SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE

Evening Star, Issue 22031, 17 May 1935, Page 9

SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE

BRITAIN'S OVERSEAS TRADE FIGURES FDR APRIL (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, May 15. Expansion in Britain’s overseas trade is revealed in the figures for April published by the Board of Trade. The imports were 6 per cent, more than in April of last year, and those of articles wholly or mainly manufactured were of greater value than in any month since February, 1932, except last October. Exports showed an increase of 10 per cent, as compared with April 1934, the rise being due almost entirely to shipments of manufactured goods. For the first four months of the current year the excess of imports over exports of merchandise amounted to £81.100,000, or £14,000,000 less than in the corresponding period of 1934. Owing to the Easter holidays there were fewer working days in April than in the previous month, and comparisons were affected by this factor. The total value of the imports for last month was £59,844,000, for the previous month £60,509,000, and for April, 1934, £56,326,000. The exports last month totalled £33,010,000, the previous month £35,952,000, and April, 1934, £30,100,000. The re-exports for April amounted to £4,203,000, in M arch £4,471,000, and in April, 1934, £5,019,000. During four months of the current .year the imports amounted to >vcw./ 12.000, as compared with £239,871.000 last year. The exports were £138,498,000, as compared with £124,813.000 last year, arid the re-exports £18,089,000, as compared with £19,923, 000 last year. EXPANDING EMPIRE TRADE. LONDON, May 16. Commenting on the trade returns, the ‘ Financial News ’ says: “ The Empire remains our most expanding market. The figures for the past four years show clearly that, while the dominions derived the greatest benefit at the beginning from' the Ottawa agreements, British manufacturers are now getting the fruits in increased exports to the Empire.”