The Straits Settlements, in spite of their proximity to China, took last year ten times the quantity they took six years ago; and Persia, strange to say, has taken 54,712lbs. against 334lbs. in 1876-77—Turkey in Asia and Egypt, together, having taken also 21,488lbs. against 886lbs. in the same period.
Mr. Liotard is of opinion that these are not a tithe of the openings that might be found; and it is to be hoped that at the Amsterdam Exhibition and elsewhere the Tea Syndicate will in no way relax its efforts.
The imports of China Tea to India have, in the six years also above referred to, increased about 60 per cent. Speaking on this point, we are of opinion that the Syndicate might well make efforts to increase the local consumption of Indian Tea to the replacement of Chinas, and we feel sure that such organised exertion would be followed by very satisfactory results.
The re-export of China Tea from India shows four times the quantity of six years ago—by far the greater quantity going to Persia and Turkey in Asia. Mr. Liotard thinks that the N.-W. P. and the Punjab might appropriate a good deal of this trade; and from the character of the Teas of these districts we are disposed to agree with him. The great increase of export from Karachi shows that this, to some extent, is being done.
The abolition of the duty on China Tea imported to India, under the recent free trade policy, appears to have had a prejudicial effect on the planters in Northern India—who can ill afford it. The figures given at the commencement of the pamphlet show that the number of plantations in Northern India has increased in six years from 851 to 1,422, and the area from 4,246 to 7,466 acres; the outturn from 1,311,113 lbs. to 2,271,773 lbs. These figures speak of great activity in production, and show the necessity for every exertion being employed to open out new markets. A combined Syndicate for all the districts in Northern India, on the lines of the one now established in Calcutta, is suggested, but how far this is practicable we are not at present prepared to say.
The following, too, from the Tea Gazette this year is in some respects hopeful:—
We see from the North China Herald that the exports of Tea from Shanghai and the Yang-tse ports to England during the current year have fallen off some six and a-half million pounds (8½ per cent.), and that there is also a decrease of some six million pounds in the quantity sent to America this last year—making a difference of nearly thirty per cent.
On the other hand, there has been an increase of nearly three million pounds (45 per cent.) in the direct export to Russian ports. Two large cargoes—one of nearly three million pounds destined for England, and one of almost two million pounds bound for Russia—were lost, so that the real increase of China Tea sent to Russia is only one million pounds, which would reduce the increase to about 15 per cent. The decrease of Tea sent to England becomes even greater, reducing the receipts as compared with last year by nearly ten million pounds. Another aspect of the question must, however, be considered, namely, that the real displacement, i.e., in the amount of Tea destined for the English market, would be only six and a-half million pounds, and it is not safe to reckon on a recurrence of loss of such a heavy quantity by shipwreck.
The decrease of China Tea sent to America is almost entirely in green Teas, there being only a falling off of 40,000lbs. in black, as compared with one of over six millions in green Tea. The falling off as regards the English market is much more evenly distributed between the two varieties, the difference being greater in that of black than of green Tea.
While America takes from the Shanghai ports over four times as much green as black Tea, England, on the other hand, takes eleven times as much black Tea as it does of green Tea.