The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-07
Sugar and Coffee Markets


1.-The Worlds Sugar Production and
Consumption, 1900 1900" is the title of a
monograph just issued by the Treasury
Bureau of Statistics. 1t discusses the
sugar production and consumption OF
the world during the past century and
especially during the last half century.
in which the burden of sugar produc-
ton has been transferred from cane to
the sugar beet and in which the world
has so largely increased its consump-
duction has grown from 100000 tons
in 1910 TO S.SOO.OO0 tons in 1900 During
the same period the worlds population
has grown, according to the best esti-
mates, from $4,000, 900 to about $780,
10000 Thus. sugar production has in
creased about $50 per cent. while pop
ulation was increasing but about so per
cent. Coming nearer home and con-
sidering the United States alone, it is
found that the consumption of. sugar.
which in 1850 was only % pounds per
capita, was in 1901 over 6S pounds per
capita.
One especially striking fact shown by
the statistics presented in this study is
the rapidly increasing proportion of the
worlds enlarged sugar consumption
which is supplied by beets. According
to the figures presented by this study,
beets which supplied in 1910 less than
5 per cent of the worlds sugar. in 1900
supplied 81 per cent of the greatly in
creased consumption; while cane, which
al ~
sugar consumption, now supplies but
33 per cent. Stated in quantities, it
may be said that the worlds cane SUI
gar supply has grown from 100000
tons in 1910 to 2S50, 900 tons in 1900. an
increase of 160 per cent: while that of
beets has grown from $4,000 tons in
1910 to $3.50, 900 tons in 1900, an increase
of II. 800 per cent.
The figures above quoted include that
portion which enters into the worlds
statistical record of sugar production,
and does not INCLUDE the large quanti-
ties of cane sugar produced in India
and China exclusively for home con-
sumption. and in a considerable num-
Der of the tropical countries does not
include that portion of the sugar con-
sumed at home. Even if these figures
of cane sugar production for home con-
ton from beets would still show
much more rapid growth during the
last half century than that from cane.
This is, apparently, due to two great
causes: ID The elimination of slavery
in the tropics, the seat of the principal
sugar production; and CD the intelli-
gent study OF, ana government aid to
the production of beet sugar in the
temperate zone, especially in European
countries.
One effect of this enormous increase
and the competition which has accom-
panied the developments above alluded
to, has been a great reduction in prices
10 the consumer The figures of the
Bureau of Statistics obtained from
statements supplied by importers of the
cost in foreign countries of the sugar
which they import show that the av-
erage cost of the sugar imported in
1912 was 5.37c. per pound. and in the
year 1S99-1900. 2.49c per pound.
The sugar production of France has
grown from %. 900 metric tons in the
sugar year 1S39-40 TO sos. 900 tons in 1899
1900; that of Germany, from 1858 met
rio tons in 1S39-40 to 1,S75,000 tons in
l900-1901; Austria-Hungary, from $4,000
metric tons in 1S53-54, the earliest date
for which figures are obtainable. to
10000 tons in 1S99-19O0: Russia, from
{, 900 metric tons in 1S53-54 to goo, 900
-ons in 1s99-1900: Belgium, from 1900
Metric tons in that year to 3O0-
70 tons in 1S99-l90O; Holland. from 1000
Metric tons in 1S60-61 to $50. 900 tons in
Turning TO the cane sugar
areas, in which the statistics
Ire not available for so long a period.
I is found that the exports from the
Philippine Islands increased from 23,416
Metric tons in 1S49 to 233, 900 metric tons
2 1896. From Cuba the exports in 1860
we're 37,i91 tons and in 1894 96S, $50: in
laval the production has grown from
1 200 tons in 1875 to 40 tons in 1899.
ava produced in 1884. 33S,S66 tons and
n 1901. 10000 tons; and Brazil, which
4 1884 produced 26S,335 tons, produced ,
4 1901. 2l5.O00 tons. ,
The table which follows shows the 9
'orld's production of sugar from cane
nd beets. respectively, at decennial i
ears from 1870 TO 1900. and the percen- !
age supplied by beets: