Papua Contributes Most to P-NG’s
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
Unfavourable Trade Balance
SOME interesting angles emerged in the trade figures for the Territory of Papua-New Guinea, realeased in Port Moresby at the end of October.
Papua imported £5,500,000 worth of goods more than she exported last year.
New Guinea imported only £1,100,000 more than she exported.
Goods imported into Papua during the financial year 1954-55 were valued at £8,200,000; goods exported were £2,600,000.
New Guinea’s imports totalled £10,500,000, and her exports £9,300,000.
The figures show a decline of
just under £500,000 in the value of copra exports (due to drought and lower prices) and a drop in gold exports, but there were compen satory rises in the export of rubber, cocoa and coffee. Plywood shipped out of the Territory was valued at £680,000. i n imports, the largest outlay was 0 n machinery and general metal manufactures. These ac counted for £5,750,000 of the total £18,750,000 spent on imports. Food ranked next with an expenditure of more than £5,000,000.
Excess of imports over exports was nearly £6,750,000, compared with £4,000,000 in 1953-54.