Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/555

Rh largely increased in succeeding years. The number of ports designated for coasting trade underwent similar changes.

The stagnation in trade did not last long, an impulse being presently given to it by the recognition of Mexico as an independent nation, and in 1827 the imports amounted to $14,889,049, and the exports to $12,171,777. From this time, though commerce was subject to periodical depressions, the exports and imports of Mexico have gradually increased. The exportations of Mexico have been and still are almost entirely confined to the precious metals and raw productions, the value of the former far surpassing that of the latter, the principal of which are coffee, sugar, cochineal, hennequen, ixtle, hides and skins, timber, and dye-woods.

During the earlier years of free trade, England supplied Mexico with the largest proportion of manufactured goods, and as late as 1875 was still paramount