BRITISH OIL SUPPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23907, 7 September 1939, Page 10

BRITISH OIL SUPPLY

CHANGES IN IMPORTS A further substantial advance in imports of ‘automotive fuels and an almost corresponding reduction In fuel oil were the chief features of the oil import trade of the United Kingdom during the first six months of the current year. As a result of these opposing tendencies total imports during the first half of the year showed little change from those of the corresponding period of IS3B, at 1,690,000,000 gallons, says the Financial" Times. Values, however, were lower owing to the decline in world values. From £24,687,741 in January-June, 1938, the total value of imports fell this year by 2.1 per cent, to £24,168,704. Details of Shipments Details of Britain’s imports for the first six months by quantities are shown in the following table:—

Total 1,690,591 1,678,813 Of Britain's motor fuel imports in the first half of this year, over 40 per lent, came from the Dutch West Indies, though entries from this source were actually rather smaller than last year. ' j Sources of Supply The principal increases were m supplies from the United States and Iran, although Trinidad and Rumania also sent slightly larger quantities than in 1938. With the exception .of the last-named, the same countries were responsible for the remarkable increase in gas oil imports. The brunt of the reduction in British fuel oil imports was borne by the Dutch West Indies, shipments from this source having declined from over 200.000. gallons» to less than 70.000. in the period under review. By way of compensation, virtually the only country to send more crude oil this year than last was Venezuela, from which the Dutch West Indian refineries draw the bulk of their raw material supplies. Consignments from this country rose from 72,000,000 JO 116.000. gallons, to account for over one-third of the total.

(Thousand Gallons) 1039. 1938. Crude oil 310,630 301,309 Motor spirit . 804,116 712,612 Kerosene 106,414 112,337 Lubricants .. .... 61,051 60,971 Gas oil 95,261 80,886 Fuel oils .. .. .. 302,359 398,838 Other sorts 10.760 11.860