The South China Trade with Spanish Philippine Colony up to 1762

By the mid-16^th century, Manila had become a thriving Spanish colonial metropolis, trading in Chinese-produced silk and other goods. Initially sampans were the main means of transport from China, taking about 10-15 days to arrive in Manila. In exchange for Mexican silver and gold dust, the Chinese traded in raw and finished silk and luxury goods, as well as more basic provisions and cooking utensils etc. The Philippines lacked supplies including agricultural resources to respond to a growing population, and they also lacked the raw materials with which to fortify their colony. The Chinese thus initially enjoyed a healthy monopoly in the market until competition arrived in the form of the English East India Company, which resulted in price-rigging and the English using subterfuge to infiltrate maritime routes. By the 1670, the Chinese sampan trade faced competition from the Dutch and Indian cotton products, not to mention Japanese pirates. Finally this means of transport collapsed in the mid-18^th century.