TNAG-0172-FCO40-208-United-Kingdom-Productivity-and-Efficiency-Study-effect-on-H-1969 — Page 149

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Import Suppliers.

Most of the imports of cotton grey cloth during the four months to the end of April again came from the three chief Commonwealth suppliers, India, Pakistan and Hong Kong but Chinese fabric for finishing and re-export remained à major factor. As is already known the overall quantity of these arrivals was reduced in the first four months from 226, 918,000 yards to 131,206,000 yards. dia's share fell from 93,413,000 yards to 30,088,000 yards and supplies from Hong Kong were cut from 35,365,000 yards to 22,579,000 yards.

Pakistan showed only a small decline in shipments from 20,738,000 yards to 17,524,000 yards and arrivals from China were 18,030,000 yards against 19,251,000 yards. In finished cotton fabrics, imports from individual markets show little real change although supplies from Hong Kong were reduced from 10,544,000 yards to 8,648,000 yards and those from India dropped from 6,891,000 yards to 3,653,000 yards.

Exports of knitted fabrics in the four months continued their sharp upward movement, total earnings to the end of April being valued at £5,463,000 against £2,936,000 in the same period last year. More favourable shipments of clothing were reported, steady gains being achieved in each month so far this year; the April figure exceeded £8 million, bringing the four-month total to £27,753,000 against £21,797,000 in the same period of 1968.

In both these cases, however, imports have also risen compared with last year. The cost of arrivals of knitted fabrics for the four months was £2,978,000 against £2,159,000 in 1968, while foreign clothing reaching British ports to the end of April was valued at £42,506,000 against £36,800,000 in the same period last year.

P.I.B. IN A SPOT.

Courtaulds' determination to cease production of viscose textile yarn at its Carrickfergus plant unless margins were made remunerative was undoubtedly a key factor in the decision of the Prices and Incomes Board to approve the proposed price increases for viscose filament yarn and accept the higher charges for processing viscose and acetate yarn which were introduced last December. The Board recognised that if these advances were withheld, resulting in the stoppage of production, imports would rise and exports would be curtailed.

The Board's finding reflected its belief that the national interest would be a dversely affected through the balance of payments if Courtaulds were denied the opportunity to raise their prices. The effect of these increases on the price of the finished product, according to the Board, would be very small.

Originally, a uniform increase of 6d. per lb.

approximately

9% on all kinds of viscose yarn in the home market was planned; the Board of Trade were notified to this effect in December. But after consultations with customers, Courtaulds later submitted a revised price list with varying increases and even a few reductions, averaging a rise of about 5%. This has now been sanctioned by the Prices and Incomes Board.

While one part of this inquiry has therefore been completed, the trade still awaits the views of the Board on prices of spun man- made fibre and cotton yarns, which are also under investigation. It is not expected that this report will be ready for several weeks probably in August.

CONDITIONS IN JAPAN.

The Japanese textile industry, which became Lancashire's bogey- man in the 1920's has subsequently followed very much the same pattern as its rivals in the traditional manufacturing areas of the West.