stock by the dealers in town and country," wheresa
the quantity now in the London docks and warehouses
exceeds that of the Ist of November last year by 14,673
tons, and there is no reason for believing in the short
stock of dealers, but rather the contrary, as the duty paid
entries and the deliveries have lately been on a very large
scale—much larger than they will be found to continue,
unless the price of the article should soon materially
de line.

eiTliird—lt is said, " That the coming supplies are very
small; and that we shall not, in case of need, derive any
help from the stocks in continental ports."
"nNow, this is all pure assertion ; it is impossible to cal-
culate to a few thousand tons, the coming supplies, but
this much is known, that, with the exception of Loui-
siana (if even this be an exception), the coming crops of
Havana, Mauritius, the Brazils, Manila, Siam, the East
and West Indies, will be very large. The stock of the
old crop still remaining in Havana is very heavy, and the
new crops will be shipped early, being stimulated, both
as to production and to shipment, by these high prices,
25 to 50 per cent above the average price in bond for
many years ; and as to the continental ports not being
able to spare us any, should we need supplies, it is all
nonsense, or worse; they spared us many thousand tons
last year, from a stock about on a par with that which
they have now, and they will do it again, should ever
prices rise sufficiently high to make it remunerative ;
indeed, a few small parcels have lately arrived here, and
considerable quantities are offered for_ arrival, which proves
several things by which the sugar trade should take warn-
ing, viz ,-the increase of stocks on the Coptinent caused by
diminished consumption, recent tropical arrivals, or the
anticipated abundant yield of the beet- root crop, scarcity
and high .value of money, and distrust of the permanence of
the present high value of sugar. Any or all of these
causes are quite sufficient to induce shipments to England,
whenever there is an opportunity afforded for so doing.
While upon this subject, we would remark upon the
deceptive nature of continental. statistics—viz., the stocks,
&c , in certain ports only are given, while others, equally or
more important, are altogether overlooked ; for instant,.,
for France. Havre only is generally mentioned, while
es, Bordeaux, and filarseillpg --• • • 4 f.-

; and from
Argo supplies at this
) are so variously stated,