New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-30
Japan Solves
Sugar Problem
Rv ADACHI kINNOSUkE

NJ. Sasaki is a big figure among the
sugar interests in Japan He is dl-
rector of the Ensuiko Sugar Manufact-
uring and Development Company. Ltd,
which has its plants in Formosa. He
has been touring through South Amer
lea. and passed through New York on
his way homo. He had many inter
osting things to say about the sugar
industry in Formosa, which has be-
come wonderfully prosperous as re-
suit Of the war"
"Formosa is Japan's chief sugar
field" he said 1--WE produce about $780,
100000 pounds Of sugar every year in
Formosa. In addition to the Formosan
sugar our Kyushu province produces
about 1873 100000 pounds. The amount
of sugar consumed in Japan annually IS
about 5OO,OOOOOO pounds. That leaves
a surplus of something like l5OOoo'OOO
pounds. We usually export to China
about 100000 900 pounds year in ordi-
nary times. There is all ample oppor-
tunity Of increasing this amount to
200, 100000. In fact. that is about the
figure that our sugar export to China
for 1916 Just closed will amount to-
Then he told me how Japan is try
ing to supply the Chinese demands with
the sugar production in Corea or Man
churia. What he said was particularly
interesting in the light Of report
from an American Consul at Seoul,
Corea. which was published in the lat
ter part of January. This report est-
mated that several influential business
men % Toxic had decided to establish
n factory for the manufacture of beet
sugar at Pycng Yang; that the pro-
posed capital Of the new enterprise
would be 100000 yen (s2,492, 5000, and
it was planned to export the product to
China.
1t seems that the American Consul
has been either misinformed or the
business men in Toxic have changed
their minds radically on the subject,
for Mr.. Sasaki was the man whom the
sugar interests in Japan dispatched TO
Corca and Manchuria to report on the
possibilities and the advantages and the
relative ftress for the beet sugar pro
duction of the two countries -Corea
and Manchuria.
81 looked the field over" said Mr.
Sasaki to me, 'and told our people"
(by which he meant the dominant sugar
interests in Japan "what found there.
Corea is not a bad country for beets.
but il cannot be compared with Man
churia for a moment. The advantages
Of soil, the contour OF the country,
climatic and labor conditions are en-
tirely with South Manchuria. SO we
have practically decided TO start our
plant in Manchuria. | cannot say just
when our plants will be completed. but
it will be within a comparatively short
time. We plan to market the entire
beet sugar production of our Man
churian enterprise in China. where an
exceedingly promising market IS Of
fered. We shall be in position TO sell
our Manchurian beet sugar at an at
tractive price.
1.-THE price of sugar to the Japanese
consumer is high; it is higher than it
is in the United States. But that is
due to an extraordinary consumption
tax Of 9 sen az cents a pound"
! asked him about the possibility OF
American sugar refining machinery for
the japanese and Chinese sugar mills.
lie told me there are now thirty-four
or thirty-iive modern sugar mills IN
Japan and China. but most of them
are fitted out with either the German
or British machinery. American ma
chinery is more expensive than either
the British or German make. and is not
considered quite so well adapted for
use in the Far Eastern mills.
Japan used to pay about $4,000,
900 to Germany. Russia and Java for
sugar. We don't have TO do that any
more; and that largely because of the
development of the Formosa sugar field.
We still import good deal of raw
sugar from Java and refine II. but the
importation of the German beet sugar
and Of the Russian articles has been
practically stopped.
1--WE cannot export our sugar 10 the
United States. One cent pound duty
on sugar stands in the way. But we
export 10 Canada our own company
sold a small amount TO Canada in
1916"