FIJI TRADE STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 9

FIJI TRADE STATISTICS.

A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT*

SUGAR THE ONLY DECREASE. r [FEOM OUR OWN COBaZSPONDENT. ] ; * SUVA. Nov. 17. After such a long period of depression and decreasing revenue and trad£, it is gratifying in reviewing the figures for the first nine months of the year, to be able to forecast a swing of the tide upwards. Owing to the local Indian and general labour difficulties, it is riot to be wondered at that there should be some decrease in the production of sugar, the wonder is that the production is as good as it is. Excepting sugar, there has been a Steadily improving tone in* local trade' and the latest figures available show a satisfactory state of things. In imports, the ' total trade was £710,051 in value, as- compared with £685.119 for a similar period in 1922. The duties collected for £he nine months were, 1922, £129,510 and 1923 £144,075. ; In exports, sugar showed a decrease of from 15,558 tons, value £842,966 in 1922, to ?5,662 tons, value £499,897 in 1923. MolTasses showed a decline of from 6227 tons, value £6227 in 1922,: to 4253 tons, value £4253 in 1923.

( On the other hafid lines , which show an upward tendency are copra; ; which rose from 15,076 tons, value £235,390 m 1922 to 17,050 tons, value £307,928 in 1922. Bananas rose from 7309 bunches, 129,104 cases in 1922 to 5443 . bunches, 145.450 cases in 1923. Rubber rose from 91421b. to 32,6341b., but Trocas shell fell from 436 tons to 333 tons in 1923. Other articles rose from £69,746 in 1922 to £74,844 in 1923. The total exports for the nine months was- £1,202,343 in j 1922, as against £960,159 in f923. - The outlook is decidedly hopeful : .