Table 7.-Imports Into the United States From the Latin American Republics (Including the Canal Zone) by Commodity Groups and by Principal Commodities-Continued Includes dutiable copper, and copper imported duty-free from Cuba. CENTRAL AMERICA While United States exports to Costa Rica and Honduras increased considerably in value in 1938, those to Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Panama decreased. For the area as a whole, there was a slight decline, with exports amounting to $50,397,000. The principal changes in trade by commodities involved a reduction in the value of flour exports, owing to lower prices, and increases in shipments of lard and cotton cloth. Exports of other principal commodities to the area as a whole fluctuated only moderately in comparison with the figures of the preceding year. can Rep pal Comm Suth Ameri ublics 1937 28,583 27 25,812 681 18,156 1 17,333 161 9,515 2,426 5303,3 9 4 777 133 569 136 1,4 Economic conditions in 5 of the 6 countries of Central America were considerably less favorable in 1938 than in 1937. Only in Costa Rica, where the coffee crop is of a grade that does not directly compete with Brazilian coffee, was business relatively prosperous. In Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, business activity was greatly influenced by the lower price of coffee. In Honduras the declining position of the banana industry as a result of plant disease and in Panama the falling off in tourist traffic were principal retarding influences. It should be noted that the nominal shipments to Panama shown in table 8 include merchandise destined for the Canal Zone. These latter goods have been reported separately only since January 1, 1938, and consequently cannot be shown separately in tables which cover a number of years. In 1938, total United States exports to the Republic of Panama amounted to $10,165,000, while those to the Canal Zone aggregated $14,238,000. Table 8.-Principal Commodities in Trade of the United States With Central NOTE.-Data for individual export items include only United States products. Import commodities are "general imports" in 1929 and 1932 and "imports for consumption" in 1937 and 1938. Panama includes Canal Zone. With Cent Table 8.-Principal Commodities in Trade of the United States With Central 147 048 1 Less than 500. 2 Figures for 1929 and 1932 have not been adjusted for minor transfers in classifications of later years. CUBA 27 3 Although United States trade with Cuba decreased substantially in 1938 from the relatively high 1937 total, the reduction in imports was somewhat smaller than the corresponding change in our trade with the world. Imports from Cuba decreased 29 percent in value; nevertheless they were 5.4 percent of total imports into the United States, the largest proportion since 1927. Sugar as usual, the leading commodity in the trade-accounted for nearly three-fourths of the total value of imports from Cuba in 1938. Owing to the lower quota established under provisions of the United States Sugar Act of 1937, the quantity of sugar imported was about 10 percent smaller in 1938 than in 1937, and, with lower prices, the value decreased 26 percent. Imports of other Cuban products were also smaller in quantity and in value in 1938 than in 1937. Banana production was seriously affected by a prolonged drought on the eastern end of the island. 190841-40-3 Other imports which declined in 1938 included leaf tobacco, coffee, molasses, rum, and ores of various metals. Imports of metal ores from Cuba have advanced and receded in recent years in reaction to changes in business activity in the United States. Fresh vegetables (lima beans, eggplant, and tomatoes) and manganese were the principal commodities imported from Cuba in larger quantity and value in 1938 than in 1937. The low price of sugar led to less active business in Cuba during 1938 and a smaller value of imports into the island from all leading countries. The decline in Cuba's purchases of United States merchandise was, however, not so large as that in imports from other countries. Consequently, according to Cuban statistics, the share of the United States in Cuba's total imports rose from 68.6 percent in 11901-1905 1906-1910 1911-1915 1916-1920 1921-1925 1926-1930 1931-1935 1936-1940 1937 to 70.8 percent in 1938. The share of the United States in Cuba's trade has increased annually since 1934, when the reciprocal trade agreement between the two countries became effective. Textiles and manufactures, which are usually the principal United States exports to Cuba, rose steadily from the low of the depression period until in 1937 they amounted to $17,162,000, the highest figure since 1929. Exports of nearly all commodities in the group declined in 1938, resulting in a total for the year of $12,570,000. (Cuba ranked second as a market for our cotton fabrics in 1938, the same position as in 1937, when this country was superseded by the Philippine Islands.) Cuba's lowered purchasing power was reflected in the decline in purchases of cotton fabrics from this country as well as in the material decrease shown in imports of rayon manufactures from the record quantity and value of 1937. Although the cotton and rayon manufacturing industries have shown some development in Cuba during the past 5 years and although the demand for raw cotton and rayon yarn has increased, both Cuban production and Cuban imports of these raw materials from the United States remain small in comparison with the large trade in fabrics. |