BUYING ABROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 18

BUYING ABROAD

BIGGER BRITISH TRADE

< The big increase in Britain's purchasing power which has resulted from the trade revival is again demonstrated by the trade figures for January, says the "Daily Telegraph." As shown by the preliminary figures a feature of the month's trade was the further big rise in imports. The Board of Trade returns show some striking increases in the various classes of goods bought abroad. Activity in' the manufacturing centres is reflected in an advance of £2,610,524, to £22,416,693 in imports of raw materials, compared with January, 1935. The chief inoreases under this head were:— Total. lucreasa. " £, ■ £ Wool and timber 2,618,568 443,916 Baw cotton and cotton .waste 4,204,322 613,217 Wool, raw, waste and cotton rags 4,608,680 668,394 Seeds and nuts for oil, and oil, fats, and resins ■ 2,745,320 602,240 Non-ferrous' ores ...'... '1,058,029 105.31S Raw silk 251,272 127,374 Hides and skins 1,820,257 236,372 Iron ore and scrap- .... 662,39 a 270,492 As indication that the country has more money to spend is provided by the food import figures. The total of £31,281,432 is £3;731,568 larger than a year ago, the chief increases in the various categories being: , Total. ■ Increase £ - S Grain and flour 4,771,423 5:!5,636 Dairy produce ........ 5,415,400 -561,346 Beverages arid cocoa preparations 4,623,748 074,248 Various foods 4,196,083 1,135,565 Fresh fruit and .. veget- • ables ....'. 2,809,50.0 282,885 Imports of. tobacco were £533,992 higher at £2,041,503, but meat imports fell by £423,093 to £6,190,454. CHANGES IN EXPORTS. The full returns for the month compare as follows:— Jan.; 1936. Dec, 1935. Jan., 1935. £ £ £ Imports ..70,023,783 74,480,625 61,916,364 Exports .. 34,459,583 34,917,068 35,481,098 Re-exports 4,320,094 5,432,397 5,033,972 One of the chief reasons for the check to the-recent steady rise in exports was,the fall of £402,769 to £2,345,145 irr the value of coal sent abroad. This is due partly to the fact that heavy purchases were made in previous months owing to fears of a strike. With peace in; the industry assured, consumers abroad are now drawing on their stocks. There are one or two bright spots among the export items. Exports of beverages and cocoa preparations rose by £287,850 to £1,047,287, mainly owing to a jump in exports of spirits to America. Undressed hides and skins' also show a big increase, the .total being £197,421, against £91,729. Belgium's imports of these goods from Britain rose from £36,536 to £110,539. Exports of "other textile materials," which include artificial silk yarn and piece goods and linen goods, rose by £125,566 to £1,386,099. The effect of the operation of sanctions on Britain's trade with Italy is shown by the following comparison of imports and exports last month:— IMPORTS FROM ITAiY. Jan., 1935. Jan., 1936. Dairy produce .:.. £31.376 Nil Fresh fruit and vegetables ........ £83,904 £165 Various foods .... £82,586 £390 XestUes £84,777 Nil ■ EXPORTS TO ITALY. Coal 416,800t0ns ll,2T7tons Herrings £14,089 £355 Various foods .... £29,038 £1730 ' Haw wool ' £11,960 Ml Wool waste £10,039 Nil Other wool £74,318 £IG6 Iron and steel .... £23.041 £4 Cutlery £9,972 Nil j The item of various foods under im- • ports from Italy . includes tomatoes, which declined from' £49,550 to nothing. '■ :