WORLD DAIRY TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 5

WORLD DAIRY TRADE.

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE, CHIEF CHEESE EXPORTER. LONDON, Jan. 1. New Zealand is shown to be the world’s largest, exporter ,of choose and tho second largest exporter of butter in the latest dairy produce report of the Imperial Economic Committee. Butter consumption has continued to increase. Tho Now Zealand figure of 41.61 b a head for the year ended July, 1937, was the highest in tho world, with the possible exception of the Irish Free State, for which recent results were not available. Other returns were: Australia, 32.31 b; United Kingdom, 24.81 b; Denmark, 201 b; Germany, 18.11 b; United States. 16.61 b; and France, 13.31 b. Empire countries exported 44 per cent, moro in 1936 than in 1930, but the 1936 figures were 11 per cent, below those of the previous year as the result of an unfavourable season in Australia. On tho other hand, exports from foreign countries increased by 11 per cent, in 1936. For the first time, New Zealand held the position of the world’s largest exporting country for butter in 1935 with exports of 2,789,000 cwt, but she lost it again in 1936 with exports of' 2,796,000 cwt, us compared with Denmark’s 2,878,000 cwt.

The United Kingdom remained tho world’s chief butler importer, taking fourfifths of the amount entering world trade in 1936, as compared with under two-thirds in 1930. Tho quantity received from Empire countries rose from 45 per cent, of Britain’s total imports in 1930 to 53 per cent, in 1936, but this figure was a decline of 4 per cent, on the previous year. About 97 per cent, of New Zealand’s exports went to Britain. Although shipments were 4 per cent, less than in 1935 and 9 per cent, loss than in 1930. New Zealand’s cheese exports of 1,658,000 cwt in 1936 wore by far the world’s largest. Tho Netherlands, with 1,119,000 cwt, was the nearest competitor. The Dominion’s shipments declined as compared with 1935, while Canada’s exports showed a marked increase Consumption of choose. had increased generally between 1930 and 1936. The amount eaten in the Empire was much smaller than elsewhere. Although tho British are comparatively small cheese eaters, tho United Kingdom took over half tho supplies entering world trade in 1936, ♦he other chief importers being Germany, United States, Belgium and Franco in that order. Supplies from Empire sources accounted for about 90 per cent, of United Kingdom imports. Practically all New Zealand’s exports went to Britain. Foreign countries had been importing less for a number years, but this trend was arrested in 1936. A noticeable tendency in tho cheese trade in recent years has been for tho Empire to bo more self-sufficient. The Empire as a whole imported 504.000 cwt in 1930, but this was reduced to 165,000 cwt in 1936.