H.—44.

Direction of Trade. The direction of our export trade during the last twelve months, as compared with the figures for the previous three years, is shown in Table 111, set out hereunder. The percentage of each country's figure to the total export figure is also shown for the purposes of comparison.

Table III. —Direction of New Zealand's Export Trade.

Exports to British countries fell by £2,066,189, and those to foreign countries by £6,311,107. The principal feature of the foregoing table is the substantial increase in the percentage of exports taken by the United Kingdom as compared with the figures for 1937. Further eonmments on the variations in the table will be found in the paragraphs relating to trade with the various countries.

3

1935. 1936. 1937. 1938. Value - centage. Value ' centage. Value ' centage. Value ' centage. British possessions, protectorates, &0 L_ £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) United Kingdom .. 38,921,568 83-63 45,492,989 80-15 50,724,550 76-03 48,898,865 83-76 60,956 0-13 125,826 0-22 135,730 0-22 137,281 0-24 Cevlon ■ 1,528 0-00 1,401 0-00 1,074 0-00 362 0-00 South African Union .. 27,504 0-06 21,855 0-03 29,554 0-04 19,357 0-03 Canada •• 656,984 1-41 1,103,008 1-96 1,667,449 2-49 1,116,601 1-91 Australia .. 1,781,811 3-83 1,843,475 3-25 1,824,183 2-74 2,192,058 3-76 Fiji 86,191 0-19 102,076 0-17 95,214 0-14 98,427 0-17 Other British countries" .. 241,999 0-52 272,736 0-52 304,244 0-46 252,858 0-43 Total, British countries 41,778,541 89-77 48,963,366 86-30 54,781,998 82-12 52,715,809 90-30 Foreign countries and possessions— United States of America .. 2,468,071 5-30 2,877,752 5-07 4,796,039 7-19 1,446,957 2-48 France ■■ 484,610 1-04 1,646,168 2-90 1,014,941 1-52 1,001,987 1-72 Belgium .. ■■ 047,212 1-39 618,356 1-09 700,964 1-05 363,113 0-62 Germany . .. •• 165,304 0-36 272,481 0-48 918,171 1-38 886,308 1-52 Japan ' •• •• 432,495 0-93 1,554,837 2-74 3,131,986 4-70 592,714 1-02 East Indies' !! " i!894 'l',m O-Ol Other foreign countries .. 560,210 1*20 817,086 1-42 1,123,571 1-68 1,079,872 1-85 Total, foreign countries 4,760,137 10-23 7,788,574 13-70 11,689,725 17-52 5,378,618 9-22 ♦Ship's stores ~ .. 241,656 0-36 281,856 0-48 Totals, all countries .. 46,538,678 100-00 56,751,940 100-00 66,713,379 100-00 58,376,283 100-00 * Prior to 1st January, 1937, " ships' stores" were classed as an item of export to the country of destination of the vessel purchasing stores in the Dominion.