WAS  THERE A WEAK FACTOR IN  STEEL PRODUCTION?
lose of Germany. The increase in British exports during this
eriod was due mainly to colonial preference. Continental exporters
ad, in fact, regained their pre-war position by 1922 and in 1925
assed their previous total From 1924 they were determining world
rices.
Whilst world exports increased, Britain's share became a con-
nuously decreasing percentage. An identity was apparent between
le pre-war and post-war trends. British exports were mainly
-rolled products and thin sheets, but our exports of plates and
leets did not keep pace with those of our competitors. Even in tin-
lates and galvanized sheets our exports were meeting with a
ertain amount of challenge, as shown in the following table, but it
lay be noted that in 1929 Britain still exported 40 per cent of the
Dnnage of her total output.
TABLE 56
exports of tinplates and galvanized sheets
Tinplates (ooo tons)	Galvanized Sheets
Britain	U.S.A.	Germany
Year	Total	To U.S.A.	Total	Tear	Britain	U.S.A. (tm_9 galvanised and coated)
870	100	75	—	1895	204	—	—
880	245	185	—	1900	250	—	—
890	424	330	— -	1905	408	—	—
900	273	55	—	1910	595	—	—
910	483	—	12	1912	658	186	—
9*3    495	—	73        1913       Tfa     "4	27
920    343	—	226        1920       410     108	12
925    493	~	^l61        *925       7«>4      —	—
930    509	—	224        1929       711      151	81
43^1       93	86
The total value of British iron and steel exports are given in
'able 57. It was surpassed by that of Germany before the
fiiropean War in 1914, and also in 1920-30 approached by all the
ther countries considered in this study.
wrage Value.
The average value per ton of iron and steel exports from Britain
given in the following table, with some figures for other countries
ar comparison. The average value of exports trended upwards from