New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-29
Large Rice Crops
Are Promised in
The Far East
High Shipping Rates Raise Price
to Consumers--Hong Kong
Market Low

The rice-producing eountrie, Of the
Far East have been responding with
energy to the demand for foodstuffs
from the rest OF the world, according
to report from the American Consul
General at Hong Kong. Crops in prac-
tically all these countries last year
we're large, and those for the coming
season, the report states, promise to be
still larger. High freight rates to the
United States and Europe, however,
have prevented both producers and the
people in consuming countries from OBJ
tanning the full benefit of the in.
creased production and rice has been
cheaper in the Far East than would
have been possible under normal condi-
tions.
Shipping Space Scarce
Prices in Hong Kong currency dur
ing the year averaged substantially
the same as those of the preceding
year, but the laying down costs in the
United States and importing countries
were much greater. In a general way
the trans-Pacifc rate on rice is the
basic rate for all other commodities,
but since rice usually brings the low
est freight return to vessel it is
accepted only after agents have OBJ
tanned all available cargo of other
classes netting higher rates. Space for
rice. therefore, is usually difficult 10
obtain, and its export from the Far
East has been greatly hndered. The
high exchange value Of silver also has
served to increase the cost OF rice
without resulting IN any material bene-
tit to the grower or shippet.
The closing OF German ports 70 trade
has led TO a change in the course OF
shipments of rice which may be of con
siderable permanent Importance. Pre-
vious TO the war German ports, and 10
some extent British ports, were dis
tributing centres for rice from the Far
East for the West Indies and Central
and South American countries. IL is
now necessary for these countries 10
import their rice by way of the
United States. While some Asiatic rice
was imported into the United States
for American consumption, especially
broken and brewers" rice, a great pro.
portion OF rice from Burma and Indo-
China fields for the other countries
mentioned has gone through Hong Kong
and thence through the United States.
Shipments from Hong Kong
Declared exports OF rice from Hong
Kong TO the United States in 1916
amounted to l29,82l ,0G6 pounds of
cleaned rice, valued at $685., APO, COM
pared with 92,230,251 pounds, valued at
81 ,684,686 in 1915, and 27,530,697
pounds of broken rice, valued at SAT-
89l, compared with 26,227, 706 pounds,
valued at S3S3,517 IN 1915, a total value
of $3,346,3ll in 1916, compared with a
value of $2,05S,203 in 1915, and Of ST.
I 006,709 in 1914. Shipments of rice 70
the Philippines in 1915 amounted to
53,426,6l5 pounds, valued at $2,30s,545,
compared with SS,s44.704 pounds, val
ued at 81, 729, GA in 1915. This increase
in shipments to the United States indi-
Gates the possibilities of trans ship
ment trade with the West Indies, aud
Central and South America.
The total turnover on the Hong Kong
market during the year is placed b.
commercial estimates at $4,000 tons,
compared with about 100000 tons in
1915 and 100000 tons in 1914. IL was
perhaps 10000 tons above a good nor
NAL year.