andMr. Enright asked the Taoiseach if he will specify the countries supplying this country with the materials used in the manufacture of margarine; and Ireland's trading position and balance of payments with these countries.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manufacture of Margarine.
3.
andMr. Enright asked the Taoiseach the cost of the materials imported into this country and used in the manufacture of margarine.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together and to circulate with the Official Report a statement showing for the year 1968 the external trading position with the countries which are the principal sources of supply of the basic commodities from which materials for use in the manufacture of margarine are derived. These materials are also used for other purposes and it is not possible to determine directly from the external trade statistics the import cost relevant to margarine manufacture. On the basis of information available from industrial inquiries, however, it has been estimated that the import cost involved is about £0.8 million.
Balance of payments figures are not compiled for individual countries.
Following is the statement:
Trade with certain countries in the year 1968
|
Country |
Imports |
Total Exports |
Import Excess |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Great Britain |
233,186,057 |
187,943,229 |
45,242,828 |
|
The Six Counties |
20,095,619 |
42,888,288 |
—22,792,669 |
|
Netherlands |
14,689,842 |
4,616,802 |
10,073,040 |
|
Rumania |
563,692 |
7,073 |
556,619 |
|
USSR |
2,753,952 |
321,921 |
2,432,031 |
|
Yugoslavia |
99,693 |
534,172 |
—434,479 |
|
Israel |
2,066,256 |
160,765 |
1,905,491 |
|
Syria |
384,832 |
52,951 |
331,881 |
|
China |
919,858 |
1,959 |
917,899 |
|
Indonesia |
175,524 |
3,053 |
172,471 |
|
Philippines |
96,668 |
358,772 |
—262,104 |
|
Malaysia |
1,086,652 |
338,094 |
748,558 |
|
Sudan |
73,536 |
13,720 |
59,816 |
|
South Africa (Republic of) |
2,423,655 |
764,914 |
1,658,741 |
|
Ivory Coast |
336,546 |
28,146 |
308,400 |
|
Ghana |
2,116,143 |
83,760 |
2,032,383 |
|
Congo (Brazzaville) |
111,534 |
12,168 |
99,366 |
|
Congo (Kinshasa) |
111,792 |
2,906 |
108,886 |
|
Sierra Leone |
206,125 |
32,765 |
173,360 |
|
Nigeria |
1,465,033 |
440,479 |
1,024,554 |
|
United States of America |
36,621,303 |
32,153,257 |
4,468,046 |
|
Argentina |
2,439,876 |
360,236 |
2,079,640 |
|
Western Samoa |
63,617 |
3,006 |
60,611 |
|
British Territories in Oceania |
21,434 |
1,038 |
20,396 |
A minus sign (—) denotes an excess of exports.
As regards the figures given, I think it is time the Taoiseach had a consultation with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries about these imports.