The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-17
BRAZIL, HIT HARD
BY WAR CONDITIONS
Exports and Imports Declined
Seriously in Last 6 Months
of Fighting.

Probably no country in the world
with the possible exception Of those
OF the Central Powers, has been more
adversely affected by the war as re-
CARDS to her foreign trade than Brazil.
In reporting on the situation n COM
rercial representative in Brazil OF the
| National City Bank of New York said:
Brazil suffered a considerable de-
cline in trade during the first six
months OF 1918. Her exports decreased
both In tonnage arS value. while her
| imports decreased in volume. but. due
| to the rise OF prices everywhere, in
creased in value. Her trade balance for
| the FIRST six months OF 1918 was mate
rally reduced.
| There was considerable increase in
| the number of live stock imported. due
to the activities of the Minister of
Agriculture in promoting the breeding
OF beef cattle. The large foreign cor
porations operating in Brazil, such as
the Swift and Armour companies, are
also cooperating actively in an endeavor
| both to improve the breed and to in
CT case the number OF live stock.
Raw materials imported fell OF
nearly 100000 tons for all groups COM
pared with the same period OF the pre-
vious year. Increases occurred in
lumber, cement, leather and unciassitied
raw materials, There was diminished
tonnage OF iron and steel, jute. wool,
materials for the manufacture Of per-
fumery. paints. dyes. &C. and coal and
coke.
| Drop in Manufactured Exports.
Imports of manufactured goods fell
Oft about 30 per cent. compared with
the same period OF. 1917. Slight in
creases occurred in the imports of We
hicles. manufactures OF copper and its
compounds. woollen goods, linen goods
and chemical products, drugs and phar-
maceutical specialties There was
heavy decline in cotton goods, iron and
steel manufactures. gasolene. kerosene,
combustible oils and slight decreases in
rubber goods, porcelain and glassware,
machinery and accessories. tools and
paper and paper goods.
| importation OF foodstuffs showed
considerable increase over 1917. Larger
quantities of -four. wheat. table fruits,
salt and provender were imported, and
| smaller quantities OF beverages and
olive oil. Totals OF import tonnage were
77s.5s9 metric tons for the first six
months Of 1918, compared with a27,0s4
for the same period OF 1917. a falling
off OF 1ts.4s5 metric tons.
! Prices of the chief articles imported
by Brazil advanced from $50 to 400
per cent or more since the war began
Prices prevailing the year before the
war. as compared with those for 1917
show an advance for iron bars of 2s9
per cent iron plate 329. steel plates 2s4
potash 3o4. paints in powder AS. acetic
acid 4Ss. needles 231. barbed fence wire
227, galvanized roofing 32s. tin plate in
sheets 22O. tubes and piping 23b.
The Brazilian Embassy in Washing
ton reported recently that the War
Trade Board In the United States had
ordered tIat one-fourth of the rubber
imported into the United States should
be of Brazilian origin, In spite OF the
fact that prices favored the importation
OF rubber from the Far East. where
stocks are largely in excess OF consump-
ton.
Rubber Sent to United states.
I'm this connection the Journal do
Commerce. says:
1.-The importation OF rubber into the
United States has been fixed at an aver
age OF 100, 900 tons a year although the
consumption last year was about $50, 900
tons. This Limitation. however. Is not
absolute, as it is made quarterly and
not annually. Hence the limit may be
allowed to vary In accordance with the
output OF the producing countries and
in agreement with consumption. OF the
total It is now reported that one-fourth
shall be of Braziliai. origin. by action
of the War Trade Board Of the United
States.
OF consumption in the United States. a
fact which indicates a basis for an
agreement which, IL impossible of pres
ent realization, certainly merits serious
study with a view to the future.
1.-THE movement OF Brazilian exporta-
ton has been an follows: 1902. 2S,S6l
tons; 1905, s5,Ss3; 1908. ss,207; 1912,
42.2s6. In 1918 a decline began, the
/ expectation for that year being 36,2S2
tons and in 1914 1881 tons. with war
conditions exports rose In 1915 to 3b, 165
tons, but dropped again in 1915 to 3l.4s5
tons rising slightly In 1917 to S3'sSo
tons The drop in expectation for 1918
was great In the first seven months OF
the year. Brazil exported only 1873
tons OF rubber.
, "'with the war ended American con-
sumption will at least reach the level
OF 1918 and will be, more or less, four
times greater than actual Brazilian pro-
duction. Eastern rubber will, therefore,
nnd large opportunities in the United
States and Europe.
1.-THE diplomatic negotiations which
have brought about the present reliei IN
the rubber situation should serve to IN
dictate a general line OF procedure which
must not be abandoned, Our rubber
has sim before It a great future"