The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-18
TEXTILE SALES
SHOW INCREASE
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC is HEAVY
BUYER OF AMERICAN MADE
CLOTH OF ALL KINDS.

Exports Of American textiles to Ar
gintina increased fifty fold between
1913 and 1918, says Trade Commits
sioner L. 8. Garry in Textile Markets
Of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay,
a bulletin just made public by the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
metce, Department of Commerce. TAX
ing advantage of the exceptional con-
ditions brought about by the war,
manufacturers of such articles in the
United States succeeded In selling
$18,814, 900 worth of merchandise to the
Argentinians in the fiscal year pre-
ceding the armistice, as compared with
sales amounting to only $4,000 before
the outbreak of hostilities in Europe.
The United States now occupies the
second position as a supplier Of tex
tiles to this important market, fur
nishing is per cent of the total i'm
ports. The retention and expansion of
the trade thus developed will depend,
Mr.. Garry says, upon the ability OF
American exporters to satisfy. exact
ing requirements in the fact OF deter
mined postwar competition.
The trade commissioner investiga-
tions showed that the textile trade OF
Argentina has always been dominated
by British interests, nearly one-half
the actual imports of piece goods being
generally from that source. Practically
all the imports of French goods con-
sist of the higher-g grade. finer ma
terials in which labor and preparation
represent large proportion. The most
remarkable increase made by any coun-
try in the piece goods trade with Ar
gentina has been that Of Japan, which
prior to the war occupied a negligi-
BILE position, supplying less than s4s.-
BOO worth of goods per year, against
almost 100000 in 1918. This repre-
sents an increase for Japan Of 4.512
per cent in volume and 10,142 per cent
In value, giving that fountry fourth
place among the supplying nations.
The United States has sold to Ar
gentina practically all classes Of cot
ton, woolens, and silk materials, and
the general opinion of importers, Mr..
Garry reports. is that American fab
RIGS are on the whole, well made and
well designed. The buyers find among
American goods many medium class
fabrics suited to the demands of the
Argentine market, and during the war
prices were quite as advantageous as
those quoted by other suppliers. Such
complaints as arise are concerned with
service rather than with the actual
merchandise.
About 20 per cent of the total amount
of textiles in the piece consumed in
Argentina are manufactured in the
country itself. The war gave great
Impetus! to the development Of this
domestic activity. Mr.. Garry states,
however, that most persons in touch
with textile manufacturing in Argen-
tina are not optimistic over the imme-
date future of the industry. In nor
NAL times the local mills have not been
very successful in competing with for
eign centers, and the history Of the in
dustry shows too many failures to JUS
dfy large and serious entry into
this phase until the worlds markets
become stabilized and the outcome of
labor agitation in Argentina is deter
mined. In Mr.. Garry's opinion.
exporters of textiles need not fear any
really serious competition from the
Argentine mills for some time to come.
ut will surely be % years." he con-
eludes, before the local industry can
begin to threaten European and
American commerce."
A full account of textile merchan-
Using methods in all three of the River
Plate countries and detailed discussions
Of the markets for each particular line
are contained in Textile Markets of
Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay"
Special Agents Series No. 1884, which
may be obtained from any of the dis
trict offices of the Bureau and For
eign and Domestic Commerce or from
The Superintendent of Documents, Gov
eminent Printing Office. Washington.
d. c. 1t has ISL pages, and the price
Is 20 cents.