RECORD EXPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26200, 10 July 1946, Page 8

RECORD EXPORTS

TRADE OF THE DOMINION “ The value of merchandise exports for the financial year 1945-46 was £88,881,170, the highest figure yet recorded for a March year. Compared with 1944-45, there has been an increase of £9,528,863, but if New Zealand produce only is taken into account the increase is even greater, the difference on this basis amounting to £13,132,595," says the Abstract of Statistics.

“ During the war period, figures of exports for any particular period may have been affected by the availability of shipping or by the priority accorded the different commodities. An outstanding example of the latter factor is found in the case of wool, exports of which in the year ended March 21, 1946, were valued at £17,660,627, as compared with £9,317,884 and £10,683,457 in the years ended March 31, 1945 and 1944 respectively. “It should also be remembertd that certain quantities of goods, whicn in Ine normal course of events would have been included in exports, were diverted to other channels connected with the war effort Consequently, the exports of recent years cannot be regarded as giving an equally close indication of production as formerly. Imports during the year ended March 31, 1946, were valued at £50,937,882, this figure falling well below the abnormal totals ”of the two preceding March years, which were swollen by the huge quantities of defence materials, etc., in ported during that period. Compared with 1944-45, the 1945-46 total shows a decrease of £24,912,750. “ Exports for the month ot March receded somewhat from the nigh figures of the preceding three months, the record value being £7,744,595, which is a decrease of £2,442,910 below 'he total lor February, and also a decrease if £1,973.575 when compared with clared value of imports for vlarch, 1946, was £5,729,770, this figure comparing with £5,432,097 in February and £4,523,713 in March of last year.