CHINA
,
AT
the value of common printing and newsprinting paper, more particularly from Norway. There was some increase in the value of machinery and tools, particu- larly in textile machinery and parts. The increase under chemicals and phar- maceuticals came largely under sulphate of ammonia, which increased in value by $4.8 million, imports from Great Britain being nearly double in value and quantity those of 1936. The import of cereals and flour was higher by $9.3 million, rice and paddy rising in value from $26.7 million to $40.8 million, with a further decline in the value of wheat from $11.8 million to $6.1 million. Under vehicles and vessels there, was a decline of $10.4 million, locomotives and tenders being lower in value by $7.8 million, railway and tramway carriages. and wagons lower by $8.9 million, with an increase of $4.6 million under motor tractors, trailers, and trucks (including chassis). Miscellaneous metal manufac- tures and dyes, pigments, paints, and varnishes declined in value. Cotton and manufactures thereof again fell off, being value at $37.6 million only as com- pared with $54.4 million during 1936, there being a decline of $20 million in the value of raw cotton imported. Wool and manufactures thereof, on the contrary, improved in value by $6.3 million, almost the entire increase appearing under wool, carded or combed wool, and waste wool. The decline was general under the heading timber, while the import of fishery and sea products declined both in value and quantity. Under the sundry heading the value was $24 million less than during 1936.
EXPORTS
The value of exports increased from $706 million to $838 million, or by 18.7 per cent. In this connexion it should be mentioned, however, that while exports continued to benefit from the lower dollar and, to some extent, from increased demand, higher value rather than increased volume was the principal feature of the export trade. In the following table comparative statistics are given for the value of the export trade during the past three years, arranged according to the groupings used in the "Monthly Returns of the Foreign Trade of China" and in the order of their improtance during the year under review :
EXPORTS ABROAD, 1935-37
1935.
1936.
Textile Fibres
St. $ 97,395,860
St. $ 112,979,740
1937.
St. $
128,227,214
Oils, Tallow, and Wax
57,279,830
91,386,866
127,039,902
Animals and Animal Products (not in-
cluding Hides, Leather, and Skins
(Furs), and Fishery and Sea Products) 80,255,792
103,985,431
124,493,976
Ores, Metals, and Metallic Products
43,574,638
56,742,800
102,452,605
Hides, Leather, and Skins (Furs)
23,628,606
40,501,923
53,785,336
Yarn, Thread, Plaited and Knitted Goods 42,457,104
47,475,874
48,696,392
Seeds
49,000,512
40,804,825
35,880,964
Tea
29,624,184
30,661,711
30,787,274
Piece Goods
18,838,502
24,148,792
22,425,626
Fuel
8,572,048
13,002,036
15,646,832
Cereals and Cereal Products
18,920,899
24,792,229
15,169,798
Other Textile Products
.....
7,669,144
9,419,621
12,925,289
Medicinal Substances and Spices (not in-
cluding Chemicals)
9,147,688
9,845,453
11,848,696
Fruits, Fresh, Dried, and Preserved
8,545,621
9,901,696
11,059,335
Vegetables
8,348,983
9,413,577 10,873,869
Tobacco
9,051,579
10,137,540
9,304,975
Other Vegetable Products
6,217,695
7,146,526
8,413,506
Chemicals and Chemical Products..
5,388,451
6,175,529
7,621,066
Paper
... 4,809,815
5,498,345
7,000,161
Beans and Peas..
5,255,005
8,277,628,
་
6,465,184