Japan sells more, buys

less from New Guinea

Special to “PIM”, by JACK ASHCROFT-SMITH Australia and Japan, the two biggest exporters of goods to Papua-New Guinea (totalling 67 per cent, between them up to June, 1969) have levelled off their imports from the territory. Japan reduced its imports by 50.9 million to $3.7 million, while Australia increased the previous year’s total of $29.6 million by only $0.36 million.

Exports from P-NG actually in creased by $5 million to $75 million while imports rose only by $4 million to $149 million.

These facts emerge from a study of the latest figures, drawn from official sources but not yet officially released as a complete package.

Among the highlights of the 1968/69 figures (ended June): Imports—Australia supplied goods worth $80.6 million, an increase of $3.8 million, making nearly 55 per cent, of the total. More than 80 per cent, of the food, 62 per cent, of beverages and tobacco, 64 per cent, of chemicals, 55 per cent, of manufactured goods, 41 per cent, of non-electrical machinery, 57 per cent, of electrical machinery and appliances and 26 per cent, of transport equip ment.

In the five years since 1964/65, Australia has lost ground in all classes of commodities except chemi cals.

Increased NZ share

New Zealand has increased its total share from the previous year of $O.OB million to $0.84 million, recovering and surpassing its earlier market percentage in fresh, frozen and canned meats after nearly five years of declining activity.

New Zealand suppliers have also obtained a good foothold in the market for some lines of cereal products and manufactured goods.

Mainland China and France have made further inroads into the pre viously Australian monopoly in canned meats. Japan, with nearly 12 per cent, of the total market, was the second major supplier taking 34 per cent, of the market for transport equipment, 13 per cent, of manufac tured goods, 14 per cent, of electrical machinery and appliances and nearly 9 per cent, of foodstuffs.

The Japanese share has increased by nearly 50 per cent. in the past five years. The US, with nearly 8

per cent, of the total imports, supplied 15 per cent, of beverages and tobacco, nearly 9 per cent, of chemicals, 25 per cent, of non electric machinery and 16 per cent, of transport equipment.

The US has maintained a steadily increasing share in practically all classes of imports for the past five years, exceptions being in electrical machinery and transport equipment.

Drop in foodstuffs

With the exception of petroleum product suppliers, together with Communist China, France, Japan and NZ and the US, all other countries have shown a decline as sources of imports during the five year period.

In the five years to June, 1968, there was a regular annual increase of around 20 per cent, in the value of foodstuffs imported into the terri tory. Some indication of a levelling off in import patterns appears from the 1969 increase of 9 per cent.

The largest individual increase in recent years has been in imports of motor vehicles. These were valued at nearly $lO million in 1968/69, having doubled in five years. Major increases have also occurred in imports of non-electrical machinery, 85 per cent.; electrical machinery 120 per cent, and other transport equipment, 200 per cent.

Exports—Principal customers for the territory’s exports were Australia $29.6 million (up $0.36 million on previous year), the UK $lB.B (down $1.5 million), West Germany $8.4 million (up $3.8 million), US $5.7 million (up $0.26 million), Japan $3.7 million (down $0.9 million) and the Netherlands $3.9 million (up $1.7 million).

Among the points of interest were the re-appearance of desiccated coco nut 2,541 tons, $0.99 million—after an absence from the territory’s export list since 1954—with a record for exports of this commodity from

P-NG. The greater proportion went to Australia, smaller quantities find ing their way to the UK, Canada, NZ and the Japanese markets.

Although copra exports were up by 18,000 tons, the quantity of coconut oil was down by 3,500 tons —the overall value of coconut pro ducts, excluding desiccated coconut, decreased by nearly $i million.

There were further increases in quantities of coffee and cocoa beans, tea, rubber and peanuts. Major decreases occurred in exports of timber products, Crustacea, pyrethrum and passionfruit extract.

O Australian and French business interests early this year will propose to the New Hebrides Condominium Government that a coconut oil crush ing mill, to cost over $1 million, be set up in the condominium.

The plant, on either Efate or Santo, will need high-grade as well as the Hebrides low-grade copra, in dicating coconuts could come also from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and the Solomons.

The Hebrides produces over 40,000 tons of copra a year and is the Islands’ second biggest producer (first is New Guinea, with over 100,000 tons). Islands coconut oil mills are at Rabaul (P-NG), and Suva.