BRITISH OVERSEA TRADE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 4

BRITISH OVERSEA TRADE

A QUIET MARCH. SHARP DROP IN IMPORTS. ADVERSE BALANCE REDUCED. (Received 11 a.m.) . LONDON, April 11. The Board of. Trade returns for last month are as follow:— Importe, £56,346,000; exports, £32,550,000; re-exports, £3,983,000. Principal decreases are:—lmports;. Living animals, £352,000; other food' and : drink, £1,414,000; raw cotton, £1,179,000; hides " arid skins, £402,000; nonferrous metals manufactures, £362,000. Exports: Machinery, £230,000. Increases.:^—lmports: Oils, fats and resins, - £800,000. Exports: . Coal,. £331,000;. vehicles,. £1,438,000. MARCH .IN LATE YEARS. (In Million Pounds.) 1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. Imports ....... 93.4 70.7 61.1 56.3 Exports 53;9 34.0 31.2 32.5 Re-exports 7.7 5.4 5.4 3.9 Totals 155.0 110.1 97.7 92.7 Balance of imports.over total exports. .21.8. 31.3 -2.4.5 19.9 . THREE MONTHS COMPARED. (In Million Pounds.) ' 1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. Imports 283.5 209.9 193.6 159.3 Exports 164.1 103.4 92,3 89.6 Re-exports ..... 24.5 17.3 16.1 12.6 Totals ....... 472.1 330.6 302.0 261.5 Balance of imports over total - exports ...... 94.9 89.2 85.2 57.1 The great disparity in the later returns as compared with those of 1930 and 1931 is largely accounted for by the fall in price levels. This, however, has been accompanied by • a substantial decrease in the volume of trade. The latest figures indicate a quiet month, and turnover is much the smallest recorded in any single month for a very considerable period.- A-favourable aspect is the reduction in tlie so-called adverse balance, brought about by the sharp curtailment of imports. ;