New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14
Trade Conditions
In South America
Adverse to u. S.
Germans and Belgians Are
Quoting Prices on Much
Lower Scale; Argentine
Commerce Is Improved

While slightly better trade conditions
are stated to prevail in Argentina, re-
ports from other South American coun-
tries to the Department OF Commerce
indicate no improvement
The commercial situation in Argen-
tins SHOWS betterment, in that imports
ere decreasing and exports increasing.
tNpcl,S to European countries an to
Brazil, made up primarily Of wheat and
cora, have increased notably.
Imports from the United States are
still showing marked decline, and on
account Of the exchange rate there is
little prospect of placing orders -
American goods, except for neccssaries
SUCH as oil well equipment. 1alrcal
sup 3l.es, textiles and oIfice equipment
Bel, an and German quotations for flu
t..rc delivery are averaging SO per cent
less than American quotations, and
large orders have been placed in the
former countries for textiles, steel,
paper and hardware.
There are few statesmen from the
United States, and many American
branch houses have gone into volun-
tary liquidation. The American goods
tom house are being liquidated slowly
or returned to the United States.
Continued liquidation has reduced
the stocks on hand so that the amounts
of steel, paper, chemicals, cotton tex
tiles, lubricants, foods and hardware
are less than at this time last year.
Lower prices for raw materials and for
imported manufactured articles are
predicted.
Conditions of extreme depression
continued in Brazil throughout July.
Stocks on hand are not reduced suffi-
GENTLY to force buying at present ex-
change rates. The interior districts re-
fuse to purchase to repleaish their
stocks. Custom house receipts at Rio
de Janeiro are approximately 60 per
cent less than for the same period last
year.
German imports into Brazil have
tcen reduced, but the trade representa-
tives are very active. They continue to
offer prices 20 to rs per cent lower
than those offered by American firms,
especially on electrical goods, iron and
steel products AMI chemicals. Five i'm
purtans American houses are closing
their Offices at Rio de Janeiro on ac-
count Of the depression The Brazilian
Congress is discussing measures de-
signed to remedy the economic crisis,
but any radical relief measure is stated
to be improbable. There is no decided
change in the coffee situation. The gov
ernmcnt has temporarily discontinued
buying, as the market price now reache 5
the government price.
The import trade of Chile is still
dull. as the people are buying only
necessary commodities. Importation
from the United States has been made
more difficult by the increased prem UNI
on the American dollar, caused by the
weakening of exchange spending
20 the decline in sterling exchange on
New York in July.
A temporary suspension of further
sales campaigns in Peru is recon-
nended by Philip S Smith, Trade Com
missioner at Lima, on account of The
general situation. Due to low prices
for export comm ODDITIES, low exchange,
which is predicted to fall still further,
and the accumulation of large stocks of
.nerchands e, many importers are with
drawing from the market. Opportuni-
ties for cash sales are non existent,
and time sales are not generally war
yanted on account of the strained
credit condition.