TRADE WITH EMPIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1940, Page 5

TRADE WITH EMPIRE

SOUTH AFRICA’S POSITION FIGURES FOR 1639. BRITAIN AS BEST CUSTOMER. The British Empire supplied 53.4 per cent of the Union's imports and took 55.6 per cent of its exports during the 12 months ended December 31. 1939. according to the annual report issued by the South African Department of Customs and Excise. The principal supplier and the principal customer continued to be Great Britain with 42.1 and 43.5 per cent of the Union’s imports and exports respectively. Next on the list was Canada., whence the Union derived 4.4 per cent of its imports. Southern Rhodesia, while supplying only 0.5 per cent of the Union's imports, took 5.6 per cent of its exports. Of foreign countries, the Union bought most from the United States, £17.500.000. representing 19.3 per cent of the total imports. The United States' purchases from the Union, however, were valued at only £2.500.000. or 9.1 per cent of this country's total exports. Germany took 9.7 per cent, valued at £2,750,000, and sent to the Union £5,000.000 worth. France was a good customer, taking £1.600.000 worth of .he Union’s produce, or 5.8 per cent )f the total exported. The respective proportions of Union imports from British and foreign countries differed but little from 1938, cut there was a decrease of 5 per cent in Union exports to the British Impire and a corresponding increase n exports to foreign countries.

Most of the shipping entering and caving Union ports was British--324 vessels out of 6,040. Although ome 140 fewer ships entered Union ports in 1939 than in 1938, their aggregate tonnage was greater by 500,000. Similarly, there was a slight decrease in the number of vessels cleared, but Jiey carried (including bunker coal) 100,000 more tons of cargo. . Durban remained the Union’s prenier port. handling during the year mports and experts to the combined ■ahie of £4O millions. Cape Town came next with £26 millions, Port Slizabeth £231 millions, Lourenco Marques £lO millions, and East London £8 millions. IMPORTS. The following imports all shewed , ncreases over 1938: Alcoholic liquors -chiefly whisky), many textiles, paper, ea, pulp and rice. A decrease of 1,400 in the number of imported moor cars represented £300,000, but here was an almost equal increase in he value of imported motor parts, vhile motor spirit and other petroleum croduets each showed an increase of about half a million pounds. There was a further decrease in footwear imports and .an increase of £200,000 in the value of umnanufacured leather imported. Rubber and übber products, including tyres and übes, showed increases. The total cost of freight, insurance, ■ommission and other charges on the 'lnion's imports, excepting those sent ■y parcel post, was £96£ millions. I There were numerous small dereaces in imports of iron and steel ■ods and metal, manufactures. Im-'O’-’ts cf machinery decreased by £3 ■'llion, and Government stores from 19.4 millions to £6 millions. Fencing ■materials, galvanised and corrugated Total sheet and other metal sheet and achines all showed an increase. The total value of imports was 391,341,000, against £95,628,000 in '.938. EXPORTS. Among experts, wool (scoured and ■rcasy), and other animal products all bowed a decrease, both in quantity 1 nd value. The value of maize exported fell to 3960,000 from the 1938 figure 'of £2,624,000 and maize meal exports fell )y half. Other decreases were in de,'iducus fruit, grapes and dried fruit, ut there were increases in exports i f fresh and frozen meat, jams, butte-- ! Tides and. skins. The export of wine! nd tobacco increased as did asbestos .nd coal, and whale oil experts were rebled. Uncut diamonds decreased Tom £1,500,000 to £1,000.000. Exports from the Union (excluding fold) were, valued at ’ £34,000,000, an ncreo.se of £1,500,000 on the previous .-■ear.