The total exports of foodstuffs from the United States averaged about $436,000,000 a year during the pre-war period 1909-10 to 1913-14, as compared with $1,064,000,000 in 1922, $860,000,000 in 1923, and $989,000,000 in 1924. Even after allowance is made for the higher prices during the post-war years (by figuring the post-war exports on the basis of pre-war prices), there has been an increase of over 50 per cent in the volume of foodstuffs exported during the past five years (1920-1924) as compared with the pre-war average. Before the war foodstuffs made up 20 per cent of the total domestic exports of the United States, whereas during 1920-1924 the proportion was almost 26 per cent. In other words, the foodstuffs exports are more than keeping pace with the total export trade of the country. The following table shows the total exports of foodstuffs from the United States before the war and during the past five years.

TOTAL EXPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS FROM THE UNITED STATES

During the pre-war period vegetable food products made up 59 per cent of the total exported foodstuffs, whereas in the postwar years 1920-1924 these products comprised 68 per cent of the total. The relative increase in the exports of cereals and cereal products and the relative decrease in meats and animal fats and oils account largely for this change.

It is of interest to note the change in the foodstuffs exports when classified according to the degree of manufacture. During the fiscal years 1910-1914 manufactured and partly manufactured foodstuffs made up 70 per cent of the total, whereas crude or raw foodstufs and food animals made up 30 per cent. Since the war (1920–1924. however, manufactured and partly manufactured foodstuffs have made up 57 per cent of the total while 43 per cent have been crud foodstuffs. The increased relative importance of certain grains, such as wheat, rye, and rice, and the decreased relative exports of meats and fats and oils account for this alteration in the trade.

EXPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS BY CLASSES

The exports of foodstuffs from the United States, by classes, for the pre-war period 1910-1914 and for the past three years are shown in the table which appears below:

EXPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS BY CLASSES FROM THE UNITED STATES

Cereals and cereal products not only make up by far the most inportant class of exported foodstuffs, but they also show the largest proportionate gain during the past few years as compared with the pre-war trade. Of the remaining classes, animal and vegetable fat and oils, meats, feeds and fodders, and miscellaneous products (f which sugar and coffee are the principal items) show a declining relative importance in the foodstuffs trade, whereas canned foods and fresh fruit show a relative increase. Exports of all classes, however, with the exception of vegetable oils and fats, have been much higher during the past few years than before the war.

The exports, by quantity and value, of the principal items in each class of foodstuffs are shown in the following sections.

CEREALS AND CEREAL PRODUCTS

The first class, cereals and cereal products, comprises all grains nd grain preparations such as flour, meal, and biscuits. During 910-1914 this class made up a little over a third of the total foodtuffs exported from the United States. During the past three years he proportions have been 48.5 per cent (1922), 36.2 per cent (1923), nd 43.8 per cent (1924). The next table shows the total exports of he principal cereals and cereal products from the United States.

'RINCIPAL CEREALS AND CEREAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES

Wheat grain and flour are the outstanding items in this class, followed by rye, barley, and corn. With the exception of corn and oats, all cereals and cereal products were exported in larger volume during the past five years than before the war. The exports of corn meal and flour and of oatmeal and rolled oats have been materially larger. The increase in the exports of rye is particularly note

worthy. Exports of rice have also been much larger than before the war, but there is a decided tendency towards smaller shipments.

ANIMAL FATS AND OILS

The second largest class in the United States foodstuffs exports is made up of animal fats and oils. Some of the products in this clas, are inedible in the form in which they are shipped. The following table shows the total exports from the United States of the principal

fats and oils:

PRINCIPAL ANIMAL FATS AND OILS EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES

Lard is the only item in this class to show appreciably larger exports since the war than before. During 1910-1914 lard made up 62 per cent of the value of the total exports of animal fats and oils, whereas during the past three years this product has comprised almost 80 per cent of the total. The exports of tallow are on a somewhat higher level, but shipments of neutral lard and oleo oil have been much smaller.

MEATS

Meats make up the third largest class in the foodstuffs exports. and pork products predominate in this trade. Canned meats are considered under canned foods and are not included in this class. The succeeding table shows the exports of the principal items of the meat trade.

Bacon, hams, and shoulders are the outstanding meat exports, naking up about 80 per cent of this class in recent years and over 35 per cent of the meat exports before the war. Exports of bacon and ham have been materially larger during the past five years than luring 1910-1914, but shipments of fresh beef, and pickled and cured Deef, veal, and pork have diminished. Exports of uncanned sausage and fresh pork are much larger than be ore the war.

CANNED [FOODS

Canned foods as a group have shown the greatest relative increase among exports of the various classes of foodstuffs. In the five pre-war years, 1910-1914, canned food made up 3.8 per cent of the total value of foodstuffs exports, whereas in 1924 this class made up 7.3 per cent of the total. Canned fruit, fish, and milk have made particularly noteworthy increases. The following table gives the exports of all canned foods from the United States during the past three years. Comparison with earlier years is not possible, since few of the items were stated separately.

EXPORTS OF CANNED FOODS FROM THE UNITED STATES