UNITED STATES OUR CUSTOMER

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 307, 23 September 1926, Page 15

UNITED STATES OUR CUSTOMER

INCREASE IN HIDE AND SKIN PURCHASES TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND INCREASING The trade between the United States of America and New Zealand is not all in one direction, according to a bulletin issued by the United States Department of Commerce in July. The publication points out an "amazing increase” in purchases by the United States of New Zealand hides and skins. New Zealand also has a greater share now of America’s patronage when compared with the total imports of hides and skins by that country than it had before the war. "The yearly average for imports of hides and skins from New Zealand by the United States during the five years ended in 1913 amounted to only 4.270,700 pounds, while in the past five years the average rose to 10,492,028 pounds annually, an increase of 285 per cent. As the slaughter of animals increased during the years after the war and the domestic tanning industry only slightly increased its production New Zealand had larger quantities of hides and skine available for export. Another cause for this large increase in United States imports from New Zealand is the fact that many American tanners bought large quantities of New Zealand hides and skins at the London auctions during the pre-war years, but after the close of the war made larger purchases direct. The United States imports of hides and skins from New Zealand during pre-war and post-war years were as follow, the figures representing 1b5.:—1909, 2,679,648; 1910, 3,136,277; 1911, 3,981,049; 1912, 4,330,013; 1913, 7,256,513; 1921, 16,654,244; 1922, 14,529.419; 1923, 15,195,849; 1924, 17,153,892; 1925 (preliminary figures), 18,926,734. "During the pre-war years shown above the imports from New Zealand represented less than 1 per cent, of the total hides and skins imported from all countries by the United States and about 2} per cent, of the total imports from the British Empire. However, during the past five years almost. 4 per cent of the total hides and “kins imported by the United States came from New Zealand, and that country supplied approximately 12 per cent, of onr total imports or these materials from the British Empire. With regard to sheepskins, the bulletin states a more remarkable state of affairs. "In the five years just preceding the war," it continues, "sheepskins represented 95 per cent, of the total hides and skins imported bv the United States from New Zealand, while during the past five years less than 82 per cent, of such imports from New Zealand consisted of sheepskins; but the purchases of sheepskins bv the United States from New Zealand during the five years ended in 1925 amounted to approximately 228 per cent, more than our imports from that source during the five years immediately preceding the war. New Zealand’s production of sheep and lambskins amounts to about O.OlTO.lriO skins yearly, but, according to a reliable estimate, only about SCO.(100 of these skins are tanned in New Zealand. so that it can be readily understood why that country has siich large quantities of sheepskins available for sale to foreign markets. The imports of sheep and lambskins by the United States from New Zealand during the five years immediately preceding the war. and during the past five years, were as follow, quantities being given in 1b.1909, 2,603.923; 1910. 3,062.023: 1911. 3,966.792; 1912. 4,227,956; 1913, 6.632,969; 1921. 14,014.597; 1922. 12.650,888 : 1923. 11,559,81< 1924 14,120.458; 1925 (preliminary figures), 15.017,328. "Of the total sheep and lamb skins imported by the United States during the five years immediately preceding the war only slightly more than 7 per cent, came from New Zealand, whereas more than 22 per cent, of onr total imports of these during the five years ended li> 1925 came from that country. The United States Is one of New Zealand’s best customers for these products, and it is generally conceded that the high post-war average of our imports from that source will be maintained. "The United States exported no hides and skins to New Zealand during the five years immediately preceding the World War, hut has made some small shipments during the past five years.”