Evening star., 1939-06-26
Merchandise Imports
For May Climb 10
'17-Month Peak
Exports Keep Favorable
Lead With Margin
Of $46,757.000


The Commerce Department an
nounced today merchandise imports
into the United States rose in May
to the highest figure in II months,
totaling $202 ,502,O 900.
This figure was $4,000, 900 more
than in the corresponding month
last year and $4,000 900 more than
in April.
Merchandise exports in May
amounted to $249, ,259 900, maintain
ing the traditional excess of exports
by a margin of $46,757,0O0 For the
first five months of the year exports
totaling 81 ,179 1863 900 were ahead of
the $9l5,479,o00 imports by $685.
100000.
Last year, when an unusually
large export excess was piled up,
sales to foreigners in the first five
months totaled $1,358 ,062 900, while
imports amounted to $815 OBS 900,
making an export excess of $542,-
977,000.
Exports Also Gain.
Although the rise in imports
marked May figures, exports in the
same month were 8 per cent higher
than in April and were only 3 per
cent under May, 1888.
The import gain, which continued
a trend evident since industry set
a faster pace after the recent re-
cession and demanded more raw
materials, was attributed by the
department largely to larger pur-
chases of crude rubber, tin, wood
pulp, newsprint and coffee.
1t was registered despite a sharp
falling off of purchases of cameras
and other specialties from Germany
which tripled its sales to the United
States in April in an effort to get
as much goods into this country
as possible before the United States
Treasury's extra 25 per cent tariff
duty on German goods went into
effect in the last week of that
month.
For the first five months of 1899,
a department analysis showed, i'm
ports of crude materials were 20
per cent larger than in the cor
responding period last year, crude
foodstuff importation gained "a per
cent, semi-manufactures increased
20 per cent and finished manufac-
lures were ahead l3 per cent, while
manufactured foodstuffs, the only
other classification, declined 7 per
cent, The latter decline was at
tributed to smaller purchases of
sugar in Cuba.
Reflect Arms Needs.
Rejecting in part the worlds de-
mand for armaments, exports were
ahead of last year on metal working
machinery. aircraft, rubber manu-
factures, textile manufactures. meat
products and certain chemicals.
Exports of gasoline, automobiles,
copper and steel products, which
had Jagged in the first four months
OF this year, picked up substantially
in May. Exports of foodstuffs, how
ever, continued on a low level
Gold imports in May totaled $429,-
10000, compared with $50 ,987 900 in
the same month last year, while gold
imports of $4,000 in May of this
year compared with $212 600 in May
1898.
Silver imports in May, amounting
to S6,152 900, fell below the S17,952,-
600 of May, 1898. Silver exports were
S611,000 this May, compared with
$4,000 in the same month last year
Wheat Exports Lag.
Exports of wheat in May amount
ed to 10,672 600 bushels, compared
with II ,043, 900 bushels in the same
month last year, while wheat sales
abroad for the first five months of
the year totaled 44,O34 900 bushels
compared with 43,268 900 bushels in
the like period last year.
Imports of wheat for milling and
export were 997 900 bushels in May
compared with $4,000 bushels in
May, 1888, and similar imports for
the first five months of the year
amounted to 4,458, 900 bushels COM
pared with 10000 bushels in the first
five months of last year.
Exports of corn dropped to 1,175,-
600 bushels in May, compared with
Is ,408 900 bushels in the same month
last year. For the first five months
OF the year shipments totaled 49,
449 900, compared with 84,271 900
bushels last year.
Cotton Exports Down.
Exports of raw cotton totaled 81
629 900 punds in May, compared with
1lO,942, 900 in the same month last
year, while shipments for the first
flve months amounted to 683, ,211 900
pounds, compared with 1,153, ,849, 900
In the similar months last year.
The imports of raw cotton were
10,930000 pounds, compared with
l0,245,000 pounds in May, 1898. I'm
ports in the five months totaled A.
778,0O0, comparedg with 43,3OO,0 900
last year.
A total of 10000 pounds of
meat products were shipped out OF
the country in May, compared with
1885, 900 in the same month last
year. Shipments in the first five
months amounted to II ,871 900, com
pared with 62,728,0O last year.
Foreign countries sold here in May
18,159,000 pounds of meat products
compared with 15,639,0 900 pounds ir
the similar month last year. and ir
the first five months of 1899 sole
5,112,OOO pounds, compared with
81 ,472 900 in the corresponding part
Of last year.