Huge Decrease Upsets Colony’s
p. 41 · Read in the full issue
Fiji’S Sugar Exports
Fall
Huge Decrease Upsets Colony’s Trade Balance
THOUGH the general trade position of Fiji has considerably altered, figures supplied by the Customs Department for the first three months of 1936 show an increase of £20,932 in the total volume of trade compared with 1935.
Imports have jumped up £92,903 — from £255,464 to £348,367. An extra ordinary and unexplained falling off in shipments of sugar from the C.S.R. centre at Lautoka was responsible for a large decrease in exports from £332,211 to £26o,24o—sugar exports during the first quarter of 1935 totalled 24,776 tons valued at £208,782 against 8,759 tons worth £78,642 this year. Surplus of im ports is now £88,127.
The following - figures illustrate the position : — 1935 1936 £ £ Imports 255,464 348,367 Exports 332,211 260,240 Total trade 587,675 608,607
Exports In Detail
1935 £ Quantity- 1936 £ Quantity Sugar ... 208,782 24,776 tons 78,642 8,759 tons Copra ... 64,666 7,559 tons 97,196 8,107 tons Bananas . 16,392 138,142 cases 27,820 J 49,102 cases 1 1,682 bunch. 3,140 hunch.
Molasses . 2,490 2,490 tons 5,564 5,564 tons vjoia Bullion 5,957 758 ozs. 18,421 2,397 ozs.
Trochus Shell 7,684 119 tons 3,785 53 tons Other Articles 26,240 — 28,812 —