Belgium's Commercial-vehicle Trade
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WE have been able to obtain a copy of the Belgian official trade returns from which we have specially compiled the accompanying table showing the Belgian imports and exports during the six months ended June last of commercial vehicles and allied products as compared with the figures for the corresponding half of 1929.
So far this year the motor trade in general in Belgium has experienced the full blast of the world's industrial depression, it being reported that fully 20 per cent. of the men usually employed in the motor factories in that country are at present, idle. Dealing first with the imports, whilst the trade as a whole has declined, there was in the commercialvehicle department an increase in value of £79,860.
Of the complete commercial vehicles France is credited with 151, the United States 131 and Germany 19, whilst the commercial chassis are attributed to France, 124, America, 118, and Germany, 2; France and Great Britain supply the major portion of the tractors. _Belgium also 1ra B38 ports large quantities of motor parts from France and the United States for assembly in the country, but no figures can be given of those intended for building up into commercial vehicles, they being included with the figures for privatecar parts.
With regard to the export trade in Belgium in commercial vehicles, it will be seen from the subjoined table that this, as a result of the depressed state of the world's markets, has suffered a serious set-back, the half-year's total being less than half that recorded a year ago.
As regards complete commercial vehicles, larger purchases were made by Holland and Great Britain, the Belgian Congo, although still the largest market, showing 'a decline. The increase in complete-vehicle shipments was more than discounted by the decline in the exports of commercial chassis, Holland's purchases 'dropping from 104 to 22, those of France from 89 to 5, the United Kingdom's from 37 to 4, and Germany's from 29 to nil.