Evening star., 1935-10-02
IMPORTS OF FOOD
SHOW SHARP RISE
Wheat, Corn and Cattle
Lead--Export Balance
Is SIumplng Badly.
Hy the Associated Press.

Gy tne ASSOCIAtcu Ffeoc.
Heavy increases In American i'm
ports of foodstufis during the first
half of 1895 were reported today by
the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States.
Chamber statisticians, noting,
among other things. q 1T per cent
Jump in wheat imports, . 1r,462 per
cent increase in corn imports, and
a 356 per cent rise in cattle i'm
ports, attributed the increases to the
drought and higher domestic prices.
Their review of imports followed
publication last night of an analysis
of recent foreign trade which they
said indicated the year end would
show the smallest favorable trade
balance in 40 years.
An improved showing was predicted
for the last four months of this year.
but even so chamber experts fig-
ured the total favorable balance of
exports over imports would fall slight
ly below $100, 900 900. Not since 1895,
they said, j. has the excess of exports
dropped below that figure. Last
years favorable trade balance was
$778 100000
Manufactured Articles Lead.
The analysis asserted manufactured
articles were displacing farm products
as the United States leading export
commodities.
In its review Of food imports for
the first six months. the report said:
Feeding grains, cattle, meats. but
ter, vegetable oil and oil seeds flowed
into the United States in the heaviest
Importation in many years.
Imports Of wheat for the half year
amounted to 12,l79, 900 bushels, which
was lit per cent larger than in the
corresponding half of 1884 and % per
cent above the nve-year average.
product wheat feeds imported
totaled $4,000 tons. an increase of
226 per cent over 1894 and 1873 per
cent above the flye-year average. Corn
imported amounted to 17,62o,00o
bushels, II 1852 per cent more than last
year and 1850 per cent above the AVE-
year average. Receipts of oats
amounted to 1o.055.o00 bushels. ex-
ceeding last years quantity by 47.55a
per cent and the five-year average by
$50 per cent.
Cattle Imports Gain.
"In the same period, we imported
230,5Sl cattle, 356 per cent more than
last year and 1873 per cent above the
five-year period. Imported meat pnod-
ucts. chiefly canned, jumped to 58,-
900 900 pounds, an increase of 122 per
cent above 1894 and rs per cent above
the five-year period. Importations Of
butter amounted to 81, 500, 600 pounds,
an increase of 7.446 per cent above
last year and 2,43S per cent larger
than the five-year period. Most Of the
butter imports came in during the first
four months Of the year.
For the first time since 1924 cane
sugar became our leading import. dis
placing coffee, which had held first
place for several years. During the
half year we imported 3.376, 6,000, 900
pounds OF sugar, valued at 373, ,4s6, 900.
Two-thirds Of 1t came from Cuba.
The quantity was 20 per cent greater
than the amount imported in the first
half OF 1884 and was 8 per cent larger
than the 1930-l934 ive-year average"
For the FIRST eight months Of 1885.
department figures showed, exports
totaled ;l,36s, 100000, while imports
aggregated sl.34l .ooo, 900. onicials
were interested In the fact that for the
same period Of 1884 exports added I'D
to exactly the same figure rs this year.
but imports were 33l, ,o0o, 900 less, or
l,1l0,o00, 900.
Russian Trade Fiuctuates.
ofdcials said fluctuations in Russian
purchases were the rule rather than
the exception because of the fact that
one Russian hrm buys all that ma
tionis imports. This presented, they
said, an entirely different picture
than q country Of many individual
importers with many and varying
needs
The department figures for August's
commerce with other nations allowed
little net change from the preceding
month, but revealed q deep drop In
Russian purchases OF American COM
modities.
Notwithstanding the trade agree
ment with Russia signed In July, un.
der which the Soviet guaranteed to
buy $4,000 900 worth Of American
goods annually. exports fell from
s5,52o, 900 in July to $4,000 in Au-
Gotten and machinery accounted for
the difference.