Tohe PAN AME:RICAN UNION 
 
 JOHN BARRETT : ; Director General 
 FRANCISCO J. YANES : Assistant Director 
 
 Latin American 
 Foreign Trade in 1911 
 
 GENERAL SURVEY 
 
 (Reprinted from the February, 1913, issue 
 of the Bulletin of the Pan American Union) 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 1913 
 
>* 
 
 > 
 
 (O 
 
 •i 
 
 W 
 
 o 
 
 M 
 
 w 
 
 o 
 
 121 
 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 2 3 gas : 
 
 
 o 2 ' 
 
 Increase. 
 
 
 i 
 
 .1’ 
 
 p|S2||sss 
 
 Z i3 
 
 O -M c-l — • X -t 
 
 IT 
 
 s''S?r-~-r^'2-2 
 
 S 
 
 •'t 
 
 1 
 
 *■ 
 
 i 
 
 
 1 
 
 siSlsiliSS 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 siis3|3iii 
 
 
 
 SJ 
 
 1 
 
 
 ■5 
 
 X 
 
 2 
 
 1910 
 
 liisSSiSai' 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 Mmmmm 
 
 ‘i2 
 
 5 
 
 § 
 
 $ 
 
 lO *0 -c —< -r I-- X 
 
 g_- 
 
 .i 
 
 s;i:g|j;3?i?c5ss 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 Increase. 
 
 isSisBiisi 
 
 
 iiSisSSiia 
 
 s 
 
 
 S||3;s:s;s|s| 
 
 ■M 
 
 ISiSi!?iil2 
 
 "'-r-M-r 
 
 S 
 
 'O 
 
 lo 
 
 :t. 
 
 Ol 
 
 iSiSsSiiiq 
 
 C". 
 
 i 
 
 saPigiilE 
 
 'i 
 
 Tt 
 
 ._j.oxrc^:n-g.;-.o 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 191U 
 
 
 § 
 
 SsSsSiaiSS 
 
 2: 
 
 X 
 
 o 
 
 iissisiiii 
 
 1 
 
 5ii§iii3ii 
 
 3 
 
 
 oor-c-ircx^oo-^ 
 
 •v> 
 
 
 r? rc -H 
 
 
 
 Increase. 
 
 is'SgiiiSSB 
 
 o 
 
 ilgiSiSili 
 
 X 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 
 3 
 
 5t 
 
 rc 
 
 iisliigSli 
 
 ■2 
 
 X 
 
 i ^ ^ - 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 
 « ^ m 3? 3 S o 2 s r 
 
 iSiligi^li 
 
 |-.oo.:^^.x,0 2--=>'- 
 
 
 ilSSiiSiSi 
 
 iffliaii’lii 
 
 :|?!p;2fr'332 
 
 1- 
 
 rc- 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 X 
 
 i: 
 
 3 
 
 n 
 
 1)161 
 
 i a i 3 i 1 s i 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 s 
 
 SsHsili'ISi 
 
 s 
 
 aSSsiiSlls 
 
 s 
 
 X 
 
 E 
 
 i 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 = 5- 
 
 ^ O ^ ^ p _:3 O 
 
 - J 
 
 5 £ 
 
T he foreign commerce of the 20 Latin American Republics 
 for tlie year 1911, customshouse values, was .52,431,464,101, 
 imnorts -51 ,154,778,637, an.l exports .51,276,685,464. For tlie 
 ])rece(ling year the figures (revised and corrected) are: Im- 
 ports, .51,058,660,249; exports, 51,286,201,210; total, .52,344,861,459. 
 The increase in ini])orts for the year was .596,118,388, and the decrease 
 in exports 59,515,746, a net increase of .586,602,642 in total trade. 
 
 The population of these 20 Repiddics from the best obtainalde 
 sources of information — estimates in many cases and in these more 
 probably over tlian understatements — amounts to about 73,666,000. 
 On this basis the foreign commerce for 1911 was 533 ])er ca])ita — 
 imports 515.67 and exports 517.33. 
 
 The foreign commerce of the United States for the same year 
 was: Imports, 51,553,067,130; ex])orts, 52,093,526,846; total, 
 53,646,593,976, which shows a per capita of imports 516.63, exports 
 522.70, total 539.33. In other wonis, Latin Americans ])er individual 
 bought within 50.96 and sold within 55.37 as much to outsiders as 
 the people of the L'nited States bought and sold. Latin American 
 per capita foreign commerce exceeded the like ])er ca})ita of Austria- 
 Hungary, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, any of the Balkan States, 
 Greece, and Turkey. It was three and one-half times that of Japan, 
 nine times that of British India, and twenty times that of China. 
 
 The per capita of Cuban commerce — imports .553.35, ex))orts 
 569.92 — exceeded that of the United Kingdom, and the per capita of 
 Argentina (550.91 and 545.07), of LTuguay (542.88 and 541.65), and 
 of Chile (536.40 and 535.40), exceeded the ])er capita of the United 
 States, France, and Germany. 
 
 In 1911, owing to the fall in price of a number of the more consider- 
 able Latin American ex])orts, there was a slight decrease in exports 
 measured by values, l)ut on the whole an increase measured by 
 quantities. The annual increase in total trade by values in 1911 was 
 less than 4 ])er cent, imports 9 per cent, exports —0.7 per cent. The 
 increase of 1910 over 1909 was about 10 per cent, and this figure may 
 be conservatively reckoned as about the normal j)ercentage of increase 
 in recent years, although if a ])eriod longer than 10 years he taken the 
 
 3 
 
4 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 annual i)ercentago of increase will be foninl to average more than 10 
 per cent. 
 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1911 
 
 1897 
 
 1 iicrea.se 
 
 Per cent of increase. 14 years 
 
 81,1.54,778,0.37 
 
 415,079,502 
 
 SI, 270. GSo, 4**4 
 495,342,937 
 
 •82,431,404,101 
 
 910,422,499 
 
 739,099,075 
 
 781,342,527 
 
 1,521,041,002 
 
 178 
 
 12.7 
 
 158 
 
 11.3 
 
 107 
 
 11.9 
 
 
 Of extraordinary increase in trade during this period of 14 years, 
 Cuba furnishes a reniarkalde instance, as shown in the following 
 table. To avoid fluctuations occurring in the case of exports, aver- 
 ages for the three years at the heginning and the three years at the 
 end of the ])eriod are given. 
 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Average 1909, 1910, and Iflll 
 
 Average 1,890, 1897, and 1,898 
 
 Increase 
 
 Per cent of increase 
 
 8102, 852, 099 
 811,2.53,003 
 
 81.32.835,347 
 817, 931,. 502 
 
 891 , 599, 030 
 
 8114, 903, 845 
 
 .814 
 
 49.3 
 
 941 
 
 92.6 
 
 
 This remarkable showing, however, was due to something more 
 than the annual increase in trade under normal conditions. It rep- 
 resented Cuba’s emergence from the hamjiering condition of Eurojiean 
 sovereignty into the free state of rejuiblican government. 
 
 The following table shows annual increase under normal conditions: 
 
 Argentina. 
 
 Imports. Exports. 
 
 Average. 1909, 1910, and 1911 
 .\verage 1890, 1897, and 1898. 
 
 Increase 
 
 8330, 232, 438 83,03, 944, 033 
 
 8105, 9fi0, 007 8117, 200, 007 
 
 8224,271,771 8230,077,906 
 
 Per cent of increase 211 202 
 
 Yearly per cent of increase 10.2 15.5 
 
 A MOPERN RAILWAY CAR IN ARGENTINA. 
 
LATIX AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1911 GENERAL SURVEY. 
 
 t) 
 
 TRADE BALANCES. 
 
 The followiiio; table gives the trade balances of the Latin American 
 countries for the years 1910 and 1911. Plus ( + ) means excess of 
 exports over imports and minus ( — ) excess of inpiorts over 
 exports. 
 
 Coimiries. 
 
 Trade balance. 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 
 + S32,.590,244 
 + 1 4,827,902 
 + 3, 552, 587 
 
 - 447,. 500 
 
 + 1 1,400,171 
 + 481,754 
 
 - 8,287,004 
 
 + 47,233,439 
 + 4,591,932 
 
 + 3,320,483 
 
 + 851,445,0.85 
 + 4,407,303 
 
 + 3, 015, 939 
 
 - 530, 21.3 
 
 + 2 1,6.88,7711 
 + 52, 589 
 
 — 8,206,020 
 
 + 9,452,817 
 + 4, 055, 244 
 
 + 7,527,214 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dominican Republic 
 
 Haiti 
 
 North American Republics 
 
 + 89,275,348 
 
 + 72,902,728 
 
 
 .\reenlina 
 
 Bolivia 
 
 Brazil 
 
 Chile 
 
 Colombia 
 
 Ecuador 
 
 Paraguav 
 
 Peru. . . ' 
 
 Uruguay 
 
 Venezuela 
 
 South American Republics 
 
 Total Latin America 
 
 + 20,229,738 
 + 10,945,957 
 + 74,431,001 
 + 11,439,040 
 + 599, 510 
 
 + 1 4, 548, 040 
 + ‘ 1,337,448 
 + 8, 036, 229 
 + 5.30,419 
 
 + 5,561,019 
 
 — 40,849,753 
 
 + 9,401,308 
 
 + 67,. 509, 057 
 
 — 3,497,002 
 + 4,207,030 
 + 2 5, .550, 404 
 
 — 2 1,403,410 
 
 + 5,100,110 
 
 — 1,309,079 
 
 + 4,289,494 
 
 + 138,265,013 
 
 + 49,004,099 
 
 + 227,. 540, 901 
 
 + 121,900,827 
 
 1 19ll'J. 2 lilll). 
 
 In the consideration of interjiational commercial statistics it is 
 necessary to disburse one’s mind of tlie idea sometime entertained 
 that a sur])lus of ex])orts over im])(»rts, i. e., a favoral)le trade bal- 
 ance, means tliat the country having such a sur])lus is to tluit extent 
 accumulating ca])ital; or, conversely, with an unfavorable balance is 
 growing ])oorer. Many news])a])er and magazine writers on com- 
 mercial and linancial sid)jects fall into this error, believing them- 
 selves able to com])ute, almost to tha^ exact dollar, ])ound, franc, or 
 mark, the Increase in ca])ital or wealth in any country. Nothing 
 coidd he more fallacious. 
 
 While there is in truth, a fundamental relation between the sum 
 total of ex])orts and of imports and between this balance, favorable 
 or unfavorable! as it may he, and national ca])ital increases or decreases, 
 yet th,e two trades follow se])arate, distinct, and by no means ])arallel 
 channels, and in sums total increase or decrease iji one. trade, owing 
 to conditions which may sometimes he reflected in both trades hut 
 most often are not, has no close relatiojishi]) to increase or decrease 
 in the other trade. In otlier words, it is necessary to consider 
 sej)arately the kinds and character of ex])orts and of im])orts in order 
 
THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 () 
 
 to arrive at an uiidtn'standing as to wlietJier tlie wJioie trade I’roiii a 
 national standpoint is gaiid'nl or otlierwise, always bearing in mind 
 that what is henelicial to tlie individnal may or may not he henelicial 
 to the country, and, on the otluu’ liand, that individnal loss maybe 
 national yain. 
 
 It is likewise essential to take into consideration questions of for- 
 eign ca])ital investments as rellec.ted in im])orts, and the interest and 
 dividend payments on this ca])ital as reflected iti ex])orts. Does 
 tlie snm total of imports re])resent wholly nurnijig expenses, or does 
 it in part rejiresent foreign capital investments ? Does the total of 
 ex])orts stand for tlie jiroceeds of jirolitahle indnstry alone, or does 
 it in ])art stand for withdrawals of ca])ital or, ])erha])S, reckless 
 ex])loitation and wasting of national resources? 
 
 d'he most notable fact ajijiarent on the face of Latin American 
 commercial statistics is the large increase in inqiorts, in the last two 
 years for which com])iled statistics are ])ossihle, namely, 1910 and 
 1911 . 
 
 d'he increase in inqiorts in 1910 over tln^ ])receding year Vvois over 
 SI 71 ,436,000, and in 1911 over 1910 over S96,l 1 8,000; in all an 
 increase of nearly S267,o5'),000, or 30 ])er cent in two years. Nearly 
 ■1150,000,000 of the increase in the lirst-mentioned year was in the 
 imjxirts of iNlexico, C’nha, Argentina, Brazil, and ('Idle, and nearly 
 -885,000,000 of the increase in the second year was in the inqiorts of 
 (’nha, Argentina, Brazil, Chik*, Pern, Venezuela, and rrngnay. 
 
 What does this inci'ease in inqiorts in two years of 30 ])er cent for 
 the whole 20 countries and much more than 30 ].H'r cent for a nnmher 
 of them represent ? On the face of the lignres it might he taken to 
 nu'an oidy an increase in running ex])enses dne to an Increase in 
 po]ndation and a. raising of the standard of living, or even to the 
 incnnise in cost of living at a like standard. All of these things have 
 had their iidlnence on augmenting the volume of imjiorts, hnt l)y no 
 means d(» they account for the wh(»le increase or even for the greater 
 jiart of it. 
 
 'Hie hnlk of the increase in imports of 8267,500.000 was additional 
 ca])ital investment, d'he collection of statistical data has not 
 I'eached (and never will) that degn^e of conqirehensiveness from 
 wliich we can determine the nltimate nse and purpose of all imjiorts. 
 'Phis being true, it can readily he seen that any attempt to determine 
 the jiercentage of ca])ital investment must fail. However, from 
 known facts it can he stated, with a reasonable degree of certainty, 
 that the pro])ortion of ca])ital investment is certainly more than one- 
 half and ])rohahly two-thirds of tlie whole increase. This cajiital 
 investment does not rejiresent entire foreign ca])ital invested dnrhig 
 the ])eriod in Imtin America ; it rejiresents only the ca])ital indirectly 
 invested. In tlie main this ca])ital investment a])pears in the cnstoms- 
 
THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 
 Jiuuse r3])()rts as imports of railway equipment ami material, material 
 for (lock im])rovemeuts, mininji;, agricultural, ami other industrial 
 ilevelojjment ; that is, it is a |)art,notthe whole, of the importscredited 
 under these and other heads. 
 
 It is im])ortaiit to have a clear understanding of the social and 
 industrial conditions of Latin America in order to understand the 
 currents of trade, both in imports and ex})orts. These conditions are 
 unlike those in any other part of the world. From the standpoint 
 of production faitin America is in general almost primitive, while 
 from the standpoint of consumjition it is abreast of Europe and the 
 L'nited States. That is to say, the exports of Latin America are 
 those of all new and but slightly developed countries, while the 
 imports, on the other had, are those of a highly developed and modern 
 civilization. Its exports are the crude products of the mines, of the 
 forests, and of agricultural and pastoral industries. It does not 
 supply its own needs for anything except raw material and primary 
 food products, and liy no means all of these. Of manufacturing 
 there is but Uttle. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 The following statement shows the value in Lmited States currency 
 of the ex]>orts of the 20 countries and the character and kind of the 
 [)rincipal thereof: 
 
 Mexico. — Value, .S147,451,hb9 ; classilied in general as mineral. 
 $93,350,000; vegetable, $41,529,541; animal, $9,212,809; manufac- 
 tured products, $2,241,771 ; and miscellaneous, $1,054,788. 
 
 The principal mineral exports were: Gold (uncoined bullion), 
 $24,050,714; silver (uncoinecl bullion), $39,257,089; other metals, 
 including co]>]ier, lead, antimony, and zinc, $18,002,721. 
 
 The princi|)al vegetable exports were: Coffee, $4,330,410; rubber, 
 $7,903,709, guayule rubber, $4,815,140; chicle, $1,829,100; chick 
 peas, $2,103,120; henequen, $11,134,000; ixtle, $1,044,038; cabinet 
 woods, $1,953,539; zacaton root, $994,775; and vanilla, $1,535,005. 
 
 The princi]ial animal exports were: Hides and skins, $5,003,799; 
 and cattle, $3,544,899. 
 
 The ])rinci]ial manufactured exports were: Sugar, $745,412; cotton- 
 seed cake and meal, $387,930; and palm-leaf hats, $300,545. 
 
 Guatemala . — Value, $10,981,724. The principal exports were: Cof- 
 fee, $9,273,909; bananas, $520,711; sugar, $344,015; hides, $325,200; 
 rubber, $159,021; and woods, $158,178. 
 
 Salvador . — Value, $8,400,309. The ])r'ncipal exports were: Coffee, 
 $5,834,439; gold in bars, $700,413; gold and silver amalgams, con- 
 centrates, etc., $700,250; sugar, $391,790; and indigo, $201,031. 
 
 llonduras . — Value, $3,024,720. The ])rincipal exports were: Gold 
 and silver ore, $1,051,075; and bananas, $1,284,171. 
 
LATIX AMERICAX FOKEIGX TRADE IX 1!»11 GEXERAL SURVEY. 
 
 9 
 
 Xicaragua . — Value, $4,545,075. TJve principal exjtorts were; Col- 
 fee, $2,79S,S93 ; gold and silver ores, $S94,S32 ; ruliber, 1340,182 ; and 
 hides, $196,451. 
 
 Costa Rica. — Value, $9,020,150. Vlie principal exixu’ts were; 
 Bananas, $4,375,505; coll'ee, $2,871,485; gold and silver in bars, 
 $1,183,165; and woods, $91,054. 
 
 Panama. — Value, $1,754,050. ddie ])rincipal exports were; Bananas, 
 $1,030,885; ivory nuts, $118,408; coconuts, $112,827; rubber, 
 $111,143; mother-of-])earl, $62,493; bides, $86,729; l)ar gold, $119,580. 
 
 Cuha. — Value, $122,885,952. The jirincipal ex])orts were; Sugar, 
 $85,168,933; molasses, $1,197,433; distillates, $431,543; tobacco, 
 unmanufactured, $16,888,761; tobacco, manufactured, $13,098,982; 
 iron, gold, and copj)er ores, $3,874,172; woods, $2,109,800; fruits, 
 $1,835,952; hides andskins, $1,707,434; honey and beeswax, $431,543; 
 grains and vegetables, $437,732; and sponges, $299,139, 
 
 Dornimcan RepaWic. — A^alue, $11,004,906, The piincii)al exports 
 were; Sugar, $4,159,733; cacao, $3,902,111; leaf tobacco, $1,421,424; 
 colfee, $319,142; bananas, $194,759; beeswax, $165,317; hides, 
 $104,303. 
 
 Haiti . — Abdue, $15,475,331. The j)rincipal exports were; Coll'ee, 
 51,795,659 pounds; cocoa, 3,228,350 jiounds; cotton, 4,198,227 
 pounds; cotton seed, 8,058,080 pounds; canpu'clic logs and roots, 
 75,197,092 pounds; honey, 190,148 gallons; orange ])ecl, 462,725 
 pounds. 
 
 Argentina. — A'alue, $314,956,612, classified in general as live 
 animals and meat ])roducts, $163,342,891; agricultural ])roducts, 
 $135,570,454; forest })roducts, $11,886,966; mine ])roducts, $548,378; 
 hunting and fishing ])roducts, $1,613,386. 
 
 The princi]ial live animals were bei'f cattle, $7,956,667. The 
 principal meat proilucts were; Frozen beef, $28,88t),578 ; frozen 
 mutton, $6,667,086; salt cattle hides, $19,053,091; Hint cattle hides, 
 $14,353,723; wool, $48,979,206; shee])skins, $7,493,126; jerked be('f, 
 $1,611,767; goat skins, $968,672; bristles, $1,534,259; chilh'd beef, 
 $1,464,316; horse hides, $606,31)8; kidskins, $276,561; canned meat, 
 $1,495,093; meat extracts, $1,000,219; heef sera]) and meal, $877,588; 
 butter, $541,505; tallow and grease, $11,415,833; margarin oil, 
 $625,921; casein, $420,659; bones, $2,376,463. 
 
 The principal agricidtural ])roducts were; Indian corn, $2,683,599; 
 wheat, $78,254,814; linseed, $32,572,590; oats, $11,316,302; hay, 
 $659,042; wheat Hour, $4,597,238; and bi'an, $4,473,923. 
 
 The princi])al forest ]uoducts were; Quebracho wood and extract, 
 of the former $6,690,681, and of the latter $4,830,626. 
 
 The princi])al mining product was co])per $399,582, and the 
 principal hunting and fishing products were whale oH $1,169,973, 
 nutria skins $150,082, and ostrich and other ])lumes $227,601. 
 
 S2541— Rt 2 
 
10 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 Bolivia.- 132,22(3,150. T]ie ])i'iiicipal exports were; Tin, 
 
 $20,529,445; silver, $2,097,909; l)isiuutb, $8(35,040; co])])er, $556,508; 
 rul)ber, $7, 379, 2(25; and coco, $199,310. 
 
 Brazil. — Value, $325,271,(314. The ])rinci])al ex])orts were: Coffee, 
 $19(3,515,379; rul)ber, $73,352,11(3; hides, $8,751,090; ycrba mate, 
 $9,650,346; cacao, $7,992,437; tobacco, $4,709,345; skins, $3,152,506; 
 sugar, $1,986,836; cotton, $4,7(34,143; gold, $2,275,440; manganese, 
 $1,255,(301; Brazil nuts, $1,291,053; carnauba wax, $1,897,540; 
 bran, $1,781,392; cotton seed, $878,853; and monazite sand, $539,965. 
 
 Chile. — $123,884,417; classilied in general as animal products, 
 $7,668,669; vegetable products, $5,281,687; mineral products, $107,- 
 483,258. 
 
 Under animal juoducts the princi])al exports were : Hides, $760,728 ; 
 wool, $2,519,150; chinchilla skins, $239,211; wax, $128,954. 
 
 Under vegetable products tlu' ]n'incipal exports were: Bran, 
 $414,305; frijoles, $669,262; carob beans, $232,917; barley, $657,880; 
 oats, $580,276; nuts, $678,234; hay, $166,742; wheat, $505,232; 
 wheat Hour, $283,221; quillay bark, $158,604; oak railroad ties, 
 $78,675. 
 
 Under mineral products the principal exports were: Nitrate of 
 soda, $95,867,058; boi-ate of lime, $2,274,492; copper, $4,506,182; 
 co])])er ore, $2,116,657; co])])er and gold ore, $169,921; iron ore, 
 $417,560; and ioiline, $1,876,277. 
 
 Golomhla . — Value, .$22,375,899. The ])rinci])al exports were: 
 ('olfee, $9,475,449; bananas, $2,172,000; tobacco, $332,935; ivory 
 nuts, $739,419; nd)l)er, $900,887; gold in bars, gold dust, and plati- 
 num, $4,097,528; cattle hides, $1,779,790; and Panama hats, $1,088,- 
 821. 
 
 Ecuador . — Value, $13,558,033. The principal exports were: Cacao, 
 $7,879,844; ivory nuts, $1,665,951; Panama hats, $1,255,990; rubber, 
 $1,004,029; coffee, $729,262; gold ore, $134,516; gold bars, $114,152; 
 and hides, $256,725. 
 
 Baraguay. — Value, $4,789,065. The pi'incipal exports were : Hides , 
 $1,134,606; quebracho extract, $634,18(3; yerba mate, $553,629; 
 woods, $979,740; tobacco, $534,085; oranges, $258,517. 
 
 Peru. — Value, $36,071,056. The princqnrl ex])orts were: Minerals 
 and metals, $9,343,155; rubber, $6,214,355; sugar, $6,717,256; 
 cotton, $4,932,038; alpaca wool, $1,291,579; sheep wool, $706,578; 
 llama wool, $343,616; guano, $882,489; hides, $441,020; straw hats, 
 $588,439; and ])etroleum, $532,730. 
 
 Uruguay . — Value, $46,318,036. The principal exports for the half 
 year were: Wool, $15,611,333; hides and skins, $4,871,978; meats and 
 extracts, $4,653,515: live animals, $469,307; tallow and other fats, 
 $635,404; hair and bristles, $120,673; l)one and bone ash, $33,406; 
 
LATIX AMERICAN FOREIGjS^ TRADE IN' 1911 GENERAL SURVEY. 11 
 
 residual animal products, $80,881; oil-producing grains, $319,067; 
 flours, $193,731; vegetables, $43,460; and fruits, $47,951. 
 
 Venezuela. — Value, $22,684,384. The principal exj)orts were: 
 Coffee, $11,390,208; cacao, $3,601,371; balata rubber, $2,449,068; 
 hides, $1,167,482; rubber, $514,907; goat and kid skins, $512,317; 
 gold, $644,212; live cattle, $208,341; asplialt, $267,533; copper ore, 
 $252,907; sugar, $143,717; heron plumes (aigrets), $309,847; divi- 
 divi, $161,237; tonka beans, $137,173; and frozen beef, $104,281. 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 Latin American imports are in general of the same character as 
 the imports of western European countries and of the United States, 
 except that they do not comprehend any large proportion of raw 
 material for use in manufacturing. 
 
 Outside of foodstuffs, crude oils, lumber, coal, some unwrought 
 iron and steel, building and construction material and the like, the 
 great bulk of the imports are articles of a high degree of manufacture 
 finished for consumption. 
 
 A brief summary under general heads of the imports of three 
 countries — Argentina, Brazil, and Culia — will suffice to give some 
 idea of the character of these imports. 
 
 Aj'gentina. — ^\mlue, $355,806,365. In broad classifications the im- 
 ports were as follows: Live animals, $505,884; food products, $28,- 
 456,664; tobacco, $5,715,051; wines, licj^uors, and other beverages, 
 $13,385,195; textiles and manufactures tliereof, $67,607,152; oils, 
 grease, etc., $15,413,750; chemical and pharmaceutical products, 
 $11,812,926; paints, dj’es, etc., $2,371,473; timber, wood, straw, and 
 manufactures thereof, $10,088,562; paper and manufactures thereof, 
 $8,409,881; hides, skins, and manufactures, $3,489,850; iron, steel, 
 and manufactures, $41,793,169; other metals and manufactures, 
 $15,015,295; agricultural implements and machinery, $13,281,601; 
 locomotion — railway cars, ecpiipment, rails, etc., carriages, wagons, 
 automobiles, bicycles, etc., $35,759,418; earths, stones, coal, etc., 
 $32,206,014; buiidmg materials, $32,775,761; electrical apparatus, 
 $6,483,163; miscellaneous, $11,235,558. 
 
 Some of the principal imports classified under the headings above 
 were: Cheese, $1,908,741; sardines, $1,071,751; sugar, $3,675,383; 
 rice, $2,033,494; coffee, $1,292,588; yerba mate, $5,378,183; cigars, 
 $1,320,410; smoking tobacco, $2,587,257; sheep dip, $1,711,9$"; 
 silk piece goods, $2,065,201; ready-made clothing, wool, $1,220,004; 
 aU wool piece goods, $6,100,571; part wool piece goods, $3,080,498. 
 Under cotton: Yarn, $1,261,309; quilts, $1,048, 202; lace, $1,286,326; 
 stockings, $1,675,725; piece goods, bleached, $3,904,267; unbleached, 
 $1,010,643; prints, $3,932,223; dyed, $9,527,297; other cottons. 
 
UJ 
 
 o • 
 z O 
 
 < _J 
 tr cQ 
 u- ^ 
 >' 0 - 
 z 
 
 < q: 
 
 2 X 
 
 LU < 
 
 C9 
 
 UJ 
 
 ^ o 
 
 o u_ 
 
 o 
 
 Q •“ 
 Id UJ 
 
 gf 
 
 ^ O 
 ^ H 
 
 ^ z 
 o o 
 cr r 
 
 o 
 a. 
 o 
 cc 
 a. 
 
 — CO 
 
 i “ 
 
 ^ UJ 
 I- 
 
 I" D 
 
 oO 
 
 X ^ 
 UJ 
 
 
 If) 
 
 u 
 
 _J 
 
 CD 
 
 D 
 
 0 . 
 
 Ld 
 
 CC CO 
 
 zdc 
 
 o2 
 
 q: X 
 Ul Id 
 
 05 
 
 Cj 2 y 
 
 
 S’* 
 
 jR MID- 
 
 I'S z 
 
 ^9' 
 
 I? 
 
 5 % 
 
 1; 5 
 
 k o 
 O d 
 
 5“) 
 
 I 
 
 'iS 
 
 t;§ 
 
 If) 
 
 a: 
 
 h- 
 
 z 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 c_> 
 
LATIN AMEEICAN FOKEIGX TRADE IX 1911 GEXERAL SURVEY. 
 
 13 
 
 $2,393,693. Sail cloth, $1,236,415; jute and hemp l)ao’gino;, $4,741,- 
 922; lubricating oils, $2,114,61$; olive oil, $3,262,135; kerosene, 
 $1,896,169; naplitha, $5,938,656; proprietary medicines, $2,279,263; 
 perfnmerv, $1,370,485. Iron and steel, in bars, ingots, or slightly 
 wrought as wire, nails, staples, etc., $22,198,895; iron and steel mann- 
 factnres, $19,594,273; coal, $25,238,605. 
 
 Brazil. — Value, $257,762,557. Tlie inpiorts are divided into four 
 general classes as follows; Live animals, $1,116,102; primary mate- 
 rials and materials used in the arts and industries, $50,192,456; manu- 
 factures, $144,143,489; and alimentary substances, $62,310,511. The 
 principal imports of primary materials and materials used in the arts 
 and industries were; 1,001 metric tons of cotto]i sewing thread; 
 1,900 tons of raw and carde<l cotton; 110 tons of rabbit and lieaver 
 fnr; 5,762 tons of lead, tin, and zinc bars and ])lates; 2,213 tons of 
 copper; 7,246 tons of steel l)ars and rods; 29,673 tons of iron bars, 
 rods, and jdates; 16,407 tons of iron ingots; 15,000 tons of jnte and 
 hemp yarn; 746 tons of woolen yarn; $1,885,522 worth of ]hne lum- 
 ber; 3,870 tons of linseed oil; 2,634 tons of white lead and zinc; 1,221 
 tons of turpentine; 2,588 tons of snljdiur; 688 tons of liroom straw; 
 12,285 tons of malted barley; 218 tons of hops; 254 tons of leaf 
 tobacco; 1,736,213 tons of coal; 221,136 tons of coal liriquets; 12,584 
 tons of coke; 286,689 tons of cement; 6,726 tons of asphalt; and 17,269 
 tons of tar. 
 
 The pruicipal imports under manufactures were; Manufactures of 
 cotton, mixed or not, $24,853,755; guns and ammunition, $2,281,197; 
 carriages and other vehicles, $5,858,239; manufactures of lead, tin, 
 zinc, and alloys, $502,696; manufactures of cop])er and alloys, $2,663,- 
 584; manufactures of steel and iron, $26,381,494; musical and like 
 instruments, $1,802,465; surgical and dental instruments and mate- 
 rial, $513,514; mathematical, physical, and optical instruments and 
 material, $650,372; mannfactnri'S of wool, mixed or not, $4,027,937; 
 manufactures of linen, $2,587,043; manufactures of jute and hemp, 
 $316,156; earthenware, porcelain, and glass, $4,538,992 ; machhiery, 
 engines, tools, and hardware, $28,155,103; manufactures of wood, 
 $1,550,139; manufactures of gold, silver, and platinum, $490,037; 
 manufactures of straw, esparto, ]>ita, etc., $477,692; manufactures of 
 paper, $5,678,381 ; manufactures of earths, stones, and like sulistanccs, 
 $1,429,046; manufactures of leather, $1,317,838; perfumery, paints, 
 inks, etc., $2,686,271; chemicals, drugs, and ])harmaceutical special- 
 ties, $5,989,167; manufactures of silk, mixed or not, $1,265,720; and 
 miscellaneous, $17,564,219. 
 
 Under alimentary substances the principal im])orts were; 333,146 
 tons of wheat; 158,761 tons of flour; 34,241 tons of codlish; 3,618 
 tons of preserved fish; 1,916 tons of dried fruits; 3,988 tons of con- 
 
14 
 
 rilK I'AK AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 (ieiised milk; 1,1S] tons of hams and t)acon; 424 tons of canned 
 meats; 2,05h tons of canned vep:etahles; 10, .532 tons of rice; spirits 
 and fermented lupiors to the value of .SOOT, 01 5; wines to the value 
 of $1 l,3S0,57O ; 20,651 tons of jerked beef; 1,900 tons of butter; and 
 1,7S3 tons of cheese. 
 
 Cuba. — Value, .1113,433,135. As classilied the ])ruicipal imports 
 were; Stones and eartlis, $1,070,947; the principal import under this 
 headhig was 854,800 barrels of cement. Mmeral oils, Ihtumen, etc., 
 .11 ,009,97 6 ; the principal imports under tliis hea( 1 were 7,11 8,284 gallons 
 of crude petroleum, 488,184 gallons of refined ])etroleum, and 585,883 
 gallons of other refined oils. Glass and crystalware, $1,262,218; the 
 princi])al iniiiorts under this head were 3,236 tons of tableware, 7,393 
 tons of bottles, 459 tons of electric lamjis. Earthenware and por- 
 celam, $820,360. Iron and steel, $0,513,248; the principal articles 
 under tliis heading were 11,650 tons cast-iron bars, rods, etc.; 4,192 
 tons other manufactures of cast iron; 20,918 tons wrought-iron and 
 steel bars and rods; 12,906 tons sheets and plates; 3,726 tons wire and 
 cable; 435 tons fine tools and imjdements; 4,816 tons nails; 1,801 tons 
 tin])late; 7,107 tons piping and fittings ; and 12,455 tons steel rails. 
 Chemical products, $3,062,802; the ]jrinci])al imjiorts under this head 
 were 20,969 tons commercial fertilizers, 2,074 tons acids, 426 tons 
 dynamite, 21,340 tons salt, and $251,511 worth of patent and jiro- 
 prietaiy medicines. Oils, soaps, etc., $2,157,373; the prmcipal un- 
 ports under this classification were 122,386 gallons soap oil, 358,648 
 gallons other vegetable oils, 1,095 tons candles, 4,261 tons common 
 soap, 2,230 tons soap grease, and $517,830 worth perfumes. Cotton 
 and manufactures, $9,278,430; the principal unports under this head 
 were 711 tons raw cotton, 285 tons thread and yarn, 4,496 tons plaui 
 tissue, 1,731 tons twilled pieces, 525 tons knitted tissues, 156 tons 
 laces, and 200 tons ready-made clothing. Vegetable fibers (other than 
 cotton) and manufactures, $3,360,276; the ])rincipal imports under 
 this head were 380 tons twine, 572 tons cordage and rope, 11,881 tons 
 sugar bags, and 1,696 tons linen tissue. Wool, hair, and manufac- 
 tures, $1,181,783; the princiiial imjiort was 487 tons woolens. Woods 
 and manufactures, $2,767,191; the principal imports were 10,890 
 tons common lumber, 5,639 tons furniture, $741,593 worth boxes 
 and cases, $570,253 worth barrels and staves. Manufactures of 
 leather and furs, $4,756,954; the principal un])orts were 861,884 
 pairs men’s shoes, 1,783,245 ])airs women’s shoes, 1,186,948 pairs 
 ciiildren’s shoes, and 260,534 dozen pau’s alpargatas. Machmery, 
 $9,136,992; the ])rhici])al imports were sugar and spuit -making ma- 
 chinery, 57,659 tons, worth $5,178,394; agricultural machinery, 553 
 t(.»ns, worth $117,337; boilers, 948 tons, worth $116,186; locomotives, 
 worth $423,697; and other machineiy, 6,496 tons, worth $1,639,643. 
 
LATIX AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1911 GENERAL SURVEY. 
 
 15 
 
 Apparatus, cars, carriages, etc., $3,061,803; the priiici])al imports 
 under this head were 25,356 sewhig machines, 1,262 typewriters, 
 17,825 weighing scales, railway coaches worth $166,520; carriages 
 and accessories, worth $756,308; freight cars, 14,710 tons, worth 
 $1,021,788; and wagons and carts, 3,378 tons, worth $310,81 9. Meats, 
 $10,630,504; the principal imports were 17,402 tons jerked l)eef, 
 7,659 tons salt pork, 1,928 tons hams and shoulders, 29,698 tons 
 lard, and 1,815 tons canned meats. Fish, $1,569,648, of which the 
 principal im])ort was 8,849 tons codfish. Breadstuifs, $12,989,272; 
 the prmcipal imi)orts under this head were 18,482 tons oats, 136,118 
 tons rice, 4,832 tons harley, 74,843 tons maize, and 851,447 barrels 
 flour. Yegetaldes, $4,491,995; tlie i)rinci])al inpiorts were 10,182 tons 
 
 THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE BUILDING IN THE CITY OF HABANA. 
 
 onions, 7,766 tons ])eas, 14,823 tons beans, 54,388 tons potatoes, and 
 $498,600 worth tinned vegetables. Beverages and food oils, $3,224,- 
 093; the principal imjiorts were 1,319,908 gallons olive oil, 274,568 
 gallons cottonseed oil, 31,411 dozen bottles white wine, 454,468 gal- 
 lons white wine, 20,414 dozen bottles red wines, 5,055,236 gallons 
 red wines, 413,678 dozen bottles of beer, and 430,095 liters distilled 
 liquors. DaiiA' jiroducts, $2,657,031; the ])rinci])al unjiorts under 
 this head were 15,61 1 tons condensed milk, 849 tons butter, and 
 2,312 tons cheese. Other alimentary substances, $4,299,048; the 
 principal im])orts were 11,697 tons colfec, 720 tons confectionen', 
 and 4,288,608 dozen eggs. 
 
LATIN AMERICAN EXPORTS TO LEADING COMMERCIAL COUNTRIES. 
 
 IG THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 ■ |.u»l ui iionuu] |s;.i 1- 'sonuaiis;.] £ 'OKilo 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1911 GENERAL SURVEY 
 
 17 
 
 ' 191)9. 2 1910. 3 Estimates. ' Estimated in pai't. 
 
18 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 In total of values tlie United ^States leads in the foreign eoinmcrce, 
 imports and exj)orts together, of Latin America. 
 
 All L(iti/i Aiii<rir(t. 1911. 
 
 Total. 
 
 L'nited 
 
 States. 
 
 United 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
 (.lermany. 
 
 France. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Ter cent of whole ' 
 
 S2, 4:31. 464. 101 
 
 100.00 
 
 .?7lll,. 521, 2.51 
 2S.98 
 
 Sjljo, 284,018 
 23. 24 
 
 S3o6, 208. 033 
 14. 6.5 
 
 •8209, 710, .363 
 8. 63 
 
 Of the 10 North American Repu1)lics — Mexico, Guatemala, Salva- 
 dor, Honduras, Nicaragua, ('osta Rica, Panama, Cuba, the Dominican 
 Republic, and Haiti — tlie United States takes nearly three-fourths of 
 their exports and furnishes more than half of their im])orts. 
 
 North America. 1911. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 I'niled 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
 ( iermany. 
 
 France. 
 
 Exports 
 
 I'er cent of whole 
 
 Imports 
 
 I’er cent ol whole 
 
 •8:334,550. 101 
 100.00 
 
 100. 00 
 
 8241,074. 110 
 72. 32 
 8138,881,644 
 53. 16 
 
 •833,705.000 
 10.08 ' 
 8:33,526,4:39 
 12.77 
 
 825,315,258 ' 
 7. 55 
 S25,.540,773 
 
 10. 16 
 
 .817, .560,977 
 0. 25 
 816, 119,091 
 6.17 
 
 Of tlie 10 South American Republics — Argentina, Polivia, Brazil, 
 Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, I’araguay, Peru, Ih'uguay, and Vene- 
 zuela — the United States takes more than one-fifth of their exports 
 and sup])lies about one-seventh of their imjiorts. 
 
 South America, 1911. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United 
 
 States. 
 
 United 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 France. 
 
 Exftorts 
 
 her cent of wliole 
 
 8942,135,273 
 100. 00 
 
 8104,077, 163 
 
 20.50 
 8129,588.325 
 
 14.50 
 
 8237,625,274 
 25. 11 
 8261,424,396 
 29. 27 
 
 8139, 268, 530 
 14. 7,S 
 .8165, 125,372 
 18. 4S 
 
 .897, 70-5, 291 
 10. 37 
 878,265,004 
 S.76 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 100. 00 
 
 While the Ihiited States leads in the total commerce of Latin 
 America, as a whole, and in the commerce of the North American 
 Re})ul)lics, in both imports and exports, controls a trade greater than 
 the combined trade of its three nearest rivals, the United Kingdom, 
 Germanv, and France, and in South America is second in exports 
 and third in imjiorts, yet as a lUiittiu' of fact it is cpiestionalile whether 
 in the import trade of Latin Amei’ica the United States, with its 
 .1f20S,470,00() in values, receives as much commercial advantage 
 therefrom as does Germanv with its 810Lti7d,()()t), or France with its 
 $04, 384, 000. The reason foi' this doulit exists in the character and 
 kind of the im|)orts from the Xhiited States as compared with the 
 imports from Furo])e. 
 
J.ATIX AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1911 GENERAL SURVEY. 
 
 19 
 
 The Latin American imports, and ])articulaiiy South American 
 imports from the Uniteil States, are for the greater part such as in 
 ordinaiy })arlance are denominated “raw,’’ “unmanufactured,” or 
 “slightly manufactured,” while the imports from the United King- 
 dom, (lermany, and France are almost entirely manufactures of a 
 high degree. In othei' words, in imports from the Ihiited States the 
 greater part (in some cases nearly alli of the value of the articles is 
 re])resented in the raw material, and less than one-half in the labor, 
 skill, and industry entering into their manufacture. The converse 
 is true of the imports from the three European countries mentioned. 
 Therefore it can readily be seen that the $94, 384, ()()() of imjxirts from 
 l^rance may I'epresent a greater return to French labor, skill, and 
 industry and he of more henelit to French commerce than the 
 $268,470,900 of im{)orts from the United States he of henelit to that 
 country. 
 
 In illustration of this point, the case of (’Idle may he taken as an 
 exam])le. In round numbers C’hilean im])orts from the United King- 
 dom in 1911 were $40,800,000, from (lermany $32,700,000, from 
 Ih'ance $6,900,000. and from the United States $15,800,000. 
 
 The value of what was classified as mineral ])roducts was over 
 $25,000,000, of which (lermany furnished $9,690,000, the United 
 Kingdom $7,462,000, the United States $3,980,000, and France 
 $2,648,000. Steel and iron in bars, sheets ami j)lates, ingots, nails, 
 piping, wire, and steel rails acccumted for nearly $3,000,000 of the 
 imports from the Uniteil States, which country was hut little or not 
 at all represented in cutlery, household and kitchen utensils, tools, 
 gas, electric-light, and water meters, wagon and carriage tires, sad- 
 dlers’ hardware, j)i{)e littings, axles, wire calile, carriages, furniture 
 and car springs, bolts, nuts, screws, and, in fact, all classes of highly 
 wrought iron and steel goods. 
 
 The value of what are classitied as vegetable products was over 
 $13,000,000, of which (lermany furnushed $2,757,000, the United 
 States $2,067,000, the Uniteil Kingdom $1,674,000, and France 
 $412,851. 
 
 (’ottonseed oil, rosin, staves, and rough pine lumlier accounted for 
 $1,686,300 of the imports from the United States. 
 
 The value of what was classified as textiles and mamd'actures 
 thereof was $28,711,000, of which the United States furnished only 
 $796,211. Of this amount cotton bagging, rope, twine, thread, flan- 
 nel and gray shirting accounted for $690,000. In linen, wool, and 
 silk it is scarcely represented, in ready-made clothing of all kinds 
 and high-class textiles of all materials the imports from the United 
 States were of a negligible amount. 
 
 The value of what was classilied as comlmstibles, oils, and paints 
 was $18,994,043, of whi(di the United Kingdom furnished $9,141,060, 
 
LATIN AMERICAN E X PORTS AN D I MPORTS 
 
 COUNTRIES — 
 
 NORTH AMERICAN RERU B L I C S 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1911 GENERAL SURVEY. 
 
 21 
 
 Germany $1,395,395, the Ihiited States $2,714,595. Coal oil, most 
 of it unrefined, accounted for $2,320,305. In addition there was 
 some trade in turpentine, luhricatin*! oil, a little coal, and some 
 parallin. In the cheaper kinds of prepared paints the United States 
 makes a showinp;. 
 
 The value of paj)er, cardboard, and manufactures thereof was 
 $4,052,960, of which Geiniany fuinished $1,996,185, the Inited 
 States $1,086,240, the United Kingdom $453,330. News print 
 paper accounted for $736,351 of the imports from the United States. 
 There weie some printed hooks and haid-c checks, bonds, etc., hut 
 for the most jiait the United States was practically unrepresented in 
 high-class paper manufactures. 
 
 The value of what was classilied as pharmaceutical and chemical 
 products and perfumery was $2,735,638, of which Germany furnished 
 $1,036,016, the United Kingdom $677,330, France $400,843, and the 
 United States $297,000. 
 
 The value of what was classilied as machinery, im])lements, and 
 tools was $15,523,267, of which the United Kingdom furiushed 
 $5,847,592, Germany $5,162,268, and the United iStates $3,603,645. 
 Agricultural machinery and ini])lements, with some sewing machines, 
 scales and balances, adding machines, and pianolas, make up the 
 hulk of the imports from the United States. 
 
 The value of what was chissified as arms, ammunition, and explo- 
 sives was $1,472,227, of which the United States furnished over 
 $294,737, nearly two-thirds of this being dynamite. 
 
 It must not he understood that in their class the im])orts fiom 
 the United States were of a lower or cheaper grade than those from 
 other countries; (pute the contrary is true, in their class they 
 were as a rule the highest in grade. This is ])articularly true of 
 leather, steel, and iron goods of all kinds. The difficulty is that 
 the class is as a lade low, in other words, im])orts of the kind approach- 
 ing raw material. 
 
 In this connection a distiiudion must he drawn between the South 
 American republics and the North Amcilcan re])uhlics in a com- 
 parison of the character of their impoils from the United States 
 anil from Euroj)e. In the North American rc])uhlics the imports 
 from the United States as compared with thosii from Europe are 
 of a decidedly higher character. In Cuba and Mexico particidarly 
 very many of these imports are almost on a jiar with the imports 
 from the United Kingdom and Germany, and this higher character 
 in imports extends in a diminishing degree more or less into the 
 Nortliern republics of South America — Colondua, Venezuela, and 
 Ecuador. For example, in Chile nearly 15 per cent of the total 
 imports are. from the United States, yet in textiles and manufactures 
 the United States furnishes less than 3 ])er cent, and this 3 per cent 
 
THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 OO 
 
 is made iij) almost eutiiely of cotton hagyiag, rope, twine, thread, 
 and low-gi'ade cotton (dotlis. 
 
 In ('nl)a the Unite<l ^States furnislies a little over dO pei' cent of 
 the total imports, and in textiles ami mannfactnres about one-sixth 
 of the imjiorts of tfiis class of goods. In cotton, in plain weaves it 
 furnishes $582, .dOO out of a total of $2, .31)2, 000 ; in twills $283,000 
 out of a total of $005,700; in knitted tissues $70,200 out of a total 
 of $1,015,300, and in ready-made clothing $02,300 out of a total of 
 $254,000. It is fairly well represented in i)assementerie, pif[ues, 
 cotton velvet, and the like. In wool it furnishes $28,300 out of a 
 total of $55,135 in ready-made clothing. In other woolen manu- 
 factures it is hut little repi'esented. In silk it furnishes $27,000 
 out of $113,000 in plain silk tissues. It furnishes nearly $50,000 
 out of $100,700 of ready-made clothing. In other silk manufactures 
 it is fairly well represented. In other fillers — linen, hemp, etc. — 
 it is not very well represented. The same comparisons would hold 
 good of most other manufactures, that in Cuba and in other North 
 American republics the imports from the United States are of a 
 decidedly higher grade than the like imports of the South .Vmerican 
 re])ublies. 
 
 Miller Fbofo. 
 
r.: 
 
 f - 
 
 r. 
 
 
 
 
 '-,V 
 

 i 
 
 A 
 
 % 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1912— A GENERAL SURVEY. 
 
 ‘ Fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1912. ^ 1910. * 1911. 
 
T he foreign commerce of the 20 Latin American countries for 
 the year 1912, customshouse valuations, was $2,812,114,436, 
 of which amount $1,241,773,366 represented imports, and 
 $1,570,341,070 exports. For the preceding year the figures 
 (revised and corrected) are: Imports, $1,159,490,516; exports, 
 $1,283,232,640; total, $2,442,723,156. The increase in imports for 
 the year was $82,282,850, and in exports $287,108,430, or an mcrease 
 in the total trade of $369,391,280. 
 
 The population of these 20 Republics from the most reliable sources 
 of information — estimates in many cases, and in these cases probably 
 overestimates — amounts to about 74,373,000. On this basis the 
 foreign commerce of Latin America for 1912 was $37.81 per capita — 
 imports, $16.69, and exports, $21.12. 
 
 The foreign commerce of the United States for the same year was: 
 Imports, $1,818,133,355; exports, $2,399,217,993; total $4,217,351,- 
 348, which, on the basis of the population estimate of 95,410,503 made 
 by the Census Bureau for 1912, shows a per capita of imports of $19.05 
 and of exports of $25.15, or a total of $44.20. The per capita of 
 Latin American foreign trade was more than 85 per cent of the per 
 capita of the United States trade. In other words, Latin Americans 
 per individual bought within $2.36 and sold within $4.03 as much to 
 outsiders as the people of the Lhiited States per individual bought and 
 sold to outsiders. The per capita of Latin American foreign trade is 
 many times over the per capita trade of such countries as British 
 India, Japan, and China, and exceeds that of Austria Hungary, Rus- 
 sia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Roumania, Bulgaria, Servia, Greece, and 
 Turkey. 
 
 The per capita trade of a number of the Lathi American countries 
 exceeded the like trade of the United States and of the leading western 
 European countries. For example, the per capita of Cuban com- 
 merce — imports, $58.24; exports, $80.02; total, $138.26 — exceeds 
 that of any of the countries last mentioned and is over three times 
 as great as that of the United States. The Argentine jier capita of 
 $120.08 (imports, $53.41; exports, $66.67), the Uruguayan per 
 capita of $100.12 (imports, $49.25; exports, $50.87), and the Chilean 
 of $74.83 (imports, $34.87; exports, $39.96), all show averages eitlier 
 
4 
 
 THE PAN AMEBICAN UNION. 
 
 above or comparable with those of the leading commercial countries 
 of the world. 
 
 In this connection it must be taken into account that the basis of 
 customshouse valuations of imports in nearly all the Latin American 
 countries, and m particular in such countries as Argentina, Uruguay, 
 ami Chile, represents, as compared with the United States, France, Ger- 
 many, England, and other like commercial countries, a gross under- 
 statement of true values. This is due to valuations based on fixed 
 appraisements and limited classifications as opposed to the more 
 accurate valuations made under the tariff systems in operation in the 
 United States and Europe. It is safe to say that to the Argentine 
 customshouse valuations of imports at least 30 per cent must be 
 added. In some classes of goods 100 or even 200 per cent additional 
 must be added in order to arrive at anything like real values. 
 
 If these adjustments were made, the per capita of imports in the 
 Latin American countries would be increased very considerably, 
 making comparisons with other countries much more favorable to 
 Latin America. 
 
 TRADE BALANCES. 
 
 The following table gives the trade balances of the Latin American 
 countries for the years 1910, 1911, and 1912. Plus (-f) means excess 
 of exports over imports and minus ( — ) excess of imports over 
 exports. 
 
 Countries. 
 
 Trade balance. 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Mexico 
 
 +8.32,590,244 
 + 1 4,827,902 
 + 3,552,587 
 
 - 124,091 
 + 1 1,406,171 
 + 481,754 
 
 - 8,287,664 
 + 47,233,439 
 + 4,591,932 
 + 3,326,483 
 
 +843,939,683 
 + 2,839,165 
 + 4,325,043 
 
 - 536,213 
 
 + 492,166 
 
 + 52,588 
 
 - 7,033,563 
 + 9,869,382 
 + 4,045,884 
 + 10,605,543 
 
 +$57,663,409 
 + 3,334,075 
 + 3,167,325 
 
 - 1,237,136 
 
 - 1,555,612 
 
 - 116,542 
 
 - 7,806,969 
 + 47,076,087 
 + 4,167,350 
 + 7,408,930 
 
 
 Salvador 
 
 
 Nicaragua 
 
 Costa flica 
 
 
 Cuba 
 
 
 
 North American Republics 
 
 + 89,598,757 
 
 + 68,599,678 
 
 +112,100,917 
 
 Argentina 
 
 + 20,229,738 
 + 10,94.5,957 
 + 74,431,601 
 + 11,439,640 
 + 599,516 
 
 + 1 4,548,046 
 + 1 1,337,448 
 + 8,636,229 
 + 536,419 
 
 + 5,561,019 
 
 - 40,849,753 
 + 9,461,308 
 + 68,107,486 
 
 - 3,497,062 
 + 4,267,036 
 + 2 5,630,678 
 
 - 1,606,096 
 + 9,612,020 
 
 - 272,067 
 + 4,289,495 
 
 + 92,671,653 
 + 15,839,459 
 + 54,551,110 
 + 17,802,207 
 + 8,257,123 
 + 3 1,203,133 
 - 1,039,817 
 + 20,805,150 
 + 1,684,800 
 + 4,691,968 
 
 Bolivia 
 
 
 Chile 
 
 
 
 Paraguay 
 
 
 
 Venezuela 
 
 South American Republics 
 
 + 138,265,613 
 
 + 55,142,445 
 
 +216,466,786 
 
 Total Latin America 
 
 +227,864,370 
 
 +123,742,123 
 
 +328,567,703 
 
 
 11909. 2 1910. 3 1911 
 
 The remarkable increase in the foreign trade of Latin America 
 in 1912 as compared with the preceding year, amounting to 15 per 
 cent, was more or less unexpected and represents an increase above 
 the average increase which has been more or less constant. 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1912. 
 
 5 
 
 The following table shows the increase in Latin America trade 
 for 15 years: 
 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1912 
 
 $1,241,773,366 
 
 415,079,562 
 
 $1,570,341,070 
 
 495,342,937 
 
 $2,812,114,436 
 910, 422, 499 
 
 1897 
 
 Increase 
 
 862,693,804 
 
 199 
 
 13.3 
 
 1,074,342,937 
 
 217 
 
 14.5 
 
 1,901,691,937 
 
 208 
 
 13.9 
 
 Per cent of increase, 15 years 
 
 Average yearly per cent of increase 
 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 Latin America imports are in general of the same character in 
 all of the countries. In most of the countries there are but few 
 manufactures, and none of them from the European or North 
 American standpoint would be considered manufacturing countries. 
 Even in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile, where enterprise 
 has accomplised more than elsewhere, the lines of manufacture are 
 very few and generally the output small as compared with the im- 
 ports of like articles. In a very limited number of cases high pro- 
 tective duties give a monoply to domestic manufactures. Refined 
 sugar is an example of this monoply in several states; low-grade 
 cotton goods in Brazil are also included in this class. But, generally 
 speaking, tariff duties are revenue duties, and not intended to dis- 
 courage importations. 
 
 The demand for finished manufactured goods is great in all of the 
 countries, and this demand includes practically every line of European 
 or North American manufacture. In other words, whatever is sale- 
 able in New York, London, or Paris is also saleable in Rio, Buenos 
 Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, Lima, Mexico, Habana, and other 
 Latin American cities. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 On the contrary, Latin American exports, while in general falfing 
 in one class — that is, raw materials for use in manufacturing, metals, 
 and primary food products — ^yet owing to the great differences of 
 soil, climate, rainfall, and other natural conditions, proximity or 
 remoteness to markets and development of transportation systems 
 are widely differentiated in the several countries. 
 
 The greatest development of mineral wealth and the largest propor- 
 tionate export of minerals are in such countries as Mexico, Colom- 
 bia, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. But there is a wide difference in the 
 character of mining and in the class of minerals exploited in these 
 countries. Gold is produced, but in no very great quantities, in 
 many of the countries, but only in Mexico and Colombia does the 
 production of gold attain to figures of world importance. Silver is 
 produced in many countries, but only in Mexico to a considerable 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1912, 
 
 7 
 
 amount. The rarer metals, platinum, vanadium, and the like, are 
 found, often in good-paying quantities, all tlxrough the Andean 
 country from Colombia to Chile. Chile, Peru, and BoUvia are the 
 principal producers of copper; Cuba of iron ore, although the great 
 deposits of Chile and of Brazil will undoubtedly soon come into the 
 market. Mexico and Peru are at present the principal sources of the 
 Latin American supply of crude oils, but the known fields of Colom- 
 bia, Venezuela, and Ecuador will no doubt soon be developed. 
 Bohvia is the great source of Latin American output of tin and 
 bismuth. 
 
 The exportation of forest products, outside of rubber, ivory nuts, 
 and quebracho, has not attained in any country the importance that 
 it is destined to attain in nearly all of them. 
 
 Rubber as a forest product has been or is exported from all of the 
 Latin American countries except those of the southern third of South 
 America — that is, excepting those within the Temperate Zone. 
 
 The export of woods, particularly fine cabinet woods, can scarcely 
 be said to have made a beginning in any of the countries. Its prin- 
 cipal development has been in the countries bordering on the 
 Caribbean. 
 
 The great possibiUties of the animal industries in nearly, if not all, 
 of the Latin American countries as a basis of an export trade have 
 been taken advantage of in comparatively few countries. Outside 
 of Argentina (where progress in this Une has been marvelous), 
 Chile, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, animal industries are limited to 
 supplying home needs and the exportation of by-products — hides, 
 hoofs, etc. The great possibilities of western Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, 
 Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela as meat-exporting countries await 
 development in the future, and even Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile 
 have possibiUties for exportation of animal products in quantities 
 vastly beyond the present export. 
 
 Coffee is an export of all of the countries bordering on the Carib- 
 bean, and in addition Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil — Brazil, of course, 
 being the principal source of the world’s supply of coffee. 
 
 Cacao is produced in general in all of the countries producing 
 coffee, though not in the same locaUties. 
 
 The export of grain, wheat, oats, linseed, Indian corn, flour, bran, 
 and hay is almost the monopoly of Argentina, although Chile exports 
 some small quantities of these farm products and in addition beans 
 and fruits. Outside of the countries named most Latin American 
 countries are importers of wheat and flour. This condition will exist 
 for some time to come. 
 
 Sugar . — Cuba is the principal sugar country, its production being 
 fai in excess of all the rest of America. But the Dominican Repubhc, 
 Haiti, and Peru are also exporters. 
 
8 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 n 
 
 H 
 
 O 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 pq 
 
 P 
 
 < 
 
 Ph 
 
 fH 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 M 
 
 H 
 
 P 
 
 n 
 
 M 
 
 Ph 
 
 H 
 
 OS 
 
 M 
 
 p 
 
 United States. 
 
 1912 
 
 *49,212,836 
 
 4,532,361 
 
 2, 627, 700 
 
 2,891,838 
 
 2,549,026 
 
 5,865,908 
 
 5,413,305 
 
 65,416,475 
 
 5,100,001 
 
 7,302,484 
 
 150,911,934 
 
 53.65 
 
 57,353,142 
 
 1,791,911 
 
 48,109,316 
 
 16,806,341 
 
 7,612,037 
 
 2 2,588,168 
 
 8312,000 
 
 •5,700,000 
 
 8 6,200,000 
 
 6, 832, 438 
 
 153,305,353 
 
 15.96 
 
 304,217,287 
 
 24.49 
 
 1911 
 
 *56,573,492 
 
 8 3,370,170 
 
 1,815,051 
 
 2,524,133 
 
 2,754,940 
 
 4,153,153 
 
 5, 122, 950 
 
 60, 015, 005 
 
 4,120,483 
 
 5,790,203 
 
 146,239,580 
 
 53.65 
 
 
 129,701,069 
 
 14.62 
 
 275,940,649 
 
 23.79 
 
 o ^ 
 
 France. 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1912 1 
 
 $7,809,138 
 436,882 
 397,252 
 190,382 
 256,255 
 424, 189 
 680, 784 
 
 7,706,064 
 
 224,912 
 
 1,050,416 
 
 19,176,274 
 
 6. 81 
 
 36, 490, 020 
 
 949, 885 
 
 27,751,094 
 
 7,201,061 
 
 2,011,886 
 
 2 714,426 
 
 8 266,000 
 
 8 1,300,000 
 
 8 4,300,000 
 
 2,616,400 
 
 83,660, 772 
 
 8. 71 
 
 102,837,046 
 
 8.28 
 
 1911 
 
 $9,336,642 
 
 3 357,562 
 386,026 
 97, 771 
 448, 264 
 443,994 
 387,964 
 6,203,125 
 213,455 
 331,849 
 
 18,206,642 
 
 6.67 
 
 36,885,758 
 
 1,104,391 
 
 22,744,839 
 
 6,931,714 
 
 1,718, 747 
 
 1525,534 
 
 342, 707 
 
 1,407,114 
 
 3,952,473 
 
 1,857,564 
 
 77,470,841 
 
 8. 74 
 
 95,677,483 
 
 8.25 
 
 Germany. 
 
 1912 
 
 $11,922,609 
 2,250,862 
 664,674 
 487,969 
 604,038 
 1,503,944 
 957, 806 
 8,431,201 
 1,628,286 
 484,915 
 
 28,936,304 
 10. 28 
 
 62,023,257 
 
 6,440,316 
 
 53,018,079 
 
 33,189,070 
 
 4,201,125 
 
 2 2,381,573 
 
 8 1,400,000 
 
 8 4,300,000 
 
 8 8,700,000 
 
 3,199,389 
 
 178,852,809 
 
 18.62 
 
 207,789,113 
 
 16.73 
 
 1911 
 
 $12,781,095 
 
 3 1,990,822 
 533, 127 
 300,685 
 642,753 
 1,704,746 
 1,119,224 
 7,234,657 
 1,266,249 
 439, 732 
 
 28,013,090 
 
 10.27 
 
 63,886,345 
 
 4,021,264 
 
 43,180,830 
 
 32,696,171 
 
 3,242,634 
 
 1 1,570,903 
 1,770,406 
 4,598,565 
 7,894,644 
 3,195,945 
 
 166,057,707 ! 
 
 ik 73 
 
 194,070,797 
 
 16.72 
 
 United Kingdom. 
 
 1912 
 
 $10,753,154 
 1,739,598 
 1,904,546 
 546,473 
 939,290 
 1,391,003 
 2,421,637 
 15,397,649 
 720, 242 
 761,200 
 
 36,574,798 
 
 13.00 
 
 115,109,149 
 3,537,112 
 77,615,548 
 38,616,886 
 7,838, 878 
 22,844,473 
 
 8 1,460,000 
 
 8 8,000,000 
 
 8 13,800,000 
 4,284,886 
 
 273, 106, 932 
 28. 43 
 
 309,681,730 
 
 24.93 
 
 1911 
 
 ! 
 
 $11,984,485 
 
 8 1,642,752 
 1,543,828 
 500, 029 
 1,412, 298 
 1,553,119 
 2,273,386 
 13,699,060 
 775, 802 
 886,517 
 
 r 
 
 105,378,307 
 
 4,863,318 
 
 74,695,592 
 
 40,805,052 
 
 5,838,789 
 
 1 2,455,599 
 1,802,094 
 8,358,383 
 12,648,379 
 5,253,865 
 
 1 
 
 262,099,378 
 
 29.55 
 
 298,371,652 
 
 25.73 
 
 Total from all countries. 
 
 1912 
 
 $91,331,155 
 9, 822, 462 
 6,774,859 
 4,317,314 
 4,966,820 
 10, 187,686 
 9,871,617 
 125,902, 241 
 8,217,898 
 9,876,555 
 
 281,268,607 
 
 100 
 
 373,307,865 
 19,308,506 
 308, 243, 736 
 122,075,994 
 23,964,023 
 
 2 11,489, 104 
 6,124,438 
 25,066,354 
 61,355,200 
 20,568,939 
 
 960,504,759 
 
 100 
 
 1,241,773,366 
 
 100 
 
 1911 
 
 $102, 937, 136 
 8, 166,670 
 5,113,518 
 3,560,939 
 5,724,695 
 8,967,561 
 9,896,988 
 113,266,997 
 6,949,662 
 7,948,117 
 
 272,532,283 
 
 100 
 
 355,806,365 
 22, 764, 849 
 257, 164,128 
 127,381,479 
 18, 108,863 
 
 1 8,007,629 
 6,310,054 
 26,429,875 
 46,590, 102 
 18,394,889 
 
 886,958,233 
 
 100 
 
 1,159,490,516 
 
 100 
 
 Coimtries. 
 
 Mexico 
 
 Guatemala 
 
 Salvador 
 
 Honduras 
 
 Nicaragua 
 
 Costa Rica 
 
 Panama 
 
 Cuba 
 
 Dominican Republic 
 
 Haiti 
 
 North .American Republics 
 
 Per cent of imports 
 
 Argentina 
 
 Bolivia 
 
 Brazil 
 
 Chile ; 
 
 Colombia 
 
 Ecuador 
 
 Paraguay 
 
 Peru 
 
 Uruguay 
 
 Venezuela 
 
 South American Republics 
 
 Per cent of imports 
 
 Total of the 20 Republics 
 
 Per cent of imports 
 
 1910. 2 1911. 8 Estimates. 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1912, 
 
 9 
 
 OQ 
 
 O 
 
 Pi 
 
 « 
 
 W 
 
 I 
 
 P 
 
 < 
 
 H 
 
 P 
 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 M 
 
 H 
 
 P 
 
 m 
 
 M 
 
 EH 
 
 03 
 
 IH 
 
 Q 
 
 1 1910. > 1911. ‘Estimates. < Estimated in part. 
 
10 
 
 THE PAN AMERICAN UNION. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION OF TRADE. 
 
 Four countries lead in Latin American trade — the United States, 
 the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — and, generally speaking, 
 these four countries are rivals in the same class of trade, both imports 
 and exports. They together control about three-fourths of the total. 
 In the field of Latin American exports this rivalry is real and active 
 and extends over the whole range of products, except to Argentine 
 meat and grain exports. In imports the case is somewhat different, 
 since the United States in fully half the classes has scarcely, if at all, 
 entered the field in competition with the three European countries 
 named. In a few classes, such as mineral oils, breadstuffs, and 
 lumber, it enjoys practically a monopoly, or shares this monopoly 
 with other American countries. 
 
 The following table shows the proportionate share of the four 
 countries mentioned in Latin American trade. Taken as a whole, 
 exports and imports together, it will be seen that the United States 
 occupies the first rank. 
 
 Total trade — All Latin America, 1912. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United States. 
 
 United 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 France. 
 
 V alue 
 
 $2,812,114,436 
 
 100 
 
 $830,686,102 
 29. 54 
 
 $619,703,536 
 
 22.03 
 
 $394,754,566 
 
 14.04 
 
 $224,817,231 
 
 7.99 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 
 In Latin American imports alone the United Kingdom leads by a 
 small margin, as shown in this table: 
 
 Imports — All Latin America, 1912. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United States. 
 
 United King- 
 dom. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 France. 
 
 Volume 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 $1,241,773,366 
 
 100 
 
 $304,217,287 
 
 24.49 
 
 $309,681,730 
 
 24.93 
 
 $207,789,113 
 16. 73 
 
 $102,837,046 
 
 8.28 
 
 In Ijatin American exports the lead of the United States is quite 
 pronounced. 
 
 Exports — All Latin America, 1912. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United States. 
 
 United King- 
 dom. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 France. 
 
 VnInmA 
 
 $1,570,341,070 
 
 100 
 
 $526,468,815 
 33. 52 
 
 $310,021,806 
 19. 74 
 
 $186,965,453 
 
 11.90 
 
 $121,980,185 
 
 7.76 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 
 As regards the position of the Lhiited States in Latin American 
 trade, as compared with that of the United Ivingdom, Germany, and 
 France, a line drawn at the Isthmus of Panama shows a rather 
 
LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1912. 
 
 11 
 
 startling contrast in American activities north of this line and south 
 of this line. 
 
 In the 10 North American Repubhcs — Mexico, Guatemala, Sal- 
 vador, Hondm’as, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Dominican 
 Republic, and Haiti — the United States takes nearly three-fourths of 
 their exports and supplies more than one-half of their imports. 
 
 North America, 1912. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United States. 
 
 U nited 
 ' Kingdom. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 France. 
 
 
 $281,268,607 
 
 100 
 
 $150,911,934 
 53. 65 
 
 $36,574,798 
 13. 00 
 
 $28,936,304 
 
 10.28 
 
 $19,176,274 
 6. 81 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 Exports 
 
 393,369,524 
 
 100 
 
 283,965,903 
 72. 18 
 
 40,793,173 
 
 10.37 
 
 30,093,447 
 7. 65 
 
 18,451,765 
 
 4.69 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 In the 10 South American Republics — Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, 
 Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Vene- 
 zuela — the United States takes only about one-fifth of their exports 
 and supplies less than one-sixth of their imports. 
 
 South America, 1912. 
 
 
 Total. 
 
 United States. 
 
 United 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
 Germany. 
 
 France. 
 
 Imi>orts 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 Exports 
 
 Per cent of whole 
 
 $960,504,759 
 
 100 
 
 1,176,971,546 
 
 100 
 
 $153,305,353 
 
 15.96 
 
 242,502,912 
 
 20.60 
 
 $273,106,932 
 28. 43 
 269,228,633 
 22. 02 
 
 $178,852,809 
 18.62 
 156,872,006 
 13. 31 
 
 $83,660,772 
 
 8.71 
 
 103,528,420 
 
 8.71