TRADE RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 155, 2 July 1937, Page 8

TRADE RECORD.

PROLIFIC SEASON. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS i I FIVE MONTHS' RETURNS. TURNOVER OF £57,000,000. ; Striking evidence of the revival now i occurring in New Zealand's overseas ! trade is provided by the latest returns of ihe Customs Department, telegraphed i from Wellington to-day by the Press I Association. The turnover has reached ' the highest level ever recorded, values ' of both imports and exports for the five I months ended May 31 easily surpassing ' the boom figures of 1029, which were over £53,000,000. I The aggregate turnover for the latest period was over £57,000,000 in New Zealand currency. The net results indicate a prolific export season, and that importers are buying with confidence for their domestic trade. I The value of exj>orts for May shows ' a rise of over JEHOO.OOO over the figure . for the same month last year. and ' imports a rise of approximately £1,2110.000. The excess of exports over imports is thus substantially reduced. Compared with the export figures for I the previous month the May total shows J a big drop from the April peak figure of £8,000,000, but imports are up £100.000. Following i* a comparison of the . returns for May of the. past five years, values given being exclusive of r>pecie, 'and expressed in New Zealand currency: I Excess of May. Exports. Imports. exports. 11)33 . . 3,120,000 1,70ti,000 1,414,000 11)34 . . 4,710.000 2,343,000 2,3«7,000 l'.lSfi . . 4.32(i,00<» 3.0114,000 1,302.000 1!I3« . . 54)75.000 3,24<i,000 1,829,000 1!)37 .. 5,923,000 4,441,000 1,484,000 I The May expansion Is typical of that which has occurred during recent

months. In making comparisons with the pre-depression period, of course, it must be remembered that the exchange rate now enlarges the figures. In actual volume of turnover it is possible that the 1929 peak is not yet exceeded, but it must be very closely approached. Trade returns for the five months ended May 31 for the past five years are as follow: — Jan.-May. Exports. Imports. Excess, f £ £ 1033 m.0r.7.000 8,7.">1,<«X> 11.20 C..000 I'm •/R.20H.0U0 l:!.0_8.OO<> ie,l7.".<MM» 1!>:!5 2:{.58j.000 14,:«U!.oo:> !>.."i:>0.000 1U36 30.oio,o;;o l.{,r>s:!,(i(M( v,y.n 3tt.c0~.000 •Ji,7c,7,t«M> 14.h40.imm) On these figures it would seem that Xew Zealand is still maintaining its position as the chief overseas trading country in the world based on population.