BRITISH TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 143, 12 March 1919, Page 7

BRITISH TRADE

RECOVERY FROM, WAR LOSSES, A cablegram from London mentions that British imports for t&e month of February showed an increase of .£8,044,321 as compared with the figures for February, 1917. The exports for the month increased by .£7,815,200, and the ie-exporte by .£2,379,255. These figures indicate that British trade is reviving with the termination of hostilities, but official statistics show that they leave the British manufacturer and merchant with a great deal of ground still: to bo.recovered. Th« war inflicted enormous damage-on British trade, owing first to the concentration or industrial effort on the production of munitions , and then to the shortage of shipping. The Imperial Board of Trade is working hard now to assist the nianu'facturers to regain their old position. The declared valucsof British imports and exports do not reveal fully the reduction of trade, since the facts are concealed to some extent by increased prices. The actual (rend is shown clearly in the following table of British exports. The figures in the first column show the declared value of the goods oxported m each year, and the figures in the second column show the estimated value on the basis of the prices, of 1913; theilast year of normal trade:— . Declared Value on Value. ' 1913. basis. ' Year. £ & 1913 525,200,000 525,200,000 1914 430,700,000 432,500,000 1915 , 385,000,000 353,500,000 1916 500,300,000. 381,700,000 1917 .527,100,000' 347,800,000 ' Aii even more significant taple shows the weight of British' exports over the same period of yenis. These figures havo been issued by the Imperial Board oi Trade:— ~ ''■' Coal AH other awl coke. articles. ■ ■'■: Tons..V Tons. 1913 76,700,000 15,400,000 19U 61,800,000 12,500,0001915 45,800,000 9,400,000 1916 41,200,000 •. 9,500,000 1917 37,800,000 ■ • 6,900,000 Tho total weight of British exports declined from 92,100,000 tons, m-1913 to 14,700,000 tons in 1917. It is iriiportnnt to remember, m considering these figures, that the value of British exports to France, Italy, and Russia in 1917 was more than three times the value recorded in 1913, the increase being due to tho export of munitions of war to the VUicd countries. The manufacturing resources of the United Kingdom and the carrying capacity of Hie British mercantile marine were placed unreservedly at the disposal of.France, Italy, and the other Allied Powers., This made for the , effective prosecution of tho war, but it produced a great diminution in Britain s trade with tho State of the, Empire and neutral countries. The Imperial Board of Trade estimates that tho United Kingdom'e export trado with British Dominions and neutral countries-was diminished by i 0 per cent .during the- war.