EXPORTS DOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1939, Page 4

EXPORTS DOWN

SHARP DECLINE SHOWN IN DECEMBER

HEAVY EXCESS OF IMPORTS. TRADE FIGURES OF LAST YEAR. (By Teleeranh —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A sharp decline in export values is the chief feature of the overseas trade returns for December, which were released yesterday by the Customs Department. Exports during the month were valued at £3,728,000, a decrease of £689,000 compared with those for December, 1937. Exports for the year 1938 were valued at £58,376,000, as against £66,713,000 for 1937. a shrinkage of £8,337,000. There was an excess of imports during December amounting to £1,037,000, and for the 12 months the excess of exports was only £2,954,000, as compared with £10,552,000 for 1937 and £12,493,000 for 1936.

The export and import figures for December for the last three years compare as follows: —

Imports during December were valued at the high level of £4,765,000, an increase of £157,000 on those for De'cember, 1937, and £470,000 in excess of those for the final month of the year 1936. Exports during December fell away to £3,728,000, as compared with £4,417,000 for December, 1937, a decrease of £689,000. The excess of imports for December was £1,037,000, as against £191,000 for December, 1937, and an excess of exports amounting.to £27,000 for December, 1936. Exports last year were valued at £58,376,000, as against £66,713,000 .for 1937, a heavy decrease of £8,337,000. Imports for the twelve months of 1938 were valued at £55,422,000, a decrease of £739,000 as compared with those for 1937, but they were £11,163,000 above those for 1936. The figures for the last three calendar year compare as follows: — . Excess

The heavy decline ' in exports last year has reduced the balance of exports over imports to £2,954,000, as compared with £10,552,000 for 1937 and £12,493,000 for 1936. The above figures take no account of specie, movements of which have been as follows:— Exports. Imports. £ £ Month of December, 1938 18,305 1,357 12 month ended December 31, 1938 .... 31,805 31,274

Excess Exports. Imports. of Imports. Dec., £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) 1938 .. .. 3,728,000 4,765,000 1,037,000 1937 .. .. 4,417,000 4,608,000 191,000 1930 .. ... 4,322,000 4,295,000 *27,000 of exports.

of Exports. Imports. exports. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £ (N.Z.) 1938 58,376,000 55,422,000 2,954,000 1937 66,713,000 56,161,000 10,552,000 1936 56,752,000 44,259,000 12,493,000