AUSTRALIA'S TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 12

AUSTRALIA'S TRADE

NEW ZEALAND'S DEBIT

' Australia's overseas trade increased in value by £164,344,000 for 1934-35. Returns shown in the official trade bulletin for 1934-35, issued by the Commonwealth Statistician, state that of the total imports of £74,119,496, £30,789,000 or 42.61 per cent, came from the United Kingdom. Canada's exports to Australia were valued at £4,092,000 or 5.66 per cent.—nearly twice as much as the next highest Empire country, India, with £2,541,000 or 3,52 pelcent.

The United States supplied 15.28 per cent. (£11,042,000) of the 40 per cent, of imports from foreign countries, Japan being next with 6.4 per cent. (£.4,625,000), and the Netherlands East Indies third with 6.07 per cent. (£4,390,000).

British countries supplied 59.90 per cent, of imports, compared with 60.5 per cent, in the previous year. British countries absorbed 66.04 per cent, of Australian exports, as against 59,41 per cent, in the preceding year.

Practically the whole of Australia's exports to Empire countries went to Great Britain, which took £63,570,000, or 56,36 per cent, of the total exports of £112,986,000 (Australian currency), compared with 51,81 per cent, in the previous year.

Of the foreign countries, Japan bought more than twice as much as any other, her imports from Australia being worth £12,096,000. Belgium was next with £6,080,000, and then France with £4,732,000, U.S.A. £2,758,000, China £2,472,000, Germany £1,738,000, and Manchuria £1,614,000.

Australia's principal adverse trade balances were:—U.S.A., £8,839,709: Netherlands East Indies, £3,443,397: Canada, £2,938,851;. and India £1,913,776. ' Her principal favourable balances were:—United Kingdom, £19.981,230; Japan, £5,032,357; Belgium, £4,376 732: France, £2,915,859; China, £1,609 735; and New Zealand, -£1,408,005.