WORLD TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 8

WORLD TRADE.

DECLINE LAST YEAR. DROP OF 13.4 PER CENT. BRITAIN'S L/EADIXG POSITION*. Statistics of world trade in 1988, namely export* and imports, indicate a general decline, with Great Britain easily first in the total turnover. According to preliminary estimates issued (by the League of Nktions .MonthlyBulletin of Statistics, value of jr or Id trade in 1938, expressed in old United States gold dollar*, wae 28,193,000,000 dollars, compared with 30,237,000,000 dollars in 1837, a decline of 13.4 per cent. These give the quantum of world trade (valued in gold divided by prices in gold) (1929=100) as 88 5, compared with 97.0 in 1937. These indices are based on the movement of trade of 75 countries until March, 1937, and thereafter of 76 countries following the separation of Burma from Bntieh India. The positions of the first three countries in world trade in 1938, compared with 1937, were:—■ The United Kingdom with a r,hare of 3.&54.OO0.O0O (14.7 per cent), compared witli 4*321,000.000 (14.3 per cent). The United States of America with a share of 2,962,000,000 (11.3 per cent), compared with 3,726,000,000 (12.3 per cent). Germany, with a share of 2.558.000,000 (9.8 .per cent), compared with 2,711,000,000 (8.9 per cent). World import trade wae Valued at 13,434,000,000 of old gold dollars, compared with 15,483,000.000—a decrease of 13.3 per cent. On the 'baeig of the aggregate of monthly figures the United Kingdom wae first with 2,494.000,000 (18.6 per cent), compared with 2,797,000,000 (18.1 per cent). Germany was second with 1.300,000,000 (9.7 per cent), compared with U303,000,000 (8.4 per cent). The United Stmes of America was third with l.lao.OOfUlO!) (8.6 per cent), compared with 1.778,000.<M>0 (11.5 per cent). World export trade wae valued at 12,759,000,000 of old gold dollar*, compared with 14,754,000,000—ft decrease of 13.5 per cent. On the basis of the of monthly fi{juren the United States was first with 1,807,000.000 (14.2 per cent), compared with 1.918.000,000 (13.2 per cent). The United Kingdom was second with 1.360.(M;0.000 (10.7 per cent), compared with 1.524.000.000 (10.3 per cent). Germany was third with 1.258,000,000 (9.8 per cent), torn pared with 1,408.000,000 (9.5 per cent). The figures quoted for Germany exclude trade with Austria from April, 1938.