Page:The empire and the century.djvu/144
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ANALYSIS OF EXPORTS
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As showing how the vitality of our exports has been nourished by Imperial markets during the last decade, let us first recall the figures given upon a previous page, and presenting a general view of the movement of our outward commerce during the last quarter of a century:
| 1880-1884. | 1886-1889. | 1890-1894. | 1896-1899. | 1900-1904. |
| Million £. | Million £. | Million £. | Million £. | Million £. |
| 284·3 | 226·2 | 234·4 | 239·6 | 289·2 |
Almost the whole increase has been gained in the last five years only. Yes; but let us see how the various markets have contributed to that increase. The following table (from the 'Annual Statements') proves instructive:
| 1895. | 1896. | 1897. | 1898. | 1899. | |
| Mill. £. | Mill. £. | Mill. £. | Mill. £. | Mill. £. | |
| Total exports | 96·4 | 92·0 | 92·8 | 89·1 | 106·0 |
| Coal and ships | 9·5 | 9·5 | 10·5 | 11·0 | 16·8 |
| Net | 86·9 | 82·5 | 82·3 | 78·1 | 89·2 |
| Quinquennial net total : 419·0 mill. £. Average : 83·8 mill. £. | |||||
| 1900. | 1901. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | |
| Mill. £. | Mill. £. | Mill. £. | Mill. £. | Mill. £. | |
| Total exports | 119·5 | 100·7 | 103·5 | 104·7 | 102·7 |
| Coal and ships | 28·6 | 20·9 | 18·8 | 17·0 | 15·8 |
| Net | 90·9 | 79·8 | 84·7 | 87·7 | 86·9 |
| Quinquennial net total: 480·0 mill. £. Average : 860 mill. £.
Increase in annual average—Absolute: 2·2 mill. £. Relative: 2¾ per cent. | |||||