So far back as 1844, the Calcutta "Star," in an article on sugar, estimated the domestic consumption in India, at 500,000 tons. This is considerably below the mark, even if India is taken in its limited signification, as including only British subjects. On this estimate the 94,000,000 of British subjects, men, women and children, would not individually consume more than one pound avoirdupois by the month. A fat, hungry Brahmin, at any of the festivals given by the great, will digest for his own share four pounds, without at all embarrassing his stomach.
Assuming the million and a half of tons that find their way into civilized markets, to represent an average value at the place of production of £15 per ton, we have here the representation of £22,500,000 sterling. But this value may fairly be increased by one-fourth.
The whole exportable production of the sugar-growing countries was found to be, in 1844, about 780,000 tons, of which Cuba furnished 200,000 tons. In 1845, notwithstanding Cuba only produced 80,000 tons, the increase from other sources was so considerable (namely:—the British Colonial supply 40,000, United States 40,000, Porto Rico 15,000, Brazil 10,000 tons) that the total produce fell very little short of the previous year—having reached 764,000 tons.
The present SUPPLY of sugar to the markets of Europe, is nearly as follows:—
| Cwts. | |
| England | 8,000,000 |
| France | 2,550,000 |
| German League | 1,350,000 |
| Prussia | 220,000 |
| Austria, (ten Provinces) | 560,000 |
| Belgium | 294,000 |
| Other States not defined. |
The present DEMAND, according to the estimated consumption per head (28 lbs.), found to exist in England, where taxation is favorable, and the price moderate, would be about 3¼; million tons, viz.:—
| Cwts. | |
| England | 8,000,000 |
| France | 8,875,000 |
| Germany | 5,750,000 |
| Prussia | 4,100,000 |
| Austria | 8,642,857 |
| Belgium | 1,250,000 |
| Russia | 15,250,000 |
| Rest of Europe | 12,500,000 |
The whole annual PRODUCTION of the world is estimated by another party at 1,471,000,000 lbs., of which the United States produce 150,000,000 lbs., including 40,000,000 lbs. of maple sugar. Of the whole amount of sugar produced, Europe consumes about 648,700 tons, divided nearly as follows:—
| lbs. | |
| Great Britain | 803,360,096 |
| France | 160,080,000 |
| Belgium | 19,840,000 |
| Netherlands | 42,000,000 |
| Russia | 70,000,000 |
| Denmark and Sweden | 22,000,000 |
| German Zollverein | 101,300,000 |
| Other parts of Germany | 160,000,000 |
| Austria | 50,000,000 |
| 1,428,580,096 |