TRADE BALANCE

Southland Times, Issue 20111, 23 February 1927, Page 11

TRADE BALANCE

STATISTICIAN’S REPORT. Preliminary trade figures given by the Government Statistician show that exports for the year ended December 31, 1926, amounted to £45,275,575, and imports for the same period to £49,889,563, leaving an excess of imports of £4,613,988. Figures for the previous year were: Exports, £55,262,272; imports, £52,456,407; balance in favour of exports, £2,805,865. It is evident, therefore, that the return from exports during 1926 was £9,986,697 less than ih 1925. Although imports have not shown a corresponding drop, the 1926 figure is nevertheless £2,566,844 lower than that for the previous year. It is worthy of note that imports for the December quarter of 1926 are £1,737,405 less than during the corresponding quarter of 1925. LOWER PRICES. The shrinkage in exports is attributable to lower prices, especially in the wool trade. The return from wool exported during 1926 was £11,830,188, as compared with £17,738j--738 in 1925, a drop of nearly £6,000,000. In comparing quantities, however, it is found that 34,948 more bales were shipped in 1926 than during the previous year. Declines are also evident in the following main items (figures for 1925 in parentheses) : Butter, £8,695,197 (£10,240,132); frozen beef, £388,701 (£511,996) ; frozen lamb, £5,593,463 (£6,761,890); frozen mutton, £2,122,099 (£3,069,763) ; sheepskins, £1,544,273 (£1,989,289); hides, £557,195 (£702,236). The principal increases occurred in: Cheese, £5,939.359 (£5,800,808) ; sausagecasings, £780,811 (£675,848). In the case of imports the principal increases are evident in: —Motor spirit, n.e.i., £2,417,090 (£1,840,552); flour. £421,326) (£124,229); phosphates, £430,539 (£359,352) ; newsprint, £415,714 (£367,878) ; telephones and accessories, £264,306 (£119,875); seeds, £256,077 (£202,242). The value of motor vehicles imported during the year shows a decline from £4,146,433 to £3,632,277, although the number imported (22,779) was 449 in excess of that for the previous year. Other noteworthy decreases were recorded in: —Wheat, £603,195 (£798,090) ; sugar, £1,150,592 (1.250,343) ; tobacco, £892,174 (£959,779); whisky, £643.546 (£734,111); cotton piece goods, £2,013,280 (£2,483,778); silks, etc., £712,508 (£839,297); gasolene, £116,790 (£337,303); benzine, £117,977 (£171,827); railway and tramway plant, £265,496 (£531,170) ; leather, £283,806 (£345,991) ; timber, other than sawn, £146,677 (£449,511) ; motor tyres and tubes, £928,466 (£1,148,075). WHO BUYS THE PRODUCE?

In considering the direction of the Dominion’s trade it is seen that British countries accounted for exports to the value of £39,526,924, representing 87.30 per cent, of the total, an advance of 1.17 per cent, over the previous year. Imports of British origin were valued at £34,065,656, equal to 68.28 of the total, as against 72.95 in 1925. The United Kingdom took exports valued at £35,102,233, representing 77.53 of the total, as compared with 79.76 per cent, in 1925. The United States received 8.43 per cent, of the total, which is 0.56 greater than in 1925. Australia’s share rose considerably, from 4.53 to 6.75. The percentages of the Dominion’s produce which went to other export customers of importance are as follows (1925 percentages in parentheses) : Canada, 1.90 (0.77); trance, 1.50 (1.07); Germany, 0.80 (2.92 ) ; Belgium, 0.37 (0.35) ; Japan, 0.36 (0.42) ; Fiji, 0.33 (0.24). The United Kingdom furnished imports (according to country of origin) to the value of £22,752,622, or 45.60 of the total. As compared with the previous year this percentage represents a drop of 3.08 per cent. Imports from the United States increased from 16.94, to 20.05 per cent. The percentages which other suppliers of importance furnished to the Dominion durng the year are as follow (1925 percentages m parentheses) : Australia, 9.27 (9.99) ; Canada, 6.88 (7.45); India, 1.85 (1.74); Fiji, 1.79 (2.36); Ceylon, 1.72 (1.72); France, 1.63 (1.75); Germany, 1.35 (0.95); Belgium, 0.79 (0.84); Switzerland, 0.77 (0.84); Netherlands, 0.65 (0.52); Sweden, 0.64 (0.59); Italy, 0.62 (0.61).