BRITISH TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 114, 16 May 1934, Page 12

BRITISH TRADE

WHO BUYS, WHO SELLS

DOMINIONS' CREDIT BALANCES

"Evening Post," May 16.

Some particularly interesting data relating to Great Britain's trade with the British Dominions and foreign countries have been compiled by Mr, E. T. McPhee, Commonwealth Statistician. The particulars are from official British publications, and the Statistician points out that in present circumstances they are of outstanding interest.

Mr. McPhee places Australia at the head of his tables. He shows how the exports of New Zealand and Australia to Great Britain have expanded. In 1931 the United Kingdom imported 8,482,287 centals of raw wool, and in 1933 9,521,205 centals. Australia shipped 34.2 per cent, of the total in 1931 and 32.5 per cent, in 1933, New Zealand 22.2 per cent, and 25.6 per cent., British South Africa 15.5 per cent, and 18.3 per cent., Argentina coming fourth with 11.1 per cent, and 8.5 per cent. MEAT AND BUTTER. Total importations of frozen and chilled beef were 11,980,542cwt in 1931 and 11,086,720cwt in 1933. Chilled beef decreased from 9,288,276cwt to 8,172,708cwt; frozen beef increased from 2,692,260cwt to 2,914,012cwt. Australia's shipments were confined to frozen beef, of which she furnished quantities representing in 1931. 9.5 per cent, and in 1933 10.5 per cent, of the total of' the two classes. Argentina's shipments of chilled beef were 66 per cent, of the tofalin 1931 and 62.7 of the total in 1933. ■•-■..-■ . Mutton and lamb received amounted to 7,107,279cwt in 1931 and 6,654,443cwt in 1933. Australia accounted. for 21.5 per cent, in 1931 and 19.7 per cent, in 1933, New, Zealand for 48.3 per cent., and 56.1 per cent., and Argentina for 21.9 per cent, and 17.2 per' cent. Butter increased from 8,060,068cwt in 1931 to 8,834,514cwt in 1933. Australia forwarded 19.3 per cent, of the aggregate in 1931 and 19.2 per cent, in 1933; New Zealand 23.9 per cent, and 28.4 per cent., and Denmark 30.6 per cent, and 28.5 per cent. DOMINIONS' PROPORTIONS. Mr. McPhee's figures disclose.that Australia has purchased' increasing quantities of British goods in the last three years, and that there Has been a steady improvement in inter-Empire trade.. Great Britain, however, still'buys a lower percentage from the Dominions than the Dominions buy from her. In 1933 the Dominions bought 44.5 per cent, of Britain's exports of merchandise, but from the Dominions Britain bought only 36.9 per cent, of her import requirements. British India was Britain's best customer in 1933, followed by South. Africa, Australia, the United States, and Ireland. The value o£ exports of merchandise from Britain in the last two years have been:— ' 1032. 1033. £■ £ . Australia 20,020.100 21,321,737 Xew Zealand 10,358,1 m n,51D.04S Canada 16,412,077 17,510,369 British India 34,088,301 33,396,074 Irish Tree State 25,784,484 19,010,336 South Africa 18,105.420 23.346,233 Other Dominions 40,743,701 33,404,G81 Total, British countries 163,512,250 163.533,078 U.S.A. , 15,091,313 19,052.234 Argentina 10.660.35fi 13.082,602 Denmark 9.852.63S 11.795.260 Germany ...-. '34,574,741 14,711,f1«6 Netherlands .. 12,106,311 12.479,978 France • 18,445.761 15.159,121 Belgium ........... ' 8,678,094 5.536,31 C Other countries «,..,.. 110,102,483 105,771,179 Total, foreign countries 199,511,728 203.885;656 Grand total ........ 363;024,008 307,425,734 SOURCE OF IMPORTS. Although the United States bo-.isVit only £19,052,234 worth of British goods, she was the chief supplier of goods to Britain, her exports amounting to £75,790,252. Imports to Britain in the last two years have been:—.-.....-. •'■.•■ . 1932. . 1933. ■•■■■'- £ ■ £ Australia 45,992,432 ,48,605,662 Xew Zealand 37,019,001 37,183,160 Canada 42,993,850 4G.218.073 British India 32,308,273 37,392,395 Irish Free State .;.... 26,542,305 17,783,636 South Africa ...;.... 15,446,861 14,428,113 Other Dominions....... 47,833,850 47,847,695 Total, British countries 245,13f1,572 249.458,734 TJ.S.A. -....;...J.... 83,632,211 ,75,790,252 Argentina 50,885,373 41,691,133 Denmark >.... 40,569,635 35,424,454 Germany 30,499,439 29.818;462 Netherlands .......... 22,029,899 18,589,857 Trance 19,070,363 19,084,864 Belgium ..-..,..■... 16,022,688 12,914,669 Other countries.- 190,823,861 193,074,940 Total, foreign countries 453,533,489 426,388,631 Grand total ....'. 701,670,061 675,847,365 NEW ZEALAND'S BALANCE. New_ Zealand's external trade returns for 1933 (in New Zealand currency) were as follows:— : £ Exports (N.Z. produce) 40,408 867 Imports (country., of origin) 21,451,382 Exports to Great Britain 35,118,298 Imports from Great-Britain 10,789 280 Exports to Australia' 1,114,726 Imports from Australia 2,674,683 Exports to Canada < 542,326 Imports from Canada , 1,012,250 Exports to all British countries '.. ( 37,000,066 Imports from all '•British countries 15,992,961 Exports to all foreign countries .. 3,408,801 Imports from all foreign countries , 5,458,421 Totals, all countries— Exports ». „... 40,408,867 Imports ■ !«..,»• 21,451,382 PASTORAL COMPANIES' STOCKS. United Press Association—By Electric - Telegraph—Copyright. (Received May 16, 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 15. April 17. May 15. £ s.d. £ s.d. Dalgety & Co. shares 810 0 815 0 Dalgety & Co. 4 p.c. debenture stock .. *100 0 0 *100 0 0 Goldsbrough,' Mort, & Co. 5 p.c. deb. stk. 101 10 0 103 10 0 *Es interest.