OVERSEAS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 10

OVERSEAS TRADE

Big Increase in Export Values THE “PRODUCTION YEAR” Sharp Growth in Imports A marked improvement in the Dominion’s overseas trade position is disclosed by the latest returns, issued yes terday by the Customs Department. Exports last month, for the first half of the year, and for the "production year” ended June 60, were at a higher level than for several years. The upward trend in imports is also well defined. Exports last month were valued at £4,221,000, an increase of nearly £1.000,000 compared with those for June, 1935. Imports valued at £3,433,000 last month were more than £1,000,000 in excess of those for June, 1935. The June figures for the last three yeargi compare as follows: —

Six Months’ Figures. The trend of trade is more clearly shown by the figures for the first half of the year. Exports for the six months ended June 30 were valued at £34,231,000, an increase of £7,122.000 compared with those for the first half of 1935, and about £2,750,000 in excess of those for the corresponding period of 1934. The increase is largely due to the higher values ruling for wool and dairy produce. Imports during the six months ended June 30 were valued at £19,860,000, an increase of £3.142.000 on those for the first half of last year, and £6,104,000 higher than those for the first six months of 1934. The trade position for the six months ’ended June 30 for the last three years is compared in the following table:—

The above figures take no account of the movements of specie, which have been as follows:—

Exports. Imports. £ £ Month of June, 1936 .... — 650 Sixmos, ended, June, 1936 37,200 14,040 "Production Year” Figures. It is now possible to give the trade figures for the twelve months of the “production year,” which is usually taken as ending on June 30. Exports during the twelve months ended June 30,1936, were valued at £53,661,000, the highest figure for at least five years, and £10,708,000 in excess of that for the previous production year. Most of the increase is accounted for by the higher prices for wool, of which a greatly increased quantity was sold during 1935-36. and also by the improvement in the dairy produce market. This year’s figure is more than £4,500,000 higher than that for 1933-34, when wool was bringing good prices. Imports for the twelve months ended June 30 totalled £39,430.000, an increase of more than £4,000,000 on the previous year, and £12,727,000 higher than for 1933-34.

The trade position for the last three production years is shown in the following table:—

1 Exports, Imports. Month of £ (N.Z.) £ (N.Z.) June, 1936 .. 4,221,000 3,433,000 June, 1935 ... .. 3,227,000 2,356,000 June, 1934 ... .. 3,295,000 1,728,000

Six mos. Excess of ended Exparts. Imports. exports. June, £ (N.Z.) £ (N.Z.) £ (N.Z.) 1936 34,231,000 19,860,000 14,371,000 1935 27,109,000 16.718,000 10,391,000 1934 31,498,000 13,756,000 17,742,000

Year" to Excess of June Exports. Imports. exports. 30, £ (N.Z.) £ (N.Z.) £ (N.Z.) 1936 53,661,000 39,430,000 14,231,000 1935 42,953,000 34,243,000 8,710,000 1934 49,142,000 26,703,000 22,439,000