Evening star., 1940-11-04
World Trade Trends
Contrast Sharply
With 1914.15
Agricultural Exports
In Present Conflict
Are Shut OFF
By PAUL ID. GESNER,
Associated Press Business Writer.

=
import trade trends in the current
European war have been widely
different from those in the World
War in 1914-18, the National
Foreign Trade Council, Inc, reports
after a study of our business with
foreign nations in the first year OF
the present conflict.
In the previous war, trade with
European neutral countries was
maintained with less interruption
and our agricultural exports con-
tinued to find an outlet in both
belligerent and neutral markets,
says the council.
In the previous war period agrt-
cultural exports were about one
half of total exports, contrasted with
a decline of 18 per cent in the II
months war period of l939-40," the
council added For a number Of
years prior to this war Great Britain
had pursued a policy of greater self
suffciency in agricultural produc-
ton within her empire. When the
war broke out the necessity for con-
serving exchange diverted British
purchases of foodstuffs to empire
countries"
Other Differences Cited.
I'm the 1914-15 period covering
the first year of the World War,
our domestic exports increased by
% per cent, compared with IS per
cent in the II months period Of
1939-40 Imports in the former
period declined, but showed an in
crease of % per cent in the war
period of 193940.
In the first year of the previous
war, our exports to Europe in
creased; our sales to Latin America,
Canada and Asia declined" the
council continued In the first |
year of this war our exports gains
were more widely distributed. with
notable increases in sales to Canada
and Latin America, in addition to
Europe"
Textile Trade Alert.
Worth street is wondering whether
anothc. squirt in purchases of cotton
textiles is due this week. Last
Friday between zI 100000 and 30
100000 yards of PRINT cloths and
related items were sod, and in ad-
dition mills booked substantial
orders for sheetings, broadcloths,
and drills. Prices on active items
during the day were marked up ls-
cent a yard.
Textile men doubt the 1s-cent
mark-ups will deter new purchases
as demand develops.
Our Record Set.
The Great Lakes feet of vessels
moving Lake Superior iron ore again
established a new high for october
movement, the Lake Superior Iron
Ore Association reports. October
ore shipments from United States
and Canadian upper lake ports
totaled 10,061, ,l27 tons, a gain of
per cent over the 9,201 ,249 tons for
the like 1889 month, and exceeding
the previous record for October
established in 1926 when ore ship
ments totaled 9,337,774 tons.
The lake ore movement last
month also exceeded September
shipments of 9,998,618 tons, the as
Sociation said. Shippers regarded
this as a contraseasonal gain since
October ore movement usually shows
a decline from September as the
lake navigation season approaches
its close.
The fastest steel ingot outturn in
history is stimulating the iron ore
movement this year. The Nations
steel mills last week turned out the
largest volume of steel ingots for
any week in history.
Strengthening of the prices of
lumber in various parts of the
country the past two weeks have
brought sharp increase in demand
for building wood for immediate
delivery among small home builders.
Causing the stiffening of prices,
dealers say, is sudden squirt in
demand for lumber at many points
for use in new industrial construc-
ton needed in connection with the
Nations defense program. United
States Government demand for
wood for construction of additional
facilities at military training camps,
to provide structures needed when
the new draft army is called, is
another price stiffening factor in
some localities.