EXCESS OF EXPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 11

EXCESS OF EXPORTS

THE TURN OF THE YEAR

"Evening Post," stb March. Returns of imports and exports for one month in comparison with its feiiow of the year before are of little value in obtaining a clear view of the course of trade, because the period is too brief and so many things—shippiug movements,-' and weather, for insta'nee—may influence the dispatch of exports or the receipt of imports. But for what they are worth in estimating the position of the Dominion's trade at, say, the end of June, the figures for the first month of 1927 may be regarded as satisfactory. The Government Statistician in his Abstract for February, just published; shows that, for that month, the exports totalled £5,205,140. and the imports £4,011,0G0. Here its a balance in favour of the Dominion of £1,194,080. Next month, according as deliveries are made from ships' slings of imported goods and loadings are made of produce for overseas markets, the position may be reversed, although that is not likely.

The year 1920 closed with.a balance against the Dominion of an excess of imports over exports of the value of £4,013,----988; and besides that, the value, or rather the return from exports, due to lower prices for most of the produce was less in 1920 by £10,986,697 than the' receipts from exports in 1925. This will take a long time to make good. The position of twelve months' trade as at the end of January last, considered with that at the end of the name month in 1925 is seen in the following table:— Twelve Months. v "I. 1926- •■:-•■■■■ Exports „.. £53,604,104 Imports ..- £52;308,781 Excess exports .......... £ 1,295,413 Exports £a- 449 vu lmp»ts.: .-... ::::Jjra;sj7 Excess imports £3,797,073 There is a great quantity of produce to leave the country between now and the end ot May, and returns from it, if realised, should do much to redress^ the balance against the Dominion, and recover the ground lost by the reduction of reIsß hvT Pr°-Ir Ce ioVth? ettlend!ir year ■la^o by ten million pounds.