ports, over 60 per cent. The latest figures indicate that this superiority may be maintained or even increased. Last year from the United Kingdom alone imports to the value of £16,250,000 came to Rangoon; from the Empire, £18,000,000. The United States contributed £3,500,000 worth. European countries sent goods to the value of nearly £3,000,000; Holland coming first with nearly £1,000,000; followed by Germany with £600,000; and Belgium with £323,000. Asian imports were valued at £3,300,000, of which Japan contributed more than £2,600,000.
The British Empire is also by far the best customer, and appears to be regaining ground lost temporarily during the War, absorbing last year 80 per cent. of the export trade of Rangoon. The United Kingdom, Ceylon, and the Straits Settlements take the largest proportion. The share of other European countries is only about 10 per cent. of the total; Germany coming first with £750,000 from Rangoon alone; Belgium and Italy following with about £300,000. Japan is a fairly constant customer to the extent of over £1,000,000. With the United States the export trade fluctuates in a rather remarkable way. Averaging £372,700 in three previous years, rising to £542,100 in 1919–20, the value fell to £109,800 last year.
With India, the total trade in recent years has varied from £21,000,000 to £42,000,000; Bengal, Bombay and Madras, in that order dividing almost the whole.
It may be interesting to give a paragraph to German trade. Before the War many German firms were established in Rangoon and the other ports, competing on equal terms and successfully with British merchants. Naturally, these firms disappeared at the outbreak of war. The latest returns show, however, that Germany has begun again to trade with Burma. Last year, from that country came shipments of hardware (£73,000), machinery and mill-work (over £100,000), salt (over £100,000), beer (58,000 gallons),
