OVERSEAS TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 19708, 8 November 1927, Page 5

OVERSEAS TRADE

EXPORT m IMPORT FIGURES The Abstract of Statistics gives tbo following particulars of overseas trade for the nine mouths ended September 3D Exports for tbc nine mouths ended September 30, 1927, amounted to £37,916,688, and tbe imports for the same period to £33,084,039, leaving an excess of exports over imports of £4,232,619., Figures for the corresponding period last year are; Exports, £37,346,920; imports, £37,404,368; excess of imports over exports, £57,443. EXPORTS. Exports for the nine months under review show an increase of £569,708 in comparison with those for the corresponding period last year. Tho principal increases occurred iu the following items (figures for corresponding period of 1920 iu parentheses') : Butter, £6,806,893 (£5,997.303); frozen lamb, £5,529,382 (£5,331,915); wool, £ll,341,615 (£10,544,711); sheepskins, £1,306,020 (£1,300,930); hides, £502,970 (£450,614): calfskins, £109,840 (£81,789); barley, £20,311 (£757); oats, £54,909 (£3,711); hops, £34,287 (£8,865) ; grass and clover seeds, £165,547 (£129,381). Tho principal declines were recorded in; Cheese, £3,988,334 (£1,636,960); frozen mutton, £1,800,894 (£1,903,013); rabbitskins, £437,371 (£615,538); phormium fibre, £367,786 (£431,328); tallow, £533,923 (£671,412); coal, £191,860 (£221,583); kauri gum, £220,338 (£267,756) ; timber, £322,956 (£349,806); apples, £264,267 (£363,694); potatoes, £6.430 (£132,631); onions, £3,013 (£12,541). IMPORTS. Imports (£33,634,039) arc down by £3,720,329 compared with the figure for tho corresponding term of 1926. A substantial decline is evident in motor importations, tho number of vehicles having dropped from 17,375 to 9,153, and the values from £2,792,778 to £1,425,523. Tyres, tubes, and covers increased from £769,290 to £824,534, and other parts fell from £278,460 to £213,954. Other prominent recessions occurred in (corresponding 1920 figures shown, in parentheses); Motor spirit n.e.i., £1,474,341 (£],692,392); benzine. £53,863 (£104,603); gasolene, £24,621 (£105,036) ; crude residual oil, £228,203 (£295,952); wheat, £200,157 (£513,318); flour, £177,684 (£290,784); sugar, £598,224 (£7.15,147); tea, £695,092 (£747,796); cigarettes and tobacco, £1,310,622 (£1,384,450) ; apparel and ready-made clothing n.e.i., £1,621,116 (£1,802,733); cotton piecegoods, £1,381,488 (£1,623,683); carpeting, etc., £445,833 (£490,966) : timber, £567,525 (£594,679); arms, ammunition, etc., £148,561 (£220,300); musical instruments, £319,185 (£399,151). The main increases are evident iu: Drapery n.e.i., £432,910 (£390,665); silks, satins, and velvets, £664,822 (£558,509); electrical machinery and equipment, £1,622,193 (£1,545,307); tools for engineers, etc., £204,713 (£108,843). DIRECTION OF TRADE. In considering the direction of the country’s trade for the period under review it is seen that the total exports of £37,916,688 British countries accounted for £33,303,987, a percentage of 87.9, which compares with 86.8 for tho corresponding period of 1926. Tho United Kingdom’s share was £29,149,071, equal to 76.9 per cent, of the total, as compared with the 1926 percentage of 77.7. Other export customers of importance during the period -were (percentages for corresponding period of 1926 in parentheses): Australia 7.4 (0.3), United States 5.7 (8.9), Canada 2.5 (1.7), Germany 2.4 (0.7), France 2.2 (1.6). Of imports of £33.684,039 British countries supplied £23,314.023, equal to 69.3 per cent, of the total, which coincides with the percentage for the first nine months of 1926. The United Kingdom’s share of £16,296,634 represented 45.4 per cent, of the total, an increase of 2.1 per cent, over the 1926 percentage. Other countries from which the dominion drew considerable supplies lire (percentages for corresponding period of 1926 in parentheses): United States 17.8 (19.5), Australia 8.9 (9.5), Canada 5.9 (6.9), France 2.0 (1.6), India 2.0 (2.0), Ceylon 2.0 (1.8), Germany 1.7 (1.3), Dutch East Indies 1.0 (1.5), Japan 1.3 (1.2), Belgium 1.0 (0.9), Switzerland 0.9 (0.7), Italy 0.6 (0.6).