FOREIGN TRADE.—The table shown at the top of the next page indicates the general character of the foreign trade of Germany.
These figures offer an interesting addition to the general con siderations discussed above. They show that the imports of Germany consist in the main of food-stuffs and raw materials, while the exports are made up very largely of manufactured goods.
Of food-stuffs, wheat, barley, coffee, eggs, maize, and oats are imported, while rye and sugar are exported. The chief imports of raw material and partly manufactured goods include raw cotton, hides, raw wool, timber, copper, coal, raw silk, iron ore, chemicals, and woollen and cotton yarns, while coal and coke, hides, crude iron and steel, woollen and cotton yarns, and chemicals are the leading exports under this head. Manufactured imports consist of chemicals, leather, machinery, silks, iron and steel goods, cotton and woollen goods, jewellery, and a great variety of miscellaneous articles, while iron and steel goods, chemicals, machinery, cotton and woollen fabrics, furs, and glass make up a large part of the exports.
The following figures show the percentage of special imports and exports imported from or exported to each of the countries mentioned during the years 1906-10 :— The United Kingdom and the United States occupy the first and second places respectively in regard to the combined import and export trade of Germany. From the United States the principal imports are raw cotton and copper ore, but lard, fats, and petroleum also figure prominently in the list. The exports from Germany are of a somewhat miscellaneous character, but manufactured cotton and woollen goods, including hosiery and lace, toys, rubber, and potash salts are among the most important. From the United Kingdom the chief imports are coal and cotton and woollen yarns, while herrings, wool, and woollen goods occupy a secondary place. The exports include sugar, raw iron and steel, chemicals, skins and furs, leather goods, machinery, and zinc. From Russia, Germany obtains grain, timber, eggs, and furs, and sends in return rye, hides, raw cotton, coarse cotton goods, wool, and coal. Austria
Hungary exports to Germany lignite, grain, eggs, and timber, cattle and hides, and imports coal, raw cotton, wool, books, and leather. Among South American countries the Argentine and Brazil have the largest dealings with Germany. From the former linseed, wool, wheat, and hides are obtained, and from the latter coffee, rubber, and hides. In return, rails, malleable iron, and cotton and woollen goods, along with a great variety of miscel laneous articles, go to the Argentine, while to Brazil the exports are somewhat similar, except that iron and steel goods are not in such demand. The imports from France, which ranks sixth in respect to total trade, include wool, silk, wine, and iron ore, while among the principal exports to that country are furs, coal and coke, locomotives, and machinery. The Netherlands send dairy and garden produce, cattle, and fish, and take coal, rye, woollen materials, and iron and steel goods. Belgium imports coal, iron ore, and crude iron and steel from Germany, while Italy exports raw silk to that country, and India sends wool, jute, and rice.
The overseas trade of Germany is conducted through various ports, not all of which are within the country itself. Of those which are, the most important are situated near the mouths of the larger rivers. Hamburg on the Elbe, with its outport at Cuxhaven, and Bremen on the Weser, with its outports at Bremen haven and Geestemiinde, occupy the first and second places respectively, and conduct the greater part of the American trade. Emden, at the mouth of the Ems, is being developed as the port of the Ruhr industrial region. On the Baltic coast, Stettin, near the mouth of the Oder, which connects it with Berlin (to which it is the nearest port) and with upper Silesia, holds the first place. Danzig, near the mouth of the Vistula, Konigsberg on the Pregel with its outport of Pillau, and Memel at the outlet of the Kurische Haff, are the chief ports of Eastern Germany, and carry on at the same time a considerable part of the export trade of adjoining parts of Russia.