TRADE BALANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 72, 22 September 1943, Page 6

TRADE BALANCE

LEND-LEASE IMPORTS

Customs returns of overseas trade for July of this year show an excess of imports over exports amounting to £5,727,000, whereas for July, 1942 and 1941, the position was the other way round, exports exceeding imports by £4,293,000 and £858,000 respectively. But monthly trade returns do not give a complete picture, because they are subject to shipping movements, more vessels possibly arriving or departing in one month than another. However, returns for the full seven months of the calendar year convey a clearer idea of the trade balance and the reI turns for the period January to July are shown as follows: — Exports Imports 7 months. £N.Z. £N.Z. 1943 39,140,000 53,593,000 1942 53,001,000 29,758,000 1941 .... 41,853,000 26,395,000 Excess of imports over exports for the first seven months of this year amounts to £14,453,000; whereas the value of exports exceeded that of imports by £23,243,000 for the first seven months of 1942 and by £15,458,000 for the corresponding period of 1941. It is necessary to explain that import values for the seven months of this current year include defence materials and equipment, also lend-lease supplies. Values are in New Zealand currency.