EXPORTS DOWN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1930, Page 4

EXPORTS DOWN

AUSTRALIAN EXTERNAL TRADE

The extent of the fall in Australian exports for the first half of the financial year is disclosed in the overseas trade figures compiled by the Commonwealth Statistician. The total of exports for the six months to 31st December shows a decline of £10,073,585, compared with the cotresponding period of 1928-29, but more significant figures, those of merchandise alone, reveal a fall of £17,861,302. Gold shipped amounted to £9,217.330, .or £7,----787,717 more than in the earlier period, a sudden accretion in the last month being due to the dispatch of a large portion of £4,000,000 exported to London by the Commonwealth Bank. Against the heavy decrease in exports there was an increase of £1,873,063 iv imports. The value of merchandise, imported moved up £1,021,GOS, tho net increase being lessened by a drop of £47,690 in imports of gold. The totals show a large excess of imports of £16,119,386, which compares with an excess of imports of £4,171,833 at the end of six months in the earlier year. Comparison of exports arid imports follow:— ;

TRADE OF AUSTRALIA. Six Months. 1928-29. 1929-30. Exports— £ £ Merchandise ... 67,358,0115 49,496,711 Gold 1,429,013 0,217,330 Total 68,787,626 38,714,041 Decrease exports, 1929-30, £10,073,585. DMevchandisc ... 72,778,710 74,700,063 Gold 180,740 133,039 72,059,450 ■. 7-1,833,427 Excess of imports ..a over exports .... #71,833 • 16,110,386