{221}
CHAPTER XVII. STATISTICS.
Raw Materials.
The statistics concerning the trade in raw
materials for paper-making are not published in a detailed form,
all the various kinds of fibre, &c., being grouped under
two heads, viz. rags (linen and cotton), and esparto (which
embraces other fibres, and probably wood pulps). The figures for
recent years are shown in the accompanying tables:—
(a)
Imports of cotton and linen rags:
|
tons. |
l. |
| 1880. |
29,642 |
451,782 |
| 1881. |
26,773 |
396,274 |
| 1882. |
21,200 |
303,349 |
| 1883. |
28,543 |
401,922 |
| 1884. |
36,233 |
487,866 |
| 1885. |
35,470 |
466,928 |
(b) Esparto and other material:
|
tons. |
l. |
| 1880. |
228,580 |
1,642,903 |
| 1881. |
238,043 |
1,626,800 |
| 1882. |
251,594 |
1,784,078 |
| 1883. |
288,549 |
1,943,732 |
| 1884. |
260,544 |
1,638,564 |
But a portion of these imports was exported again, the
figures being as follows:—
(a) Exports of rags and other paper-making material
produced in the United Kingdom:
|
tons. |
l. |
| 1880. |
55,792 |
673,523 |
| 1881. |
50,488 |
563,460 |
| 1882. |
49,352 |
526,554 |
| 1883. |
51,293 |
502,851 |
| 1884. |
60,924 |
562,903 |
(b) Exports of ditto of foreign and colonial
produce:
|
tons. |
l. |
| 1880. |
6,965 |
102,499 |
| 1881. |
10,183 |
146,101 |
| 1882. |
7,004 |
84,515 |
| 1883. |
11,561 |
121,992 |
| 1884. |
26,498 |
274,664 |
The relative proportions of raw material furnished by the
various countries in 1884 (the latest available return) are
shown in the subjoined tables:—
(a) Imports of linen and cotton rags in 1884:
| From |
Tons. |
£ |
| Germany |
21,280 |
294,883 |
| Holland |
4,406 |
56,537 |
| Belgium |
2,867 |
34,713 |
| Turkey |
2,036 |
16,228 |
| France |
1,875 |
28,133 |
| Russia |
1,784 |
33,293 |
| Channel Islands |
282 |
3,972 |
| Norway |
261 |
3,377 |
| Denmark |
198 |
3,020 |
| British South Africa |
133 |
1,615 |
| Australasia |
113 |
2,245 |
| Canary Islands |
96 |
1,043 |
| Spain |
93 |
1,009 |
| Argentine Republic |
64 |
1,280 |
| Other countries |
745 |
6,518 |
|
36,233 |
487,866 |
(b) Imports of esparto and other fibres in 1884:
| From |
Tons. |
£ |
| Algeria |
88,357 |
515,232 |
| Spain |
40,159 |
314,927 |
| Tripoli |
33,930 |
172,282 |
| Tunis |
20,526 |
117,374 |
| Other countries |
1,033 |
5,738 |
|
184,005 |
1,125,553 |
(c) Imports of other materials, including rag and wood
pulps, in 1884: {223}
| From |
Tons. |
£ |
| Norway |
47,923 |
276,204 |
| Belgium |
7,169 |
58,383 |
| Holland |
6,484 |
46,104 |
| Sweden |
5,178 |
48,523 |
| Germany |
3,732 |
36,582 |
| France |
2,128 |
14,667 |
| Denmark |
1,205 |
13,332 |
| British India |
1,046 |
7,735 |
| Egypt |
870 |
4,933 |
| Other countries |
804 |
6,544 |
|
76,539 |
513,011 |
A considerable export of raw material for paper-making
also takes place from British shores, the figures, embracing
rags and other materials, for 1884 being as below:—
-
(a) Exports of home produced rags and other paper-making
materials in 1884:
| To |
Tons. |
£ |
| United States |
59,222 |
550,924 |
| Holland |
649 |
2,703 |
| British America |
390 |
4,255 |
| Germany |
262 |
1,673 |
| Other countries |
401 |
3,348 |
|
60,924 |
562,903 |
-
(b) Exports of foreign produced ditto in
1884:
| (i.)
Linen and cotton rags. |
| To |
Tons. |
£ |
| United States |
14,191 |
167,801 |
| Other countries |
514 |
5,519 |
|
14,705 |
173,320 |
| (ii.)
Esparto and other fibres. |
| To |
Tons. |
£ |
| All countries |
140 |
701 |
| (iii.) Pulps and other materials. |
| To |
Tons. |
£ |
| United States |
11,290 |
97,620 |
| Other countries |
363 |
3,023 |
|
11,653 |
100,643 |
{224}
Our imports of “rags and other paper-making materials”
from Norway increased from 23,483 tons, value 138,098l., in
1880, to 48,199 tons, 279,679l., in 1884, mainly owing to the
development of the wood-pulp industry. Later figures will
probably show a similar increment. The same articles from
Denmark grew from 359 tons, 3406l., in 1880, to 1403 tons,
16,352l., from the same cause. German statistics have even
a stronger upward tendency: 11,587 tons, 196,051l., in 1880,
against 196,051 tons, 331,591l., in 1884. Our receipts of
esparto from Algeria show an advance, but not a marked one,
being 60,612 tons, 421,343l., in 1880, and 88,357 tons, 515,232l.,
in 1884. But shipments of the same fibre from Spain show
a decline from 51,413 tons, 454,713l., in 1880, to 40,159 tons,
314,927l., in 1884; and from Morocco they have fallen
away from 2879 tons, 18,231l., in 1880, to 260 tons, 1290l.,
in 1884; while the figures relating to Tunis and Tripoli
also show a disposition to recede, though not at such a rapid
rate.
The wood-pulp industry of Norway for the year 1886
shows a very large increase upon the figures of a few years
back, albeit prices have ruled very low. This latter circumstance
is attributed, not so much to over-production, as to
excessive competition among the sellers of this article. The
quantity exported during the year 1886 is about 120,000 tons;
in the year 1885 it was 107,651 tons; 1884, 88,220 tons;
1883, 70,464 tons; 1882, 58,884 tons; 1881, 42,194 tons;
1880, 26,055 tons. Several of the old works have extended
their production during the past year, and several new
establishments are in the course of erection, so the production
this year may probably be put at 150,000 tons wood pulp
with 50 per cent. water. The greatest part of the Norwegian
wood pulp is exported to England, France, and Belgium; in
Russia, the increase in the duty has stopped business, and the
same can almost be said of Germany. America, too, has
drawn part of her supply from Norway, but this trade is not
expected to continue. {225}
