N.Z. TRADE WITH JAPAN

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 20

N.Z. TRADE WITH JAPAN

GOODS TOTALLING £4M EXCHANGED WOOL EXPORTS HEAD LIST During 1955 New Zealand exported £2.005.000 worth of goods to Japan, and imported goods to the value of £2,529.000. according to a Department of Industries and Commerce newsletter. Detailed figures released by the Customs Deoartment show that wool was our most valuable export and earned over £1.213.000. This was followed by dairy produce with some £240.0Q0, most of which was accouhted for by lactic casein and sugar of milk. Then came hides, pelts and skins valued at over £216.000. Scrap iron and steel exports to Japan were worth £154.000. and exports of tallow £lll,OOO. Imports from Japan were worth £2,529.000. The most valuable group of imoorts were metals and wires, which accounted for £843.000 of the total. This was followed by textiles, fabrics and piece good? valued at £614.000. The biggest items in this group were over 3.000.000 square yards of rayon fabrics and £183.000 worth of cotton piece goods. Cement was an important item in 1955 and 743.000 cwt. valued at £254,000 was brought into New Zealand. Timber Imports

Timber was also important and of the £280.000 worth imported last year, nearly all was rough sawn oak. Remaining imports covered a multiplicity of smaller items ranging from chemicals to cameras and binoculars. Most of the goods coming to New Zealand from Japan are still subject to import licensing. Present policy aims at building up trade, and import restrictions are being relaxed, although all imports from Japan are subject to the overriding consideration that no goods likely to compete with products of New Zealand industries may be imported from that source. Japan has agreed to increase the provision for imports from the sterling area. . Imports from Japan are higher in 1955 than in the previous year, but they were still well below the figure of £3,759.000 in 1952. Exports to Japan were also higher in 1955 than the previous year, but still below the figure of £3,505,000 for 1952. Export of Washing Machines

There is a possibility that washing machines made in New Zealand could be sold in South East Asia, says the Industries and Commerce Department newsletter. The New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Singapore is carrying out a preliminary survey of the demand in Singapore and Malaya and this information will be available to local manufacturers who may be interested in developing this market.