422
BELGIUM
francs; of the exports, those by sea were valued at 1,326,318,124 francs, by land and river 1,410,953,766 francs. The following table shows the value of the imports for home consumption, the exports of Belgian produce and manufactures, and the transit trade, in millions of francs : —
1891
1802
1S03
lS9-i
1895
1896
1897
Imports Exports Transit
Million frs Million frs Million frs
1,799-8 ! 1,536-5 1,575-1
1,519-0 1,328-0
1,369-4 1,274-9
1,355-9 1,234-3
Million frs 1,574-5 1,303-7 1,120-9
Million frs Million frs
1,680-4 1,385-4 1,219-4
1,776-7 1,467-9 1,252-3
Million frs
1,818-0 1,568-4 1,268-8
in Belgium a distinction, as regards valuation, is made between imports subject to ad valorem duties and other goods imported or exported. For the former, statistics are drawn up according to the values which have served as a basis for the calculation of the duties. For the others a commission of five members availing themselves of Bourse and official quotations, and of information supplied by the Cliambers of Commerce, fixes average vahies — without regard to countries of origin or destination. For imports the official values comprise the first cost and cost of transport to the frontier, but not customs duties or excise ; for exports, they consist of the cost at the place of production and the cost of transport to the frontier. The quantities of goods subject to duty are strictly scrutinised ; but for goods free of duty, imports and exports, the declarations of the parties interested are generally accepted. When the gross weight is given an official tare is deducted. In the case of goods subject to ad valorem duty the administration has a right of pre-emption at the declared value increased by 10 per cent, when the importers disagi-ee with the fiscal authorities and are unwilling to risk a reference of the dispute to experts.
The leading articles of special commerce were as follows in the year 1897 :—
Imports
1,000 francs
Exports
1,000 francs
Cereals
312,505
Yarns, linen, wool, &c.
107,153
Textiles, raw
161,912
Coal, coke .
90,731
Chemicals and drugs .
101,828
Cereals
84,358
Timber, &c.
102,503
Machinery, carriages .
74,961
Resins, &c.
83,680
1 Chemicals, drugs
72,135
Oil seeds
49,803
Textiles, raw
80,168
Mineral substances
89,415
Tissues
55,841
Tissues, wool, cotton, silk
60,781
Steel ....
63,147
Coffee
60,828
Hides, raw and tanned
66,573
Hides, raw
64,867
Iron ....
72,590
Animals, living .
46,816
Glass ....
76,082
Animal products
35,478
! Meat ....
21,839
Metals
89,132
Sugar, raw and relined
59,382
Yarns, linen, wool, kv.
28,718
Animal products .
34,519
Manures
16,698
Zinc ....
42,597
Wines
24,565
Manures
28,328
Dyes, colours
25,893
Oil seeds
21,179
Coal, coke .
38,086
Animals (horses) .
35,095
Machinery .
24,834
Mineral substances
50,494
Butter and margarine .
13,519
' Resin, bitumen .
26,078
Tobacco, raw
10,217
j Dyes and colours
23,032
