HUN TRADE "PUSH"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 7

HUN TRADE "PUSH"

HOPES IN SOUTH AMERICA. Tho Frankfort Fair, which opened recently, with its closer proximity to tho occupied territories is (writes the trade correspondent of the "Daily Mail"), drawing more TJritish visitors than tho recently concluded Leipzig Fair. This renders more interesting two reports from high British sources I have had an opportunity of reading, in addition to verbal statements from business men who have been to Germany since peace was signed. Hunger for raw materials I have, referred to in previous articles. Tho limitation of coal is also so serious that works which are not closed are mostly turning out about one-third of their maximum output. At Leipzig about 10,000 firms exhibited, and it is stated that 7000 foreign visitors, mostly from Holland, Scandinavia, North and South America, were present. I have repeatedly indicated South America as the market on which the Germans especially have an eye. These reports confirm that slalomwit, ami show that they hope to reach it both.direct and through American firms (many of them German-American) that are making great efforts to expand in the Argentine, Brazil, and elsewhere in South and Central America.

Many exhibitors frankly told visitors that ihey foresaw- hostility in. England for some, time to come, and so would enncc-r r.ii:> ilu'ir alivntion on (lie Amvric.'is for the present. The best business of the fair was done in porcelain, many of the orders coming from American buyers. The Gounans wero quito cheered' up by their success in this line, to- they feared that (lie Japanese had made greater inroads on their former markets. All vi-liters avrvd that their mechanical toys showed a great advance, but dolls wore not seen to .such advantage, for their dresses wore of poor material,, reflecting the extreme dearii'-ss and shortage of textiles. The German manufacturers find their first hope of exports in' the new mechanical devices and novelties. They booked many orders for macluno tools, electrical devices and the like, having a hotter supplv of iron ove than of other raw materials and little homo demand to be met. Prices of.such of thf«e goods as can be delivered from stack are from 200 to -100 per cent, abovo pre-war quotations.' Fore : .?n patents of nianv new machines are on offer. Pianos linve been sold in considerable numbers. Toys of wood -ire heinsr quoted at low price;, and large sales are reported to iH'Ui'.a'.s, Considerable orders arc also ctoinipd from Knghind for. glass bottles. Owing to the lowness of the mark tho neutrals can make a good deal by buying wood and mechanical toys and sending them abroad. . . ~ . Tho textile industry is in'the worst plight, the exchange operating against both raw materials and manufacturing. J)ut the richer Germans oro buying Brirish textiles whenever they hnvo tho chance at verv high nrices. Tho homo demand will absorb all the hosiery nnd other goods Germany can make, for eom» timo to como.