The New York Times/1918/11/11/Imports Gain $15,000,000
IMPORTS GAIN $15,000,000.
War Industries Caused September Demand in Raw Materials.
Figures given out yesterday by Byron R. Newton, Collector of the Port, covering foreign commerce movements here in September showed that, while exports declined when compared with the corresponding period last year, imports increased over September, 1917. The gain in imports, amounting to over $15,700,000, represented, it was said at the Custom House, raw materials wanted by this country's war industries.
September domestic exports were set down as having a value of $193,844,251, against $240,848,778 in the same month last year. There was also shipped out of this port last month foreign merchandise valued at $3,880,803. In August domestic exports totaled $205,580,073. Imports received at New York in September ran up to $115,731,618, this comparing with $90,804,013 in September last year.
Foreign gold was received here last month to the value of $559,988, while silver entries were put at $1,993,491. American silver went abroad totaling $2,530,120, and domestic gold valued at $737,990. In September, 1917, domestic gold exports reached the high value of $11,025,343. Duty collections on direct importations of merchandise totaled $5,668,725, and on withdrawals from warehouses $2,769,406.
Merchandise exports to Europe last month aggregated $146,689,226, this comparing with $178,189,078 in the like period of 1917. England was the largest individual buyer of war supplies and foodstuffs, her exports from New York reaching $73,425,465, or $21,000,000 more than In September, 1917. France took supplies worth $38,891,742, and Italy, $20,326,875. Relief supplies for Belgium from here were heavy, their value being $6,086,992. Outgoing trade with neutral European countries, regulated under the strict supervision of the Federal War Trade Board, was comparatively light. September exports to North America, Central America, West Indies, Asia, Africa, and Oceania were all below the levels of the same month last year.
European imports in September were down to $19,281,571, against $24,736,253 one year earlier. Heavy entries from Asia brought the total of imports from that continent to $44,111,318, of which Japan supplied over $24,000,000. The September imports from Asia exceeded those of the same month last year by $20,000,000. South America and Africa also increased their imports here.