BRITAIN'S TRADE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 13 September 1937, Page 11

BRITAIN'S TRADE

* HALF-YEARLY FIGURES IMPORTS FROM EMPIRE COUNTRIES (from our own ronnmp-'vdkvt.) LONDON, August 21. Imports into the United Kingdom from British conn trios in the first six months of 1037 amounted in value to 41.31 per cent, of the imports from nil sources, ns compared with 41.53 per* cent, in (he first half of 1033 and 31.44 per cent, in the corresponding period of 1929. Exports of United Kingdom produce to British countries accounted for 47.51 per cent, of the value of total sh pments, as compared with 48.64 and 44.29 per cent, respectively, ‘ while re-exports of imported merchandise to British countries were 14.15 per cent, as against 1570 and 18.31 per cent, of the total in the earlier periods. These facts are provided in the latest issue of the Board of Trade Journal. Compared with the first half of 1929. a substantial rise occurred in the proportion of United Kingdom imports coming from British countries, particularly from Canada, Australia, and India. Declines were shown for only four of British countries, of which those for the Irish Free State and the Union of South Africa were the most important. British countries also took during , the last half-year a somewhat smaller 1 share of exports of United Kingdom I produce and manufactures than in the jfiist half of 1936, although lure again the actual value of the trade concerned rose appreciably. The decline was shared by each of the Dominions except New Zealand (whoso share rose from 3.3 per cent, to 3.72 per ; cent.) and by India, for which the largest decrease occurred. The Colonial Empire as a whole took a larger proportion than in the earlier period, mainly on account of increases in respect of British Malaya and the British colonies in Africa. , C ?™£ ared , w ‘ l h first six months ?r a larger proportion of the United Kingdom domestic exports was consigned to the Empire, notwithstanding a notable decline •in India’s share /from 11.26 to 7.48 per cent.). The shares of the Union of South Africa and New Zealand rose appreciably (South Africa’s from 4.49 per cent, to 8.12 per cent., and New Zealand’s from 2.66 per cent, to 3.72 per cent.), but those of the Irish Free State and Australia declined. Increases occurred in respect of the greater part of the Colonial Empire, the only exceptions being British Malaya, Ceylon. and Hong Kong. Import Percentages The proportion of United Kingdom imports received from Europe has been declining since 1931, and a further decline occurred in the first half of this year. The most important decreases recorded were in respect of Spain (no doubt due to the present conflict in that country), France, and Germany, while Italy, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union were the only countries to show appreciable ''increases. The increase in the caseof Italy was abnormal, since sanctions were in operation against that country in the earlier period. Declines also took place in the proportions consigned from North and Central America and from Oceania, etc.; the former was due almost entirely to an appreciable reduction in the share of the United States, while (ho latter was shared between Australia and New Zealand. (Australia’s percentage declined from 8.22 to 7.72, and New Zealand’s from 6.49 to 6.06). Other countries were responsible for a larger share of the United Kingdom imports. The increase was most important in the case of South America, the proportion received from the Argentine rising from 5.17 to 7.04 per cent. In Africa, the decline recorded for the Union of South Africa was more than offset by increases in respect of the British colonies and Egypt, while in Asia the increase was largely on account of Iran and the other foreign countries concerned. In comparison with the first half of 1929 the proportion of United Kingdom imports consigned from Europe underwent a substantial decline, due mainly to reductions in respect of each of the Western European countries specified, notably France. Germany. Belgium, and the Irish Free State, For North and Central America, the decline was only slight, the large reduction shown in the case of the United States being almost counter-bal-anced by increases for Canada and the West Indies (both British and Dutch). Each of the other four geographical areas had a larger snare Ilian in the earlier period, the principal increase occurring in respect of Oceania. ole. (mainly Australia), while the next largest for Asia was for the most part due to India's larger share. In Africa, considerable declines for the Union of South Africa and Egypt partly offset the large increases shown for the British colonies, while the increase in the tflse of South America .was shared by all the orincipal countries in that area