Remarkable Recovery In British Export Trade

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1939, Page 5

Remarkable Recovery In British Export Trade

(Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 20,

The remarkable recovery in Britain’s export trade revealed in the Board of Trade figures, is greeted with satisfaction by the Press, which considers the figures against the German claim to have blockaded' the British Isles. " ' '

The statistics show that imports have arrived in a volume which represents a greater-sterling, expenditure than in any month since January, 1938, and that exports went out more freely after the hold-up during the first two months of the war. Import Increases. In imports, increases were shown in the value of grain and flour, meat and dairy produce, iron and steel, base metal and rubber. The most substantial increases are recorded in cocoa, much of which was resold abroad, in raw cotton, the value of which was three times that of November, 1938; in iron and steel, and in. oils, fats and resins.' Tobacco imports were 'sharply cut down, and less limber was taken. Export Expansion. V Among the exports, the most' conspicuous expansion has been in cotton yarns and manufactures, and woollen goods, cocoa coal and chemicals, the values of which were all higher than in November of last year. Compared with October, more iron and steel products, machinery and vehicles were shipped abioad. In commenting on the fact that the imports show improvement, not only with respect to the preceding month, but also indicate an 8 per- cent.' rise in imports compared with November, 1938, the newspapers note that the categories in which the principal increases occurred —cotton, non-ferrous ores, scrap, oil seed and oils—comprise commodities in which Germany Is notoriously deficient. Board of Trade returns of overseas trade for November show that imports were valued at £83,988,000, compared with £61,841,464 in October and £77,973,618 in November, 1938. The value of November exports was £37.360,327, against £24,622,840 in October and £42,923,223 in November, 1938. -

Re-exports were £2,745,074, against £1,998,146 the month before, and £5,113,912 a year ago.

In the first 11 months of the year, the total value of imports was £800,995,632, representing a decrease of £46,086,401 on the corresponding period in 1938. ... The 11 months’ exports totalled £398,686,810, a decrease of £33.313,768.