The value of the export of Chinese produce to foreign countries in the year 1906 was not much more than half the value of the foreign import trade to China, but yet an increase was shown on the preceding year, the figures being: in 1906, Tls. 236,456,739; 1905, Ts. 227, 888, 197. Ten years ago the' value of the export of Chinese produce to foreign countries was valued at Tls. 163,501,358, and although the figures have been less than this total since, yet a steady development haa been shown from the year of the Boxer outbreak. The importance of Hongkong ax a mart for Chinese goods is evidenced by the fact that for years the Crown Colony has been supplied with more than double the amount of Chinese products sent to any other foreign country or port. Last year, although the figures for Hongkong were not so large as in either 1903 oF of 1904, there was an advance on the previous year, the total direct export from China to Hongkong in 1906 being Tls. 82,740,427. The direct export to the Continent of Europe, Russia excepted, was Tls. 43,579,468 against Tls. 36,013,088 in 1905. The direct export to Japan amounted to Ts. 33,304,931 which was two million taels less than the previous year and four millions less than in 1904. The United States of America and France each received over' twenty-five millions of taels in Chinese products, Great Britain received thirteen millions, the Pacific ports of Russia ten millions, Ttaly eight millions, Germany and Russian European ports five millions each. An increase of " million taels was shown in the export to British India, but the goods sent to Great Britain were less in value by Tls. 4,765,955 compared with the export in 1905. The trade with France was far in excess of that of the previous year, while a much better market was found for Chinese goods in Russia, Shanghai leads the way as a port from which Chinese goods are shipped to foreign countries. The value of the original export from the Customs ict of Shanghai daring 1908 was Tls. 78,996,881 against Tls. 72,104,246 in the previous year. In 1904 the export from Shaoghai was valued at over eighty million taels. The export from Hankow last year amounted to Tls. 53,718,927, Canton Tls. 43,580,201, Tientsin Tls. 21,825,308, Kowloon Tls. 14,394,072, Newchwang Tls. 14,790,212, iukiang Tls. 13,511,283, Wahu Tls. 12,719,251, Swatow Tis, 12,012,138, Chingkiang Tls. 10,892.126. The ports showing increases were Canton, Newchwang, Tientsin, Kiaochou, Ichang, Shasi, Yochou, Kiukiang, Nanking, Soochow, Ningpo, Wenchou, Santuao, Foochow, Kongmoon, Wuchou, Mengtsz, and Tengyneh. The Hankow returns showed " decrease in value of export trade of nearly four million taels, but the most striking decrease was reported by Wuhu Tls. 12,719,251 in 1906 against Tls. 21,169,808 in 1905—s phenomenal year. The value of the direct foreign export. (including re-export) from the Customs district of Shanghai was Tls. 118,990,510 against Tls. 107,961,631 in 1905 and Tls. 130,064,800 in 1904. The figures for Tientsin in 1906 were Tls. 5,143,764 in 1906, and Tls. 10,458,906 in 1905—which was more than double that of the previous year.
It is unnecessary to enter into details exported, but the returns dealing with, with regard to the majority of the goods
tea, silk, cotton, ete, demand special attention. In 1906 the total export, including re-export, to foreign countries of black tea was 600,907 picals, value Tls. 12,252,518. In 1905 the number of piculs exported was-597,045, but the value was Tls. 12,721,213. The bulk of the black tes was sent direct to Great Britain in 1905, but last year the value received in Great Britain was only Tis, 1,111,619, representing 59,966: the figures for 1905 were Tls. 5,216,073, piculs 252,841. The value black tea sent to Hongkong was about the same as that of the previous year, viz., Tls. 1,797,516, but the Russian' European ports' received 122,643 ticuls, value Tls. 2,478,129 us against 1,637 piculs, value Tls. 38,702 in 1905. Some 55,254 piculs, value Tls. 1,271,204 were sent to the Continent of Europe, Russia excepted; 122,642 piculs to Russian European ports, 53,037 piculs to Russia and Siberia by land frontier and 109,850 piculs to Russian Pacific ports. The United States of America imported 70,315 piculs, and Germany 31,144 piculs. The total quantity of black tea exported from Hankow was Orig from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.