AUSTRALIA’S IMPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 21578, 16 December 1931, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S IMPORTS

A HUGE DECLINE. Imports from all countries into Australia fell during the year by 53 per cent. Of the countries which sent large quantities of goods to Australia the heaviest fallingoff was in imports from the United States, 78 per cent. In imports from Canada the falling-off was 61 per cent. Of British imports the reduction was 57 per cent. In the case of goods from Germany, the decline was 54 per cent., and from Japan 43 per cent.

Imports from the United States to suffer most heavily were metals, metal manufactures, and machinery, in which are included motor vehicles. Another classification, which suffered a reduction exceeding 60 per cent., is apparel and textiles. In British imports the greatest fall was in manufactures of metals, though not so heavy as in the case of the United States. The fall in apparel and textiles was £lO,190,000, from £18,018,000. Paper and stationery imports were greatly reduced. From Canada the Commonwealth receives principally foodstuffs, manufactures of metals, paper, and timber. All suffered heavy reductions in 1930-31. Australia's imports from Japan of animal substances not foodstuffs (principally raw silk) declined very little, but there was a large falling away in textiles and manufactured fibres. Importations of foodstuffs are largely of isinglass. Apparel and textiles imported from Germany fell away 57 per cent., and drugs and chemicals fell by £lOl,OOO. Imports of manufactures of metals were reduced by 56 per cent.

The values of imports compare as follows:— 1929-30. 1930-31. United States 29,907,569 11,367,822 Great. Britain 53,986,158 23,190,488 Canada 3,503,708 1,361,868 Japan 4,152,901 2.370,153 Germany 4,288,369 1,939,296