Rice and Industrialisation in Asia

This book is about the introduction of modern power-driven rice milling to the main rice exporting countries of Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand) and French Indo-China (Vietnam) from 1869.
Rich in historical and empirical sources, the book draws extensively from the London Rice Brokers' Association Circular archives, published monthly from 1869 to 2014, as well as numerical data gathered from historic trade and custom reports. It outlines how rice had been exported in the husk to be milled in Britain prior to 1869, after which mills were transferred to Asia and the rice shipped back having been milled. Rice processed in Asia is explained not only as a major saving in transport costs, but the marker of a crucial step in the industrialisation of Asia - namely through the introduction of modern mechanised value adding rice mills powered by steam engines. This is a reversal of the concept that the development of modern technology de-industrialised Asia, turning it into a supplier of raw materials. Later chapters address the inter-war years, when Chinese companies in particular took over the operation of mills and developed an Asia-wide market for rice milled in the great milling centers of Rangoon (Yangon), Bangkok and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh).
Rice and Industrialisation in Asia will prove a valuable resource to students and scholars of economic history, postcolonial studies, and Asian studies more broadly.

List of contents

1. The Westward Rice Trade 1870-1914  2. Companies in the Westward Rice Trade 1870-1914  3. Burma and the Asian Market 1919-1939  4. The Burma Rice Trade 1919-1939  5. The Traders  (i) J. B. Clark  (ii) Christopher Lorimer  (iii) George Luthke  6. Siam Rice Mills  7. French Indo-China Rice Mills  8. The Dutch East Indies  9. The Philippines  10. Hong Kong  11. Singapore and Penang  12. Conclusion

About the author

A.J.H. Latham was Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in International Economic History at Swansea University and is now in active retirement.

Summary

This book is about the introduction of modern power-driven rice milling to the main rice exporting countries of Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand) and French Indo-China (Vietnam) from 1869.

Product details

• Authors: A.J.H. Latham, A.j.h. (University of Wales Latham
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 25.09.2023
• EAN: 9781032124872
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3212487-2
• No. of pages: 172
• Series: Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Modern era up to 1918; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Economics; Economics, Asia, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Industries / General, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economic History, 20th Century, HISTORY / Asia / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, HISTORY / World, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, General & world history, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Economic history, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, Asian History, General and world history, Industry & industrial studies, Industry and industrial studies