Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-06
j. S. FOREIGN TRADE
SHOWS BIG DECREASE
Total for 1922 Was S6.379,-
100000, as Compared With
SIO.l7O.OOO.OOO i'm 1927.

WASHiNGTON. Nov. 5-.American
foreign trade FOR The fiscal year.
which ended June 81. suffered IA
common with The general world de-.
preston. according TO an analysis
issued tonight by the Commerce be-
par;men;. The department.. how
ever. found the great decline in
value from the previous year To 10.
due in A large degree to fall in
prices rather than in quantities
The countrys total foreign trade
for the fiscal year. 1922. was $G.37o.-
100000 Of which S?GOS. 100000 was
in imports and 77i.OOD.p0O exports
compared with siO.lTo. 900. 900 Ia.
previous year, divided between So
65;.o0O.oG0 OF imports and SG.5lG-
100000 Of the exports. The nations
favorable trade balance FOR l?22. waa
only slightly over $1,000. 600. 600. as
against nearly S3.0Oc.O0Q. 900 the pre-
vious year.
For the year la2i22." the depart
meut said. the excess OF exports
over imports Of tl.ls3.00o.0o0 was
lIGuidaied In par; by $4,000 600 net
imports nf precious metals. ana this
together with the additional csti-
mated balance against US OF $i.5Oo.-
o"n."oO OF Invisible exchange. cx-
c""ds tho amount necessary 10
square accounts by some $3.50. 600. =
900. No doubt this was at least
partly absorbed in repayment %,
private loans. because even a smaller
amount of private export nnaucin-;
existed in July. 1922. than In July.
1921. Generally this change indi-
Gates "A much soundcr and drmcr
basis OF trade
steady increase in the ratio OF
imports TO exports, which. IL con-
tihu"d. would reach n balance in the
movement OF goods in another few
months. was noted by the dcparT :
men;. which declared that with tho
end OF the gold import stage Of tho
war rradjustment approaching and
considering the invisible exchange
situation. continued trend In the
general direction now evident soon
would produce gold exports even in
The face OF payments on account OF
allied debts
Several important shifts in the
countr%'s foreign trade due to tho
war. we're observed BY The Gepart-
mcnt. Exports OF foodsturs have in
creased Immensely. the department
declared. due partially to the de-
moraiization OF Russia. Agricul-
tural exports for 1922. amoun,in,,
- N''''''"N'''N'' " ere larger
tn quantity. durini; the year OF de-
preston. d"spit" that they decreased
I'm value by about 70O.OO0.0OO pounds
sterling.
Decreasing exports or raw cotton
were attributed bv the dcpartmeur
I" various causes. chiefly short nro-
dnction. but partially to the steady
Increase IN cotton manufactures in
this country. Exports OF asricul :
tura! produce. the department est
mated. comprised IL per cent of tho
entire crop value on the farm. while
exports OF manufactured goods were
less than per cent OF the countries
production.
This las7 fact" the department
declared, has mulch Ia do with orr
ability to shake loose from Euro
pcHn economic currents IN tho manu-.
featuring industries and with tho
strengthening OF employment in our
nome industries. we Will. no doubr
increase home CONSUMPTION in agri-
cultural products"
Increasing ratio of imports from
tropical countries. was noted nv th,
department a. pronounced shift in
the country's foreign trade during
the last few years. More than half
OF the coun1rys imports are now
OF tropical origin. such as rubber.
coffee and sugar. as against one
third OF such imports before IN.
war. Tho balance OF trade in front
cat countries. the department added.