IMPORT TRENDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20570, 2 June 1941, Page 2

IMPORT TRENDS

LAST YEAR’S INCREASE RISE IN PIECE GOODS Imports during the financial year -t ended March 81 increased by 5.1 per cent in value to £47,918,224 in comparison with the figure of 1939-40. Cotton, silk and woollen piece-goods rose by £1,876,000 to £5,236,709, but the remaining soft goods items, mainly manufactured articles, continued to ■i- decline. «v In the iron and steel group In- % creases in both value and quantity were shown by pig, billet and bloom, hoop, tinned plate and sheet, black plate and sheet, and tubes, pipes and fittings. Decreases in both quantity > and value were recorded for angle and tee iron, channel and girder, galvanised plate and sheet, while bar, bolt and rod showed a slight decrease -* in value in snite of an increase in quantity. Other items which were substantially higher included fencing wire. 61 per cent; paper, 47 per cent; % lubricating oil, 40 per cent; floor ■ii coverings, 30 per cent; and unmanufactured tobacco, 26 per cent. Sugar increased by 14 per cent in value, although the quantity receded by 12 per S cent. ■r»rt The importation of motor vehicles showed a further heavy decline of almost £2,000,000, of 70 per cent. Rail- - way and tramway plant fell to £134.521 from £1,055,348' in 1939-40, or 87 per cent, and machinery of all types Was reduced considerably. Motor spirits at 8G,480,580 gallons were .* 7,501,595 gallons, or 8 per cent, lower, but less by 9 per cent in value, which totalled £1,841,923 in the past year. U against £2,030,232 in 1939-40. Other items which revealed notable reductions ip value were fancy goods, 64 per cent;' copper wire, 34 per cent; footwear, 24 per cent; books and pubx lications, wireless apparatus and phosphates, 23 per cent.