Reference to previous Report, Annual Series No. 4362.

Report on the Trade and Commerce of the Consular District of Paraguay for the Year 1909

By MR. CONSUL GRIFFITH.

Introductory.-Paraguay is situated in the centre of South America, and is bounded on the north by Bolivia and Brazil, on the south by the Argentine Republic, on the east by Brazil, and on the west by Bolivia and the Argentine. According to the census of 1899 the population was 490,719, of whom about 18,000 were foreigners. The capital, Asunción, contains a population estimated at 60,000. The River Paraguay divides the country into two unequal parts, the eastern containing 104,000 square miles, and the western, called the Chaco, 41,000 square miles. The eastern portion (the boundary of which, on the west, for a distance of 441 miles is the River Paraguay, and on the south and east, for a distance of 497 miles, the River Parana) contains about 95 per cent. of the total population, and consists chiefly of pasture lands, forests of valuable timber, yerbales, tobacco, coffee and fruit-bearing lands. The country is well watered by rivers which principally take their rise in the Cordilleras of Amambay and Mbaracayú in the north-east. The soil is exceedingly fertile, and the climate is healthy. The average yearly temperature at Asunción for six years -1892-97-according to data published by the Argentine Meteorological Bureau, was 22° 48 Centigrade (72° 46 Fahrenheit), and the average annual rainfall, according to the same authority, was, during the same period, 51 73 inches.

The forests of Paraguay abound in valuable timber-producing trees, such as the Urundeymi, the hardest wood known, the red quebracho, useful chiefly for building purposes, the petereby, suitable for cabinet work, the lapacho, guayacan, curupay and a number of others. The country is also rich in medicinal, textile and other plants.

That Paraguay, which is capable of sustaining a population of several millions, has not shared in the economic and commercial development of her neighbours, the Argentine and Brazil, must not be attributed to any deficiency in the material sources of wealth, for of these she has abundance, but rather to a scarcity of labour and the total inadequacy of the means of communication. Notwithstanding the very liberal immigration law, the total number of immigrants who availed them(412)

A 2

selves of its provisions in 1909 was, according to a statement in the
President's Message delivered at the last opening of Congress, only
578.

The value of the foreign trade in 1909 showed an improvement over
that of the previous year of 196,9087., due to an increase in the exports
of 253,9091., the imports having decreased 57,0017. in consequence of a
want of confidence inspired by the disturbed state of the country
arising from a threatened armed invasion.

Imports. These amounted in 1909 to 3,787,951 dol. (757,5901.) as
compared with 4,072,953 dol. (814,5917.) in 1908. The value of the
imports during the last five years was :-

The following table shows the nature of the imports with their

Articles.

The following table shows the distribution of imports among the
principal countries, with the value from each :-

£
15,226

£

£

3

£

8,666

Hardware...

Lamps, &c.

130

1,360

159

1,264

180

110

55

4

...

201

619

290

77

Watches, clocks and

jewellery

Musical instruments

971

Fancy goods
Textiles

Ready-made clothing

Hats and caps

Drugs and chemicals

Surgical instruments
Other articles

Articles not enumerated

...

...

72

Total

...

269,727 140,141 52,711

48,683

37,011 42,024

The value of the imports from various countries is given below,
together with the percentage of each of the total value :-

The total imports for 1909 from the United Kingdom show an
increase of 98,4601. over those of 1908, while those from Germany have
decreased by 98,3831. Two-thirds of this increase was due to a larger
importation of textiles, the result, undoubtedly, of the frequent periodi-
cal visits of travellers representing British firms dealing in this line of
goods, whose example might well be followed by firms desirous of
extending their business in other lines.

Under the heading of "Food-stuffs" in the table of imports is included rice, of which 1,120 tons, valued at 12,7321., were imported in 1909. The whole of this amount was credited in the custom-house. returns to Germany as coming from Bremen, but, as 1,042 tons, of the value of 11,7931., were Indian rice, I have deducted this amount from the total value of German imports and credited those from the United Kingdom.

From an analysis of the imports it appears that out of a total value of biscuits of 170l., 751. came from the Argentine and 481. from the United Kingdom of hams, out of a total of 3431., the United Kingdom supplied 2741. Worcestershire sauce (all from the United Kingdom) was imported to the value of 1691. Imports of tea were 2,1541., of which amount 1,3121. was from the United Kingdom. Of a total of 3,4781. for stearine candles, Belgium supplied 1,7891., Germany 1,4681. and the United Kingdom only 841. Imports of beer amounted to 2421., 1321. from Germany and 1101. from the United Kingdom. Scotch whisky came wholly from the United Kingdom to the value of 2191. Of a total value of 4,2441. of angle iron, Belgium supplied 1,7417., the United Kingdom 1,3951. and Germany 1,0997. The United Kingdom supplied 4,1117. out of a total importation of galvanised iron sheets of 6,3271., Belgium 1,7687. and Germany 4481. Sewing machines were imported to the value of 1,413l., 9157. from the United States and 4991. from Germany. In paints, out of a total of 7511. the United Kingdom's share was 3691. Belgium supplied 2,1701. of Portland cement out of a total of 2,3677., the share of the United Kingdom being only 11. Spectacles and opera-glasses were imported almost entirely from Germany. Of the total of 1,215l. for ammunition, Spain supplied 7721. and Germany 4431. Imports of cartridges amounted to 2,5411., of which Germany supplied 1,3081. and the United Kingdom 8271. Gunpowder to the value of 9561. came entirely from the United Kingdom, and revolvers, the total value being 436l., from Germany 2071. and from the United Kingdom 127.

In quiltings, out of a total of 3,5771., the United Kingdom supplied 1,6941. and Germany 1,1591. Cotton and linen drills were imported to the value of 3,3611., of which the United Kingdom supplied 1,6101. and Germany 1,0351. In woollen cashmeres, out of a total of 3,2401., the United Kingdom's share was 1,6521. and Germany's 1,0061., and of mixed woollen and cotton cashmeres, out of a total of 8531., the former sold 3551. and the latter 4197. Cotton blankets were imported to the value of 2,1911., 3821. from the United Kingdom and 1,5481. from Germany; and of cotton blankets with a woollen finish, the United Kingdom supplied 1607. out of a total of 1,6437. and Germany 8121. Coloured drills were imported to the value of 36,7361., 19,5751. from the United Kingdom, 9,2157. from Italy and 6,3017. from Germany.

A comparative table of the principal imports into Paraguay from foreign countries will be found in Annex 1 (A).

Exports. The total value of these in 1909 was 5,136,639 dol. (1,027,3281.), an increase of 1,269,544 dol. (253,9097.) over that of 1908.