The times., 1901-06-24
AMERICAN GOODS In CHINA
The Steady Increase in Cotton
Fabrics in the Last Decade.
Sundries Also in Demand In the
FIOwery Kingdom - share of the
United states in the Country,s To-
tai of ImpOrts-ArticIes Traded In.

{
FIowery Kingdom - share of the
United states in the Country's To-
tai of Imports-ArticIes Traded In
The growing popularity of American
cotton goods in China is evidenced by
some figures contained in the Report on
the Foreign Trade of China for the Year
19O0," a copy of which has recently been
received at the Treasury Bureau of
Statistics. The report opens with dis
cusSion of the wonderful expansion of
China's foreign trade. and after comment
ing upon the interruption OF this growth,
due to the unsettled conditions during
the latter half of 1900. summarizes the
principal features of the trade as fol-
lows:
THE close of the decade offers a con-
venient opportunity for a general review
of the progress of trade. With some ex-
ceptions. the trade in cotton piece goods
has remained practically stationary, and
in some items has even fallen of. The
exceptions are American drills, jeans,
and sheetings. which show a strong ad-
vance, and cotton flannel, principally
American. and cotton hastings. which are
evidently increasing in favor. English
cotton yarn has not progressed, while
Indian and Japanese yarns have advanced
rapidly. Among sundries, candles, clocks,
and watches, ani1ine dyes, window glass,
paints, and perfumery have gradually in
creased in demand; while -four, kerosene
oil. matches, and soap have been imported
in much larger quantities every year
'As regards heavy cotton goods, the
expansion in American manufactures at
the expense of British is natural and
must be expected to continue. Proximity
to China, cheaper freights, and the eYi-
dent advantage of using indigenous cot
ton are all factors which will contribute
to the future expansion of the American
trade"
The imports into China have increased
steadily and rapidly during the decade,
increasing from 127, ,093. .4S1 Haikwan taels
in 1890, to 26f,7lS. .456 taels in 1899, and con-
tinuing this rate of increase up to the
middle of 1900, following which date there
was marked contraction in the volume
of trade consequent upon the unsettled
condition of the country. Even with this
setback the imports in 1900 amounted to
III, ,070. .i22 Haikwan taels, sum in excess
of any previous year. save 1889. The share
of the United States in this growing trade
is gratifying. In 1895 we supplied less
than per cent of the imports into China;
in 1900 we supplied nearly per cent. This
growth is the more remarkable when it
is remembered that American goods for
the most part reach China at the port of
Shanghai, and are thence redistributed
through the ports of Nieu Chwang, Tien-
tsin, and ChefOo, located in the section
most largely affected by the recent trou-
bles. These three ports sustained loss
of over 80 per cent in their 1900 import
trade, as against a loss of only about 20
per cent for China as whole.
Some idea as TO the future Of Ameri-
can cotton goods in the markets of China,
with the restoration of normal conditions
may be obtained by the citation of a few
representative items in this line of manu-
factures. In 1895 the importation of Amer
lean drills into China amounted to SIS, ,402
pieces; in 1899. to 1,626, ,10 pieces. OF Amer
lean sheetings, the imports into China in
1885 amounted to 762r r095 pieces; in 1893, to
3 9I5 g03 pieces OF American jeans the
imports in 1895 were q. 1888 pieces; in 1893.
125. .303 pieces. and in 1900. 1885 pieces.
OF the cotton drills imported into China
IN 1900. amounting to l,24,63 pieces, S05,-
500 pieces were American; and of the cot
ton sheetingS imported in 1890. aggregat-
ing 2,952.S .SI6 pieces 2,3l2. .494 pieces were
proportion OF American in
each case being in 1900 about 80 per cent.
as against 20 per cent of the drills and
81 per cent of the sheetinGs Imported in
1895
China has somewhat decreased her i'm
portations of kerosene oil since 1893: those
of the American being 500S4, ,015 gallons in
1898, 40, 724,9S9 gallons in 1899, and a. HI, ,ll2
gallons in 1890: of Russian, 19.926,2i6 gal
Ions in 1888, 35.695, l16 gallons in 1893, and
81, ,758. .757 gallons I'm 1906 and of Sumatran.
%, 81 S65 gallons in 1898, II 1898, ,202 gallons
in 1899. and IS, 42i155 gallons in 1900.
The following table shows the exports
from China, net imports into China, and
imports from the United States into
China, respectively, in each year from
1895 to 1g00 expressed in taels: