Evening star., 1932-03-16
|U. s. EXPORTS Jump
|5 MILLION IN MONTH
Rush to Beat British Tariff
and Cotton Flow to Far
East Get Credit.

The rllsh of American goods 10 Eng
land in anticipation Of the new British
10 per cent raise in tariff, on March !,
together with the steady, heavy now OF
cotton to the Far East. resulted In an
increase of SIS, ,ooc. 600 within one month
in United States exports for February
the Commerce Department announced
today.
Preliminary figures made available
today show this country had IaVor-
able foreign trade balance of s24.ooo,-
COO for the month. Exports amounted
to s155 100000 and imports Sl3l,Ooo'-
ooO. Exports were 1924, 4,346, 600 in Feb
ruary. 1881, and imports were siaa;' saas
GAG, 600. Imports for Feoruary' ISo%'
were the lowest in IT years.
Usually there is about 10 per cent
reduction in February exports que 10
the slowing down in seasonal demands.
While the department has not as yet
broken down" the figures to snow tne
actual value Of the export flow TO eacn
country. officials attributed the rush OF
ships to beat the British tariff barrier
and the cotton fiow to Japan as the
cause for February statistics 10 leap
ahead of January. which are on the
books at $149, ,906,000.
Gold Outflow Checked.
While department officials said there
has been decided letdown In tne out-
flow OF gold from this country during
this month. Europe's second raid on the
dollar since last September reached JUS
height during February. the export flg-
ures showing s128,2I1 900, as compared
with $4,000 in February, 1881, and
$40, ,348, 900 more than was exported dur.
ing January. 1882. when the second raid
began. The bulk of the gold shipment
was consigned to France. 8,
Gold imports for the month amounted
to $37,585,0 900, against $l6,156,ooO 1or
the same month last year.
Preliminary figures received by the
department from Commercial Attache
Cooper at London show that Great
Britains imports during February
amounted to 1884 836,890. an increase
Of 13 per cent over the previous month.
Germany's exports declined for the
fourth month in succession, altnougn
February's returns show smaller de-
cline than January, the department mas
been advised. Indexes Of French con-
ditions reveal further declines, with
unemployment at new high record,
The department has been advised
that some lines Of trade in Japan show
rising activity, especially in iron and
stell plants. Activity In China has been
restricted by the military situation, but
the cessation of hostilities in the west
ern areas of Shanghai has encouraged
business circles there.
Cotton Exports Jump.
At the same time the department re-
leased its preliminary export figures, its
textile division stated that cotton ex-
ports jumped almost Is per cent dur
ing the first seven months Of the cot
ton season as compared with the prev
ious season.
The textile reported that 5,s25,00O
bales had been exported since August,
1881, when the cotton season opened, to
March /. This was an increase Of 1.
013,000 bales over the exports for the
first seven months Of the previous sea-
son.
The Far East, the division said, con-
tinues the principal factor in the larger
cotton shipments. Japan took 1885,
600 bales during the period compared
with $4,000 the previous year and
China's takings were about three times
as large as previously. No figures were
given for China.
Italy increased its takings by 81 900,
but the United Kingdom took 863 900,
the same as last year. Exports to Ger
many and France were smaller, ship
ments to the latter country tctaling
247.0o0 bales, against $4,000 the pre-
vious year.
were 1890 900 bales, compared with
966, 900 for January and February, 1881.
The value Of cotton exported during
pared with $56,000, 900 for cotton ex-
ported during the first two months of
1891.