HIGH IMPORT VALUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 250, 21 October 1937, Page 11

HIGH IMPORT VALUE

Returns For August £2,000,000 OVER LAST YEAR Exports Increase £1,300,000 The extraordinarily high level of £6,008,000 was reached by the valuation of imports for the month of August, according to the returns of overseas trade in the September Abstract of Statistics. This is slightly more than £2,000,000 greater than the corresponding figure for August last year, but substantially more than double the value of imports in the same month in 1933. Exports have also increased in value, but not in the same proportion. The total, £4,458,000, is £1,300,000 greater than that for August last year, and the highest reached in any year since 1933. The values are all in New Zealand currency, for commodities only, specie being excluded. The excess of imports while normal for the season of the year, is not much short of double that shown a year ago, being £1,550,000, compared with £847,000. The changed situation since 1933, when there was an excess of exports valued at £492,000 is particularly marked.

The figures for August in the past five years are:—

For the first seven months of the calendar year exports were £9,321,000 higher than for the corresponding portion of last year. Ln the same period imports increased by £9,191,000. The visible commodity balance is £131,000 greater than for the same portion of last year. A comparison of the eight months ended August in the past five years is as follows: —

There were no exports of specie during August. Imports were valued at £1668, this figure being excluded from the total imports for the months previously given. For the eight months ended August the specie exports totalled £35,000 and imports £98,649.

Excess of Aug. Exports Imports Imports £ £ £ 1933 .... 2,631,000 2,139,000 *492,000 1934 ... . 3,090,000 3,232,000 152,000 1935 ... . 2,876,000 3,622,000 746,000 1936 ... . 3,150,000 3,997,000 847,000 1937 ... . 4,458,000 6,008,000 1,550,000 *Excess of exports.

Jan.Exports Imports Excess Aug. £ £ £ 1933 .. 29,370,000 16,467,000 12,903,000 1934 .. 37,430,000 19,856,000 17,574,000 1935 .. 33,203,000 23,287,000 9,916,000 1936 .. 42,061,000 27,388,000 14,673,000 1937 .. 51,382,000 36,579,000 14,804,000