These figures show, in the clearest manner, how steadily Indian Tea is becoming popular.
The unevenness of the quarterly deliveries of China Tea in the year 1878 and 1879 is due to the apprehensions felt in those years that the duty would be increased. In consequence, clearances were hastily made before the Budget announcement, and the deliveries immediately after sank to very low figures, increasing again as stocks of retailers were depleted. In March, 1880, again there was a pressure to clear Teas, which brought up the total deliveries of the first quarter to a high level. A considerable check was given to deliveries of Indian Teas during the latter part of 1881 and the early part of 1882 through the rise of prices during that period.
The most noticeable feature of the last three calendar years is the stationariness of deliveries of China Teas at the reduction from the level of both 1878 and 1879. Approximately the deliveries of China and Indian Teas in the five years ending 31st December in each case may be given, in millions of pounds, as follows:—
| 1878. | 1879. | 1880. | 1881. | 1882. | |
| China | 121 | 125 | 115 | 111 | 113 |
| Indian | 37 | 35 | 44 | 49 | 51 |
The deliveries of China Tea have receded from 125 million pounds in 1879 to 113 million pounds in 1882, while the home consumption of Indian Tea has increased from 35 million pounds to 51 million pounds in the corresponding years.
Notwithstanding the supply of Indian Tea for the season 1882-3 is estimated at the unprecedented figure of 55 million pounds against the actual imports in the previous two season years of about 50 million and 46 million pounds respectively, it appears not unlikely the consumption of 1882-3 will once again, as in 1880-81, overtake the supply and reduce the stocks by July next to the equivalent of less than three months’ deliveries.
We find that there has been received to the 31st December last, 33,218,000 lbs., leaving to arrive 21,782,000 lbs. for the six months ending 30th June next, to make up the estimated supply of 55 million pounds which, according to Indian advices, will be available for shipment to this country. The imports of the current six months, therefore, will be but slightly in excess of those of the corresponding half-year, when 20,948,000 lbs. were received; for although the shipments of 1882-3 are expected to show an excess of more than five million pounds over 1881-2, exporters this season have hurried forward their Teas early and in the six months ended December 31st the arrivals in the United Kingdom were 32,218,000 lbs. against only 28,947,000 lbs. in the corresponding half of 1881.
The significant feature of the movement, however, is the very agreeable surprise, month by month, caused by the publication of the delivery figures. These compare for the last few months as follows:—
Deliveries of the last Four Months compared with corresponding Months.
| October. | November. | December. | January. | |
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | |
| 1882-3 | 5,132,000 | 5,174,000 | 4,457,000 | 5,502,000 |
| 1881-2 | 4,353,000 | 4,205,000 | 3,724,000 | 4,104,000 |
| Increase | 779,000 | 969,000 | 733,000 | 1,398,000 |