Evening star., 1932-02-11
AUTO PARTS SALES
! EXPECTED TO GAIN
Industry Looks for Increase
[ in Shipments to Foreign
Buyers.
BY JESSE o. IRWIN.

Z American automotive replacement ex-
tpertS are expected to show material
kain during this year because of the re-
horted shortage of parts for repairs In
all sections of the world
The trade expressed this view to the
Commerce Department as the Govern
anent agency was compiling data on the
total exports of American automotive
business for 1881, made public today.
There has been a decided slack In
demand for repair parts during the past
two years, together with slump In the
exports of new cars and trucks, and 1t
Mas indicated by the trade that while
sthe foreign buyers may not go IN ex-
Tensively for new rolling equipment
tthey would be forced to buy repair parts
because of necessary overhaulage.
Exports S160,OOO,O0O.
P. R. Mattix OF the Commerce De-
partment Automotive Division said that
frade exports in 1881 totaled Sl6O,OOO,-
900, decline of Sl37 ,9Ol ,2l5, or 46 per
cent, as compared with S298, 652, ,O48 for
the previous year. He said the 1881 to-
tai was also considerably under the
yearly average for the l0-year period,
1922-193l. which was 1912 2,580,754.
The department official declared the
decline in figures was due to the un-
favorable economic conditions through
out the world. In spite of a 20 per
cent drop in the output of passenger
cars and trucks, MattiX pointed out, the
export ratio to production was but 5.4
pc cent, against IL and 100 per cent,
respectively. during 1880 and 1929.
Compared with this country'S ship
ments during 1890 he said export
il aluation on passenger cars decreased
s53 per cent; trucks by 55 per cent, and
lparts and accessories by 81 per cent.
iDuring 1881 the average unit value for
passenger cars and trucks was S6ll
and S52l. as compared with S692 and
$3.50 in the preceding year.
better indication or the demand
Tor the varied classes of automotlve
products is obtained by a comparison
Of the major group exports to the total
Of the year. Shipments of parts for
assembly" according to MATHIS figures,
accounted for 24.86 per cent OF the past
years total and only 2O5 per cent in
1880. Unit shipments of passenger cars
and trucks to the contrary accounted
for 35.5 and 1877 per cent. respectively,
December period just ended the per-
centages were sos and 15.5.
All of the remaining group totals
with the exceptions of automobile
engines and "trailers improved their
ratio to total exports, Mattix said.
The chief purchaser CT American
passenger cars and trucks is Belgium,
it was pointed out. although it should
be clearly understood that good share
of vehicles destined there are for re-
export. The same situation is presented
in the case of Denmark. Unit ship
ments of passenger cars to the Union
of South Africa and Japan exceeded
the figures for 1880, bu5 the valuation
was noticably reduced in the former
case and slightly in the latter.
Shipments Classified.
In the truck group Belgium, Ger
many and Japan received a greater
number of units, but the value was
lower, excepting the latter country,
which showed a considerably improved
figure.
The following table shows the value
and percentage Of this country's over
seas shipments during 1881 of auto
motive products according to major
groups: