Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-02
RUSSIA is EXPECTED TO Be BUYER
OF SUGAR INSTEAD OF SELLER IN 1917
Theoretical Shortage Of 100000 Tons is ndcated-UniteC
States is Most Likely Sourc of Supply and Vadvostot
Appears to Be the Only Feasible Port of Entry

l(ilSst0 as an importer ZIG 10 4DASti
IN exporter OF sugar is q picture drawn
= BY Facts About Sugar in its issue OF
November Il It presents arguments
to show that in 1917 Russia VIII be
eliminated as a factor in the problem
of meeting competition and VIII enter
! into the market as a purchaser from
7 nations able to supply and that chief
among these nations is the United
! States. The article is Of especial in
i terest 10 Hawaii and is, therefore,
| herewith reproduced:
1 with both the raw and refined mar
kets showing little activity during the
/ week, local sugar circles have cen
tered considerable interest in the past
/ few days on the probable volume of
the export business in refined sugar
during 1917. The opinion is general
/ liz held that practically all of the Eu-
ropean and South American countries
that came. into the United States
I market for supplies during the past
year will be buyers again from domes-
tic refiners next year As acute short.
ages exist in many of these countries,
particularly in Europe, and as reserve
stocks and invisible supplies are con-
coded to have been practically ex-
hausted, there is every surface indica-
ton that the 1917 volume Of export
business going to these countries will
! probably show no decrease.
Expect Increased Exports
..sOn the other hand, increased ex-
port demands on the American mar
j -. a.,o. 4bosa -oaordad. for lQ1e are
most probable next year. As to the
| possible addition al foreign nations who
may enter the American market as
buyers, particular interest in the
trade at present centers on Russia
1t is a notable fact that during 1916
Russia was tho only large European
nation able TO enter the market that
did not buy here,
sBut Russia now faces theoretical
shortage of 100000 tons of sugar as a
result of the falling off in production
from this years beet crop. and the
outlook is at present that the empire
will be forced to seek that amount
from outside sources.
Must Look to v. S.
Among number of well informed
sugar men, the view is held that part
of Russia's 1917 requirements will be
sought in the United States, and this
contention seems TO be borne out in
part by under surface developments
Rumors have been prevalent in the.
New York market for several weeks
of inquiries being made by the Rus
sian government for supplies for 1917
delivery. This development however,
has never passed the rumor stage and
still lacks confirmation. Telegraphic
advices from the Pacific coast this,
4 week reported that Russia had been
making inquiries relating to refined
supplies in the San Francisco market
I'm local sugar circles not much
! credence is put on this reported Rus
sian inquiry on the Pacific coast, as it
| is pointed out that there is only one
cane refiner on the coast that could
i handle any export business The Cali
fornia and Hawaiian refinery's entire
capacity is taken UP with the refining
| of domestic raws. This leaves only
! the Western in the field for export
business, whose capacity outside OF
refining domestic sugars would be linn
! tied to about $4,000 tons of duty pay
! ing sugars, available for export refined
shipments.
Java Supply Not Available
! 1T is also pointed out that owing
/ TO the high freight rates existing, Java
sugars would not be available for this
Russian business, and the small vo-
! Iume of Peruvian sugars that could
be obtained would not be enough TO
I turn out any considerable quantity of
refined for export One alternative
I remains. namely, the purchase by. Rus
STA Of Cubas in late positions. which
could be moved TO the west coast via
the canal, and refined on a toll or SINH
lar basis. AS noted above. this
quantity could not under the existing
i conditions mentioned total over $4,000
tons in any event, and would have to
be carried over long period Of de-
/ iiveries.
THE persistent repetition of these
rumors, however, together with the
/ known conditions affecting the sugar
! situation in Russia, points to the ex-
/ IRENE likelihood of Russia becoming a
buyer nation in this market next year,
and owing TO the difficulties of secur.1
/ ing any large volume of supplies on
the Pacific coast il is probable that
such purchases as are made viii be
! obtained on the Atlantic seaboard.
London Argues Case
The international Sugar Journal of
London, in its October issue, presents
a timely and interesting review OF the
lconditions affecting sugar supplies and
distribution in Russia which are par
ticularly interesting at this time, as
1.-THE conclusions arrived at point to the
lundeniable fact that Russia is no lon
ger an exporting sugar nation, but will
be forced. in 1917 To buy needed sup
plies to meet national requirements
from outside sources. The United
States will at least afford a market
4 where purchases can be made The
review mentioned reads As follows:
i Distribution Real Problem