OVERSEAS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 191, 11 May 1944, Page 6

OVERSEAS TRADE

Figures For Financial Year RECORD IMPORT VALUES

Increases in both exports aud imports are shown in the overseas trade figures for March, released yesterday by the Customs Department. For the first quarter of this year exports show a substantial increase’ and imports a small increase. For the financial year ended March 31 exports show a very slight decrease, while imports, which include lend-lease supplies and defence materials, are by far the highest, ever recorded. For the first nine months of the production year, which opens in July,, exports are at a record high level, as are imports. Exports during March totalled £6,499,000, compared with £5,329,000 in March, 1943, an increase of £1,170,000. Imports for rhe month were £7.926,000, against £7,465,000 in March, 1943, an increase of £461,000, leaving au unfavourable trade balance of £1,427,000, compared with a similar balance in March, 1943, of £2,136,000.

For the first quarter of this year exports were valued at £19,040,000, compared with £15,650,000 for the same period of last year, an increase of £3,390,000. Imports for the period were £18.121,000 and £17,513,000 respectively, an increase of £608,000, there being a favourable balance for the quarter this year of £918,000. compared with an adverse balance last year of £1,863,000.

For the financial year ended March 31 exports .totalled £75,230,000, compared with £75,703,000 for the previous yea,, a decrease of £473,000. Imports for the year were £95,756,000, against £60,718,000 the preceding year, an "increase of £34,975,000, resulting in an unfavourable trade balance for the year of £20,526,000 compared with the favourable balance the previous year of £14,920,000. Export and import values for the last six financial years compare as follows: —

’Excess of imports. For the first nine months of the production year exports were valued at £57,236,000, compared with £53,308,000 in the same period of the preceding year, an increase of £3,928,000. Imports for the same period totalled £70,475,000, compared with £46,914,000, an increase of £23,516,000, leaving an unfavourable balance of £13,239,000, against a favourable balance of £6,394,000. The figures for the first' nine months of the past six productions years compare as under:—

Excess of lear ended Exports. Imports. exports. .uaren 31. £(V.Z.) £(X.Z.) £(N.Z4 1944 ... 75,2;;o,ooo 95,756,000 •20,526,000 1943 ... 75,703,02'1 60,781,000 14,922,000 1942 ... 69,163,000 50,590,000 18,573,000 1941 ... 71,180,000 47,918,000 45,571,000 23,202,000 1940 ... 59,643,000 14,072.000 1939 ... 57,867,000 54,409,000 3,458,000

JulyExcess of Exports. Imports. exports. March, £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) 1943-44 . 57,236,000 70,475,000 46,914,000 *13,239,000 1942-43 . 53,308,000 6,394,000 1941-42 . 51,645,000 37,541,000 14,134,000 1940-41 . 48,248,000 33,107,000 15,141,000 1939-40 . 42,927,000 31,258,000 11,669,000 1938-39 . 41,135,000 42,187,000 * 1,052,000 , ‘Excess of Imports. All values are expressed in terms of New Zealand currency.