The table[1] on p. 602 shows the subsequent movement in value of imports from other countries to the United Kingdom, and of exports to other countries from the United Kingdom, at quinquennial intervals; bullion and specie being excluded.
As regards fluctuations not revealed by the above figures, it may be mentioned that the highest total figures for any one year during the period covered are those for 1907, viz. imports £645,897,942; exports £517,977,167. As to minima within the period, the lowest totals for British possessions were: imports £91,851,534 in 1893, and exports, the figure quoted for 1895; for foreign countries, imports £312,836,644 in 1893, and exports £195,133,239 in 1894; grand totals, imports £404,683,178 in 1893, and exports £273,785,867 in 1894. It may be added that the maximal import figures for France within the period are those of 1906 (£53,871,661), for Germany those of 1909, and for the United States those of 1901 (£141,015,465). For exports to the United States the figures for 1909 were highest, to France those of 1907 (£33,507,544) and to Germany those of 1907 (£56,729,988).
The following table presents the value of the chief groups and articles of importation into the United Kingdom:—
| 1895. | 1900. | 1905. | 1909. | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Grain and flour...... | 53,077,981 | 62,992,082 | 70,057,290 | 83,107,421 |
| Meat......... | 33,334,171 | 46,782,579 | 49,431,748 | 47,623,428 |
| Other principal articles of food and drink— | ||||
| Butter........ | 14,235,230 | 17,450,435 | 21,586,622 | 22,424,962 |
| Sugar........ | 17,684,413 | 19,256,439 | 19,471,811 | 21,691,894 |
| Tea ......... | 10,242,999 | 10,686,910 | 9,302,713 | 11,617,031 |
| Wine......... | 5,448,088 | 5,192,909 | 4,072,199 | 3,746,489 |
| Coffee........ | 3,778,365 | 2,544,726 | 2,578,327 | 2,675,516 |
| Fish (preserved)...... | 2,289,260 | 2,895,330 | 2,493,876 | 2,509,573 |
| Cocoa and chocolate..... | 1,610,483 | 2,398,248 | 2,227,141 | 903,464 |
| Principal fruits— | ||||
| Apples ........ | 966,273 | 1,224,657 | 2,665,193 | 2,667,911 |
| Oranges....... | 1,925,415 | 2,120,790 | 1,949,496 | 2,522,491 |
| Bananas....... | — | 548,956 | 1,776,256 | 1,752,166 |
| Tobacco........ | 3,253,916 | 4,799,417 | 3,721,920 | 4,986,663 |
| Raw materials— | ||||
| Cotton........ | 30,522,016 | 41,117,308 | 52,370,878 | 60,295,049 |
| Wool......... | 23,494,249 | 24,073,917 | 26,643,737 | 35,041,766 |
| Oils, &c. ........ | 18,497,573 | 23,564,644 | 23,600,927 | 31,039,883 |
| Wood and timber..... | 16,372,181 | 27,875,913 | 23,274,020 | 23,591,579 |
| Textile materials excluding cotton and wool . | 11,378,608 | 11,553,114 | 14,511,978 | 12,127,707 |
| Caoutchouc ....... | 3,760,178 | 6,986,133 | 9,643,153 | 14,138,204 |
| Hides and skins...... | 7,360,070 | 8,465,660 | 8,084,793 | 11,617,756 |
| Metallic ores excluding iron... | 4,575,929 | 5,575,272 | 7,610,990 | 8,327,193 |
| Iron ore. &c....... | 3,027,196 | 5,750,947 | 5,525,575 | 5,076,131 |
| Manufactured articles— | ||||
| Yarns and textile fabrics.... | — | — | 39,688,418 | 29,651,658 |
| Metal, excluding iron and steel... | 11,196,315 | 21,844,683 | 21,840,696 | 24,346,328 |
| Leather........ | 11,035,870 | 11,823,132 | 11,037,983 | 11,617,130 |
| Chemicals....... | 8,714,360 | 8,628,279 | 9,624,638 | 10,596,593 |
| Iron and steel (not machinery). | — | 7,314,696 | 8,589,405 | 7,971,594 |
| Paper........ | 2,845,730 | 4,412,440 | 5,256,065 | 5,647,437 |
| Machinery....... | — | 3,475,887 | 4,537,871 | 4,433,326 |
Certain omissions are necessary in this table owing to alterations in classification of the returns.
The value of the chief articles and groups of export of home produce are similarly shown:—
| 1895. | 1900. | 1905. | 1909. | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cotton yarn and manufactures. | 63,746,463 | 69,750,279 | 92,010,985 | 93,444,799 |
| Iron and steel and manufactures. | 19,428,383[2] | 31,623,353[2] | 31,826,438 | 38,192,142 |
| Woollen yarn and manufactures. | 29,094,568 | 24,259,766 | 29,916,807 | 30,917,807 |
| Coal......... | 14,600,326 | 36,409,614 | 24,859,129 | 37,129,978 |
| Machinery....... | 15,150,522 | 19,619,784 | 23,260,326 | 28,057,643 |
| Chemicals....... | 11,463,304 | 13,154,344 | 14,536,857 | 16,783,019 |
| Textiles (not cotton or wool) .. | 11,986,718 | 12,191,069 | 13,204,899 | 12,441,525 |
| Metal manufactures (not iron). | 5,048,588 | 6,473,197 | 8,920,533 | 8,708,945 |
| Clothing........ | 5,615,594 | 6,499,086 | 6,021,242 | 9,824,125 |
| Leather and leather goods.. | 3,833,980 | 3,875,683 | 5,660,494 | 4,242,356 |
| Ships........ | — | 8,587,710 | 5,431,298 | 5,927,114 |
The proportion of imports and exports per head of population of the United Kingdom was:—
| Year. | Total Imports. | Exports of British Produce. | ||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | |
| 1890 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1895 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 4 |
| 1900 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 1905 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 7 |
| 1906 | 13 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| 1907 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 3 |
| 1908 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| 1909 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
The tables on p. 604 show the value of unregistered imports of gold and silver bullion and specie from British possessions and from foreign countries into the United Kingdom, specifying the most important countries individually.
Shipping.—The table at foot of p. 604 shows the tonnage of vessels entered from and cleared to British possessions and foreign countries at the principal ports of the United Kingdom.
For the purpose of showing the relative importance of British and Irish ports falling below the list, the following figures may be quoted for 1909 only: Methil, entered 824,375 tons, cleared 1,105,048 tons; Harwich, entered 792,980, cleared 776,595; Grangemouth, entered 988,007, cleared 1,064,217; Burntisland, entered 609,722, cleared 815,507; Bristol, entered 858,933, cleared 6151,266; Goole, entered 815,177, cleared 817,226; Hartlepool, entered 934,836, cleared 730,141; Newhaven, entered 385,313, cleared 376,083; Folkestone, entered 364,524, cleared 359,697; Belfast, entered 490,513, cleared 165,670; Borrowstounness (Bo'ness), entered 301,549, cleared 292,194; Dublin, entered 219,081, cleared 80,868; Cork, entered 146,724, cleared 7413; Maryport and Workington, entered 118,388, cleared 67,494. The figures for Plymouth have included vessels which call “off” the port to embark passengers, &c., by tender only since 1907; for 1909 they were: entered, 1,455,605; cleared, 1,292,244.
The table at the commencement of page 605 shows the total tonnage of vessels entered from and cleared to British possessions and foreign countries at ports in the United Kingdom, and also the nationality of vessels under British and the principal foreign flags.
Out of the following totals steam vessels had an aggregate tonnage of 30,604,578 entered and 31,080,481 cleared in 1890, and 64,327,508 entered and 64,968,655 cleared in 1909. The total tonnage of vessels entered and cleared coastwise was as follows: (1890), 47,738,612 entered, 42,317,876, cleared; (1895), 54,304,703 entered, 47,263,791 cleared; (1900), 55,828,569 entered, 54,425,666 cleared; (1905), 60,066,919 entered, 58,670,971 cleared; (1909), 60,566,043 entered, 60,060,979 cleared.
- ↑ Adapted from the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom where it is specified that the value of new ships and boats, with their machinery, was not included in exports before 1899.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Owing to an alteration in classification these figures are not strictly comparable with those for 1905.
