BRITAIN'S TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 11, 14 January 1929, Page 4

BRITAIN'S TRADE.

IMPROVED LAST YEAR. ("Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 10 a.m.) RUGBY, January 13. Complete provisional figures of British Tade during 1923, which have been issued liy the Board of Trade, show a slight improvement on the previous year. The adverse balance of the value of imports over all exports is £353,000,000. The figure for 1927 was £386,000,000, and for 1926 was £462,000,000. The actual total value of imports in 1928 was £1,196,000,000, while that of the exports amounted to £723,000,000, and of re-exports to £120,000,000. The greater part of the difference between the value of exports and imports is, of course, balanced by what are termed "invisible exports," the chief elements in the calcu--I'etion of which are the earning of British ♦hipping and the interest on investments Abroad.

There was a notable increase in the exports of artificial silk, the value of which rose from £5,750,000 in 1926 to nearly £8,000,000 in 1928. Among the exports Which show decreases are coal, £6,500,000; iron and steel, £2,500,000; and cotton foods, £3,500,000. The Board of Trade returns for December show that the imports were valued «t £101,433,000, a decrease of £3,956,000 compared with December, 1927. The exports were valued at £60,393,000, an increase of £1,560,000, and re-exports at £9,079,000, a decrease of £1,230,000. The principal decreases were:—lmports: Dutiable food and drink, £2,220,000; wool £1,204,000; hides and skins, £992 (MX)' rubber, £717,000. Exports: Cotton yarns and manufactures, £596,000; woollen yarns, £655,000. Increases:-Imports: £4.633,000. Exports: Vehicles,

Following is a comparison of the re--1927-!_ year, 1928 * com P ared with 1027. 1928. imports 1,210,387.000 1,106 433 000 Hxport* T00.108.000 723 393 000 Ke-exports .. 123 002 000 120 000 000 Total exports 832.170,000 e^828.000 1.?4«%8^£. nt . adverse balance of trade • **>e.607,000, compared with £387,217,000 in 1927.