Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-20
TONNAGE LACK
MAY PRODUCE
SUGAR SCARCITY
CItIook OF Market for Balance
Of Year is Attended BY
Uncertainties

The outlook OF the sugar market
for the remainder Of the year is at
tended With unusual uncertainties a.
Is indicated by the divergence" Of o.
inion among trade authorities Thu"
strength which the market has q"
veoped within the past fortnight is
q very practical demonstration OF
the belief in the trade that available
supplies are likely TO prove made
quate to meet the requirements OF
the American people between now
and January first except at level OF
prices higher than has prevailed dur
ing the earlier half Of the year, says
Facts About Sugar
The crux OF the situation is in
the word available Present COndi
tons, particularly in the shipping
world, are So abnormal that II is diff
ficult to determine the availability
OF certain sugars that ordinarily
could be counted upon for this mar
ket. For instance, II is known that
there is a balance OF sugar for ex-
port in the Philippines varioEsIy es-
timated from $4,000 to 100000 or
binary tons. Whether it will be pos
sible to provide transportation to the
United States for any part of this
sugar, and II so fo- what part Of 1t,
remains a matter OF extreme uncer-
tainty. Under ordinary circumstances,
with the present statistical position,
Javan sugar would be moving in
quantity both to the United States
and to Europe. With the present
scarcity Of ocean tonnage, however,
and with the rapid extension Of gov,
ernmental control over cargo capa.
city, the possibility Of finding trans
portation facilities for any consider
able part Of this crop seems to de-
pend upon the early adoption of a
concerted plan Of tonnage allotment
by the governments Of Great Britain,
the United States and Japan.
Another factor Of uncertainty is
the question of exports. To what ex.
tent the British commission will
seek further commitments in the
Cuban raw market or the New York
refined market no definite informa.
ton Is forthcoming. Should this ex.
port demand equal that which has
prevailed during the earlier half of
the year II is difficult to see where
the. American market can obtain its
normal apportionment ot supplies
without reccurseFto tar eastern sugar.
The one. certain source of supply
on which This market can rely be.
tween now and the end of the year is
domestic production, which forum.
ately promises 70 be greater than in
any previous year. From this source
there should be available from $780,
600 to 100000 tons including the bal.
snce Of the Hawaiian and Porto Ri.
can crops, the new crop beet sugar
which. viii shortly begin to be avail
able and that portion Of the LoCi-
siana production which can be made
ready for pesrket before the end of
the year. some portion, possibly the
greater portion, Of the unsold Cuban
production, amounting to perhaps
100000 tons, we certainly shall Oh
tain. Beyond this It Ii difficult to
determine what quantities or from
what sources II viii be possible to
draw. One fact Is obvious. Without
their increasing homegrown supply
American consumers would be in as
dire straits for sugar during the re.
mainder OF the year as are. those of
any part Of Europe"