No. 5465. STANFORD, BRADY Annual Series. Reference to previous Report, Annual Series No. 5221. Report on the Trade and Commerce of Denmark for the Year 1913 The trade, commerce and agriculture of Denmark continued during the year 1913 to make favourable progress. The principal articles of export, such as butter, bacon and eggs, which go chiefly to the United Kingdom, showed a satisfactory increase over the previous year 1912, which was considered as exceptionally prosperous. The general result of the harvest was good. The quantity of the yield (with the exception of rye and to some extent peas, beans and vetches) was over the average; likewise the quality, which in several cases was considerably over the average. Danish shipping, although not so favoured as in 1912, experienced a successful year in 1913; Danish owners deriving advantage from their proximity to the markets of the Baltic and White Sea, as well as from the heavy demand for coal from Russia, were enabled to work at profit although coal carrying rates had fallen from 20 to 25 per cent. below those of previous years. In the Mediterranean, where some part of the Danish mercantile fleet is engaged, the out-going coal freights were lower than in 1911, but as home freights were usually satisfactory the ships were able to trade with profit. Danish shipping freights with America opened with encouraging high rates, which continued until August, but the market changing shortly afterwards, the termination of the year proved somewhat of a disappointment. (686) A 2 Imports and exports.-According to a report issued by the Danish Government Statistical Department, the total value of the goods imported into Denmark for home consumption during 1913 was estimated at 43,277,000l. (779,000,000 kr.), whilst that of the export of native goods during the same year was reckoned at 35,333,000l. (636,000,000 kr.), giving thus an import surplus of 7,944,000l. (143,000,000 kr.). A table showing a comparison of the foregoing figures with those of previous years is given below. From this table it will be seen that the import and export trade of Denmark has been steadily increasing : The table given below shows in round numbers the division between agricultural produce, consisting principally of butter, eggs, and bacon, and other goods, such as raw materials, manufactured and partly-manufactured articles, and provisions, both imported and exported : The prices paid for the imports to Denmark in 1913 were in general higher than in 1912, as also were the quantities imported. On the other hand agriculture gave better results than in any of the previous years, more especially with regard to the prices obtained for the produce exported. The total result of the agricultural export turnover gave a balance of more than 289,000,000 kr. (16,000,000l.), being 25,000,000 kr., or 1,388,000l., more than in 1912 and 105,000,000 kr., or 5,822,000l., above the average for the years 1906-10. This rise was due to favourable market conditions abroad, which enabled the more important articles of Danish agricultural export to obtain record prices, whilst the prices for raw agricultural produce, such as grain, bran, seed, &c., of which there is no great export from Denmark, decreased considerably. Dairy produce.-The year 1913 as well as the previous year proved favourable to Danish dairy produce. The position of Danish butter on the British market was excellent. Prices both for butter and cheese were somewhat lower than in 1912, but nevertheless satisfactory. The production was large and the export was conducted with facility. Danish butter was exported in 1913 to the amount of 91,000 tons, of which 3,000 tons was in hermetically sealed packages. In 1912 the export was 85,200 tons. During 1912 the butter export fell off in a distinctly noticeable manner, owing to the cold weather, fodder scarcity and foot-and-mouth disease, as well as to the increased cream export during the year. In 1913, however, the export of butter went up again to an extent which not only compensated for the decline of the year before, but brought it considerably above the standard of the four previous years. The export of cream, which during the years 1908-12 had risen. from about 7,000 tons to over 22,500 tons, did not increase in 1913 by more than about 1,000 tons, and in the same year the export of sweet milk, which previously amounted to about 10,000 tons per annum, practically ceased. The total export of dairy produce, consisting of butter, cream and milk, may be reckoned at 100,000 tons in 1913 as against 97,500 tons in 1912. The average butter prices for the whole year are calculated at 218 öre (28. 5d.) per kilo. f.o.b. in 1913 and 2221⁄2 öre (2s. 51d.) in 1912. The total value of the combined export of butter, cream and milk was reckoned at 12,383,000l. in 1913 as against 11,888,000l. in 1912. Of ordinarily packed butter (not hermetically sealed) 82,300 tons went to the United Kingdom, 4,300 tons to Austria-Hungary, 1,200 tons to Germany and 200 tons to Switzerland. The export of butter to the United Kingdom in 1913, as previously mentioned, was much greater than in 1912, but the fact remains that the Danish butter export to this country has of late years somewhat stagnated, and Danish butter has found markets in other countries, principally in Austria-Hungary. The hermetically sealed butter is exported chiefly to distant oversea countries, whilst the cream and milk go to Germany. Cheese. The sale of Danish-made cheese was not very satisfactory in 1913. The prices, which had risen to 37 öre (5d.) per kilo. in 1912 for skim milk cheese and 65 öre (9d.) per kilo. for 25 per cent. cheese, fell to 30 öre (4d.) per kilo. for the former and hardly 57 öre (8d.) per kilo. for the latter. The slight demand for the native product is attributed in some measure to the fact that the cheese is frequently sold before it is properly matured. Bacon and pork.-After a remarkable rise in the two previous years, the export of Danish pork showed a falling-off in 1913 to the amount of 1,000 tons, but this decrease in quantity was counterbalanced by the high prices realised, being about 10 per cent. above those of the year 1912. The The total value of the pork exported is reckoned at 9,000,000l. in 1913, against 7,800,000l. in 1912 and 6,700,000l. in 1911. quantity exported in 1913 consisted of : As against 127,500 tons in 1912 and 114,400 tons in 1911. In 1912 an unusual number of fresh slaughtered pigs, in all about 6,500 tons, were sent abroad, chiefly to Switzerland, but during 1913 this trade ceased owing principally to the increased railway freight charges. The greater proportion of the pork exported is prepared as bacon, which goes exclusively to the United Kingdom. Of the total export of 126,400 tons of pork, 123,700 tons went to the United Kingdom, so that only about 2 per cent. of the whole Danish pork export found its way to other countries. Of the bacon imported into the United Kingdom in the last two years, 50 per cent. came from Denmark in 1912 and 48 per cent. in 1913, as compared with 27 per cent. in 1905. Of offals, principally from slaughter-houses, the following were exported in 1913 For the most part the export of these articles was greater and the prices obtained higher than in 1912. The total value of the export being 47,2221. in 1913 against 41,6667. in 1912. Eggs. In 1913 22,700,000 score of eggs were exported, as compared with 19,000,000 score in 1912 and 21,500,000 score in 1911. During several of the previous years the export has fluctuated between 19,000,000 and 21,000,000 scores. In 1912 the export was particularly low, chiefly on account of the severe cold experienced in the early months of the year. |