The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-09-07
SUGAR MARKET.
Points of Interest from Leading Conn
merciaI CemterS.

Our San Francisco correspondent re-
ports that there was an active local trade
in refined sugars, without change of
prices The principal feature OF the
Coast trade since our last previous ad-
vices has been the arrangement between
certain agents of Hawaiian planters and
the American Refinery of San Francisco,
under which the latter buy all the sugar
controlled by the former. A great deal
of prominence has attached to this
matter, judging from the San Francisco
papers, and opinions are divided regard
ing the merits of the transaction.
The Bulletin states that the price is
q cent less than Cuban sugar
duty paid at New York. The
contract is for three years, treaty or
no treaty, and shipments are to be made
as they please. Heretofore they received
cash for sugar on its arrival at the Coast
Under the new arrangement, as it is I'M
derstood, payment is to be made partly
in cash, the balance representing a pro
rata interest in the American Sugar
Refinery stock The " Grocer and
Country Merchant" which has been
Systematically opposed to the interests OF
the California Refinery, says:
''There is considerable interest exhib-
tied just now in the sugar business, and
dealers are anxious to know what effect
the late developments will have on
values. For the remainder of the year
the market is in the hands of the Cali
fornia Refinery, and if there was dispo-
sition to advance prices it is in the power
of this company to secure a handsome
profit during the next four months.
Whether this course will be pursued or
not no one can tell; we only mention it
as among the possibilities. This is not
new feature of the situation, but the fact
that after January LIST, 1886, the situa-
ton is likely to be somewhat changed,
may have the effect of changing the
policy of the refiners, temporarily at
least
HIGHER PRICES ANTICIPATED.
The conviction generally prevails in
New York and England that prices must
advance, owing to the shortage in the
European beet crop. Regarding the
probable shortage of this crop in Europe,
and its effect on the sugar market, the
private circular of Willett & Hamlin,
dated August goth, says: Estimates of
30per cent less crop have been cabled, but
are accompanied by cautious approvals.
The tendency of the belief in the short
age is toward this estimate, which means
100000 tons less crop than last year. The
effect upon prices of such a shortage, if
realized, can scarcely be estimated. By
cable message we learn that the drouth
continues and is increasing. France is
buying off coast largely"
SUGAR CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED
STATES.
"Bradstreet's,' in it's admirable review
of the sugar trade for the past fiscal year,
shows that the consumption of foreign
sugar in the United States during the
year ended June 80, 1885, was 2, Az, 357,-
AS pounds, being an increase of 272, 843,-
S05 pounds over the previous year. Con-
sumption was greatly stimulated by low
prices The last fiscal year embraces the
period of the lowest range of prices ever
known in the history of the trade. ''The
actual imports for the year were scarcely
80, 100000 pounds less than those of
1883-84, but the value amounted to only
$73, 519;514, against 500, 262, 597 for the
year previous. Thus it will be seen that |
the nations sugar bill was about $25, 000,- !
900 less, while the imports were nearly |
as large. Cheap sugar, therefore, has
proved to be national blessing, and |
would have been still more so if our fiscal |
system did not make sugar the medium |
for collecting about 100000 of reve-
nue.. In 18S3-84 the per capita tax upon /
sugar amounted to no less than 8551c, I
and this year it will be even more"
There was also a total consumption of /
domestic sugar-cane, maple, beet and /
sorghum = amounting to 269, 052, 1868 +
pounds, exclusive of that made from
molasses, which is variously estimated at
from 40 900 to 80, 700 tons year. This
gives total sugar consumption of 47.58
pounds per capita. The duty per capita
was 85.51c. "Bradstreet's" contrasts this