The exports of tobacco (mostly leaf) in 1913 amounted to pounds (esti mated). and in 1914, to 5,806,737 pounds, valued at $393,096; 1915, 4,562,122 pounds, valued at $334,642. Of the total amount, potinds, exported in 1914, from the port of Barranquilla, 5,089,893 pounds were consigned to Europe, and 15,449 pounds to the United States. Of the amounts shipped from the port of Carta gena in 1914 and 1915, the respective figures are as follows : France, $378 and $52,476; Ger many (1914 only), $149,371 •, Great Britain (1915 only), $29,583; United States, $3,051 and $31,810; other countries, $26,100 and $25,404. During the fiscal year ending 30 June 1916 the amount exported to the United States was $35,325, of which $1,013 was cigar wrappers and V4,325 leaf.
The decline of exports following 1913 is indicative also of the reduction of the quantity raised, the reduced demand by Germany- the greatest customer - being discounted by the utilization of much of the former tobacco acreage for other purposes. Notwithstanding this, the immediate result of the European War was the sharp breaking in prices, in June 1915, being as low as $0.06 per pound, a fact that has been discouraging to the industry. Some relief is afforded, however, to the native indus try by the increase {1915) of duties on im ported tobaccos, leaf and manufactured, from 80 cents to $1 per kilo (2.2046 pounds), in con nection with the high internal revenue taxes. There is necessarily a demand for foreign tobaccos for blending purposes, in addition to special demands for the manufactured product. Of manufactured and leaf tobacco imported in 1915, amounting to $148,433, the United States furnished a large percentage.
Costa Rica.- The importance of the 'ba nana and coffee industries in Costa Rica has made of tobacco growing a lesser industry serv ing at present for domestic demands. This notwithstanding the fact that its production is a success, the climate and soil being favorable. In 1914 the number of acres under tobacco cultivation was 2,734. Partly as a means of revenue, and partly to protect the domestic tobacco interests, the government has levied a very high duty' on the imported product about $0.85 per pound, plus a surtax of 5 per cent on imports for consumption at Port Limon. The result has been that, due to the high prices necessarily demanded for imported tobaccos and cigars, local factories have been lately es tablished throughout the republic, a very large one being located at San Jose. This local de
mand has encouraged the growing of the native leaf, with a result that imports have decreased by half, the imports being largely of foreign cigars and cigarettes for which there is a special demand. The quantity of tobaccos exported is negligible. The imports ti.rough Port Limon in 1914 amounted to $124,000 of which the United States supplied $52.000; Germany, $15, 000; Great Britain, $18,000, and France, etc., $39,000. For 1915, the imports at the same port amounted to $37,100, of which the United States supplied $31,200; Great Britain, $10,000, and France, etc., $5,900.
Dominican Of all the Latin American countries, the Dominican Republic at present ranks third in the raising of tobacco, the production for 1913 being 28,000,000 pounds, and the normal yield annually being 17,250,000 to 23,000,000 pounds. Due, however, to internal troubles, the production decreased somewhat in 1914 and 1915, the yield for the latter year be ing between 6,900,000 and 8,050,000 pounds, which was increased in 1916 to (estimated) be tween 23,000,000 and 25,000,000 pounds.
The exports of tobacco leaf from the coun try in 1913 amounted to 21,539,876 pounds, valued at $1,121,775, of which Germany re ceived 20,099,803; the United States, 285,412; France, 355,400, and other countries, 788,260. In 1914 the amount exported was 8,152,208 pounds, valued at $394,224, of which Germany received 7,286,382; the United States, 128,953; France, 78,492, and other countries, 653,981. In 1915, 13,717,900 pounds, valued at $972,896, of which the United States received 7,624,839; France, 1,944,872, and other countries, 4,146,188. In 1916, 17,438,332 pounds, valued at $1,433,323, of which the United States received 6,825,584; France, 1,278,746, and other countries (unspeci Ecuador produces some excel lent qualities of tobacco, it being claimed that for delicacy of flavor they are the equal of the best Cuban. The acreage is scarcely more than enough for domestic requirements, and the methods of raising and handling are not such as bring out its best qualities. The greatest quantity is raised in the Guayas fluvial region and in the province of Esmeraldas. In 1914, 107,616 pounds of leaf tobacco, valued at $19, 922, were exported, the amount for 1915 being 596,445 pounds (to Peru), valued at $89,825, an increase that is due to the encouragement of the government.