BRITAIN’S TRADE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 5

BRITAIN’S TRADE

Big: Increases Reported SIGNIFICANT FIGURES United Kingdom imports in 1936 were the highest for five years, and exports the highest for six years, states the Department for Overseas Trade. Imports increased from £756,040,537 in 1935. to £848,935,895 in 1936; exports increased from £425,834,428 in 1935 to £440,718,784 in 1036. Imports in- 1936 compared with 1935 showed an. increase of £27,607,272 or 7.8 per cent, in food, drink and tobacco ; of £35,889,236 or 16.9 per cent, in raw materials, and of £28,358,941 or 15.4 per cent, in manufactured goods. The increases during the year under food, drink and tobacco, compared with 1935, were:—Grain and Hour, £12,843,087; dairy produce, £8,947,937; beverages and cocoa preparations, £1,709,966; other food, £1,683,691; living animals for food, £1,671,901; meat, £.1,070,280: tobacco, £961,587; feeding stuffs for animals, £770,936. 'The only decrease recorded was in respect of fresh fruit and vegetables, which declined by £2,052,113, compared with 1935.

Imports of wheat, down by 416,507 cwt., showed an increase in value of £7,473.878, barley rose by 1.234,496 cwt. and £881,690, oats declined by 1,391,913 cwt. and £433,584, maize rose ’ by 13,540,499 cwt. and £4,085,313, while wheat meal and flour rose by 385,253 cwt. and £624,180; meat fell by 375,740 cwt. but rose in value by £1,070,280; beef rose by 271.452ewt. and £1,054,334, mutton and lamb fell by 402,669 cwt. and £164,495, and bacon fell by 357,272 cwt. and £127,663. Butter rose by 144,027 cwt. and £5,096,056, eggs rose by. 4,886,411 great hundreds and £2,133,128, while cheese declined by 37,562 cwt., but rose in value by £1,140,498. Fresh fruit and vegetables fell by £2,052,113, apples being down by 1,600,313 cwt. and £1,316,642. Tea rose by 3,378,9581 b. and £471.610, unrefined sugar by 6,262,149cw( 4 . and £2,704,646, and tobacco by 20,657,260 lb. and £961,587. In raw materials the chief increases during the year compared with 1935

were:—'Wool, raw and waste and woollen rags, £8.062,345; raw cotton and cotton waste, £8.451,148: wood and limber, £8.051.279; hides and skins, undressed, £4,862,134; iron ore and scrap, £3,316,008. ■ The only decrease recorded was in respect of rubber, which fell by £5,744,293 compared with 1935. Iron ore and scrap rose by 2,056,360 tons, raw cotton (except linters), by 2,751,602 centals and £8,278,582, sheep’s and lambs’ wool by 50,112,0001 b. and £8,346,606, raw silk by 154,4651 b. and £251,347, and raw jute by 8501 tons and £416,048. Raw rubber, Including crepe and latex fell by 2,514,406 centals and £5,765.510, imports from British Malaya falling from 2,693,448 centals in 1035 to 831,658 centals in 1936. Ju manufactured goods, every group, except one, showed increases in .1930 compared with 1935. The exception was silk yarns and manufactures, which fell by £463,784. There was an increase of £5.143.042 in non-ferrous metals; electrolytic copper rising by 10.057 tons and £1,550,682, aluminium by 74,976 cwt. and £436,127, lead by £39,121 tons and £1,860,790, and nickel by 50,431 cwt. and £546,761. Iron and steel and manufactures rose by 331,148 tons and £3,028,564, and machinery by 30,952 tons and £4,748,068Exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures in 1936 showed an increase of £4,007,716, or 12.6 per cent, in food, drink and tobacco; a decrease of £1,494,626 in raw materials, and an increase of £12.098,947, or 3.7 per cent, in manufactured goods.

Exports of wheat meal and flour declined by 241.413cw1., but increased in value by £76,898, beer rose by 87,576 standard barrels and £273,501, and home-made spirits by 2,128,889 proof gallons and £3,294,492, mainly due to increased exports to the United States of America (from 1,677,000 to 3.498.000 proof gallons). Herrings declined by 347,579ewt. but rose in value by £45,935, refined sugar fell by 371,278 cwt. and £162,882, and manufactured tobacco declined by 1,072,5231 b. with an increase in value of £289,935. Coal fell by 4,181.327 tons and £2,246,995. Wool noils rose by 921,0001 b. and £292,457. In manufactured goods, machinery declined by 3434 tons with an increase in value of £1,830,981. Cotton piece goods fell by 31,679,000 square yards with an increase in value of £796,275, cotton yarns rose by 9,260,6001 b., and £689,478, and finished cotton thread for sewing, etc., declined by 1,182,4391 b. and £379,558. Wool tops fell by 3,797,0001 b. and £76,494, woollen yarns rose >by 289,0001 b. and £111,083, worsted

yarns fell by 4,030.0001 b. and £187,551, “other wooll tissues” rose by 7,063,000 square yards and £1,122,157, and “other worsted > tissues” by 1,192,000 square wards and £453,865. Piece goods of artificial silk mixtures rose by 4,941.770 square yards and £156,543, artificial silk piece goods rose by 10,056,717 square yards and £458,344, linen piece goods by 11,592,000 square yards and £713.331, and jute piece goods fell by 10,354,000 square yards and £45,326. Iron and steel and manufactures declined by 107,203 tons, with an increase in value of £40,083, nonferrous metals and manufactures fell by £1,926.421. cutlery, hardware, etc., rose by £47,224, and electrical goods and apparatus by £489,395. Chemicals’, drugs, dyes and colours fell by £229,413, leather and manufactures rose by £478,045, and paper, cardboard, etc., by £151,313. Pottery, glass, etc., rose by £358,896. Vehicles hose by £2,802,967, of which complete motor-cars rose bv 7299 and £336,583, commercial vehicles by 1126 and £179,980, motor-eyeles and tricars by 2417 and £97,869, cycles by 142,069 and £340,441, aeroplanes, etc., bv £197,573, and new ships and boats by £520,498.