TRADE OF THE DOMINION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3859, 28 February 1928, Page 76

TRADE OF THE DOMINION.

A SATISFACTORY IMPROVEMENT WELLINGTON, February 20. The general improvement in the trade or the Dominion continues to be reflected in the monthly figures supplied by the Customs Department. The exports last month approached the £8,000,000 mark, and were well over double the value of the imports. The value of the exports for January totalled £7,606,385, which establishes practically a record for a single month Th e appreciation in the price of wool as compared with last year accounts for something over £1,000.000 of the increase. The large increase in the shipments of dairy produce, especially butter and frozen meat, has also contributed to the improved position. The value of the exports last month showed an increase of £2,401,245 compared with January, 1927, and of £2,566,404 compared with January, 1926. The imports last month again showed a decrease, being £179,178 less than for December, £241,040 less than for January, 1927, and £890,796 less than for January, 1926. The excess of exports last month was £3,836,365 or £66,345 more than the total value of the imports. The figures for the month afford th e following compari son : — Jan., 1928. Jan., 1927. Exports £7,606,385 £5,205,140 Imports 3,770,020 4,011,060 Excess of exports 3,836,365 1,194,080 Apart from any increase in the quan tities of exports such as dairy produce, meat, etc., the large increase in the value of the exports last month is mainly accounted for by increased values of exported produce. This is solid ground for satisfaction, and, taken with th e redress of the trade balance last year to an excess of exports amounting to wer £3,700,000 for the 12 months as compared with an excess of imports totalling over £4,600,000 for the 12 months of 1926, it shows that the trade of the Dominion has been brought to a far healthier state than was the case 12 months ago.