Provisional figures issued by the Doari of Trade on January 17 show that when the figures have been seasonally adjusted, exports rose by &20m. during the month to a record of £361m. (the previous highest figure being £351m. in August, 1963). Imports also rose by £20n, to another record, £443m. (this compares with the previous highest of £423m., November last year). Re-oxports fell back by £2m. to £12m, so that the trade gap, i.e., the difference in value terms between goods sold abroad and those bought from othor countries, rose to &£70m,. Total exports during 1963 reached the figure of £4,075m. — a rise of Ire However, imports also rose by 7% to £4,825m.
As the year progressed the trade gap gradually widened. Letwoen the 3rd and 4th quarter, for example, exports grew by 3% but imports grew by 23%. Also during the year the pattern of imports changed, in the early months of 1963 the increase in imports was mainly accounted for by extra purchases of food and oil, Tut in the latter months of the year a large increase took place in the imports of materials used in industry - timber, ores, wool, wood pulp and fibres... This reflected the increase in industrial activity.
The main reason for the slowing down in the increase of exports has been that sales in Vestern iurope have been stagnating. Increases eon in emports to Froncep Holland and Italy have been balanced by reductions - _ inesates to West6rff Copmany. In EFTA a reduction in exports to Sweden ~~~ — cembirted mi th ie ip ses elsewhere has revorsod the recent improve- <i s
“——8tONt. Inthe s@eriiat Ga, too, exports are levelling off. ‘Small —— Gmeagss~in ex 7 India, Hire and South Africa have boen matched ~_—— gy toemeases in, oxf s to New Zealand and Australia. ae ‘
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