T 6 7 o' o c lOorld Trade IN Adding Machines • Calculators Cash Registers 1953-1959 7 7 7 ,. > ,. £13 9 9 84590 15 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AND DEFENSE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://archive.org/details/worldtradeinaddiOOunit d4/>2:/\J -2-U516J WORLD TRADE IN ADDING MACHINES CALCULATORS CASH REGISTERS mtt StAXB 195 3 195Q t^^SitiUBft^ 1953-1959 «gg£t«cn^ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Frederick H. Mueller, Secretary BUSINESS AND DEFENSE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION William A. White, Sr., Administrator 1960 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, ana field offices of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Price 15 cents. Foreword Global developments in the adding and calculating machines and cash registers industry since 1953 form a discernible pat- tern. If this pattern is to be instructive for the future, these developments must be analyzed and evaluated in terms of the supply -demand, technological, and other factors and relation- ships that brought them about. It is the purpose of this study to provide statistics and other data that will be of assistance in this undertaking. The study was prepared by Charles F . Daoust and Angelina P. McEntee, under the direction of James L. Oliver, Director, Business Equipment and Service Industries Division. firtiLa«u. & h^Lzzz> William A. White, Sr. Administrator Contents Page Foreword..... iii World Summary .... .000 1 The United States Industry „ 7 The Industry Abroad 17 Italy.. 17 Sweden.... 18 West Germany.... 19 United Kingdom 21 Switzerland 22 Netherlands 22 Norway........ 24 France........... 24 Denmark 25 Belgium 26 Canada 26 Other Countries 27 iv World Summary The world pattern of the adding and calculating machines and cash registers industry has undergone many changes since 1953. Produc- tion has soared, and the volume of world trade has almost doubled. New centers of production have emerged in Western Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Some of the new centers produce chiefly for local markets, but others, particularly in Western Europe, export a large share— in some cases as much as 60 percent— of their output. Intense competition has thus developed in the world export market. The United States, long the leading world producer and supplier of these products, has been losing ground in both these respects and has become the largest importer of these products. Though still the largest producer, the United States has retained this rank by an increasingly smaller margin each year. In the export market the United States has dropped to third place, outranked by both Italy and Sweden and almost equaled by West Germany. The gap between exports and imports has steadily narrowed, and in 1959 the United States became a net importer of these products for the first time. Despite some loss to more advanced types of office machines, the domestic market for these products remains the world's largest and in normal times has been able to absorb both a high level of domestic production and these rising imports. The shifting of the center of international trade in these products from the United States to Europe has resulted in part from one of the most far-reaching global developments in the industry's history: the establishment by United States firms of production facilities in for- eign countries. This trend is continuing, and will undoubtedly have considerable effect upon the future pattern of the industry. This trend is not, of course, peculiar to this industry. A similar trend is evident in the closely related typewriter industry, as pointed out in a recent study, World Trade in Typewriters, 1948-1958. l Data for the study on the United States adding and calculating ma- chines and cash registers industry were obtained from both U. S. Government and industry sources. Data on the foreign industry are (unless otherwise shown) based on official statistics of the respective foreign governments and on information collected by theU. S. Foreign Service. Industry Trends, 1953-58 Adding machines, calculators, and cash registers are essential to modern commerce; all businesses use them in conducting their daily transactions. Activity in the industry is thus closely tied to the gen- 1 Available from Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Print- ing Office, Washington 25, D. C , or through U. S. Department of Com- merce Field Offices. Price 15 cents. eral level of economic conditions. In recent years the general level of economic conditions has been relatively high throughout the Free World. Such recessionary trends as have occurred have been of relatively short duration and have not been simultaneous on a worldwide scale. The industrial resurgence of Europe after World War II and the rapid economic growth in both the old and new nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have sustained a rapidly growing demand for these products. A perhaps less known but important stimulus to this demand came both directly and indirectly from United States Government pro- grams that required the use of these machines abroad, such as lend- lease and foreign aid activities and the deployment of military forces throughout the world. Knowledge of these machines and their superior performance was thus widely and effectively disseminated throughout the world, increasing the demand for more advanced types than were at the time available from local sources. World export trade nearly doubled during the 6-year period 1953-58, increasing from about $56 million to an estimated $100 million. Most of the trade in these products has been between the highly industrialized nations of the world, principally Europe and North America, and the United States has been the principal supplier of these products to the world export market. The rapid industrial recovery of Europe in the post- World War II period made this area a prime market for these products. However, foreign exchange shortages and other problems largely precluded the serving of the growing European market through exports from the United States. As the European market demand built up in the early 1950' s, United States firms began to establish assembly and produc- tion plants abroad to enable them to participate in the growing markets in that area and to compete/effectively with European industry in the world export market. U. S. firms have thus contributed to the rise of several European countries from small producers to important sup- pliers to the world export market. As a result, a major United States market has become a major producer and competitor in a short period of time. The United States, though no longer in first place as a world sup- plier, is still a major exporter. The country's annual balance of trade in these products continued to be favorable until 1959, but by a smaller margin each year since 1953, because exports have been declining while imports have been increasing rapidly. Domestic manufacturers have thus encountered increased competition from European producers not only in foreign markets but also in the United States. Adding and Calculating Machines In 1953, the United States accounted for about 27 percent of the es- timated value of world exports of adding and calculating machines, leading the 11 other major producing and exporting nations by a com- fortable margin. In 1958, the United States exported only about 14 percent of the estimated world total and was outranked by both Italy and Sweden. (Figure 2.) During this period, the value of United States exports declined from about $12.5 million to about $11.2 million. (Figure 1.) Italy's exports tripled, rising from $7.2 million to $23 million, and Sweden's exports increased from $9.7 million to about $16 million. Figure 1. World Exports of Adding and Calculating Machines by Principal Country of Origin, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) 30,000 Figure 2. Percent of Estimated World Total Exports of Adding and Calculating Machines, by Principal Exporting Countries, 1953 and 1958 1953 E3 1958 ■ ///////< Cash Registers Available data are insufficient to permit a precise determination of the volume of world trade in cash registers, but are sufficient to allow a reasonable estimate of its value and its pattern. Only 10 countries show a consistent record of exporting cash reg- isters, and only 6 of these show exports of significant volume. In 1953, the United States ranked first, supplying $3.4 million or about 30 per- cent of the estimated value of world exports of cash registers. In 1958, United States exports were somewhat higher in value than in 1953, $4.3 million, but accounted for only 20 percent of the total, plac- ing the United States behind both Sweden and West Germany. Sweden's exports during the 6- year period increased steadily from $2.5 million to $7.9 million and about 37 percent of the estimated world total; West Germany's are estimated at about $5.1 million in 1958, or about 25 percent of the world total (figures 3 and 4). The Outlook for the Future There are indications that the development pattern of the industry in Europe may be followed in other areas and that production facilities will be even more dispersed geographically. This is particularly true with respect to the relatively underdeveloped regions of the world, such as Latin America and Asia, which are being reappraised as to market potential in the light of their economic progress. Faced with the same problems of foreign exchange and trade controls they met in Europe, as well as with increasing competition from European pro- ducers, United States firms have recently established new production facilities in Latin America and have announced plans to expand exist- ing facilities or to establish new assembly or producing plants in Japan in order to strengthen their position in the Asian and Pacific area markets. Brazil has long been an important market for these products. Re- cent developments, however, indicate that Brazil may become an im- portant producer. During 1958, three major United States firms and one Italian firm completed new plants in Brazil. In Asia, both Japan and India have developed the needed technical skills and productive capacity to become important producers of these products. Should the growth of the Asian markets continue, one or both of these countries may well become a production base in the future. It is expected that companies not having manufacturing facilities in any of the six countries composing the European Common Market will be forced to consider carefully the advantages which might accrue to them over the next 12 to 15 years should they establish a plant in the area. To date, most of the production of U. S. firms' overseas subsidi- aries has been of the more or less standard, lower cost models. These models have found a ready market abroad. The growth of the Euro- pean economy, however, has resulted in a growing demand for more efficient office equipment. Several European firms have developed highly advanced models and now produce them in quantity. Moreover, foreign market acceptance of the more sophisticated models made in the United States has been particularly notable. United States firms Figure 3. World Exports of Cash Registers By Principal Country of Origin, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) 10,000 8,000 6,000 2,000 1,000 800 600 400 **" m ' «* 1 1 Sweden' United m Kingdom " Norway ■■■•■■"" 1954 1955 1956 1957 Figure 4. Percent of Estimated World Total Exports of Cash Registers, by Principal Exporting Countries 1953 and 1958 1953 1958 ■ SWEDEN WEST UNITED UNITED NORWAY GERMANY STATES KINGDOM producing abroad are now finding it necessary to arrange for produc- tion of the more advanced machines at overseas locations in order to compete with advanced models of European firms. Examination of recent sales trends suggests certain changes in the characteristics of the future domestic market for adding and calcu- lating machines and cash registers. U. S. consumption has declined for the past 3 years. Both domestic production and exports have de- clined, while imports have increased steadily. Though these conven- tional products undoubtedly have been superseded to some extent by more advanced data -processing equipment, such as magnetic tape and punched cards and tape systems, rising imports indicate that the mar- ket for these conventional machines is far from saturation. The growth of this market, except for the recession year 1958, has been sufficient to sustain both a high level of domestic production and rapidly in- creasing imports. Moreover, the recent rapid growth of smaller businesses, particularly in the services segment of the national econ- omy, suggests that there is a growing potential market for these rela- tively lower cost products that remains to be fully developed. The United States Industry The computing and related machines industry— of which adding ma- chines, calculators, and cash registers are a major part— is an im- portant segment of the United States economy. According to prelimi- nary results of the 1958 Census of Manufactures, the industry in 1958 was composed of some 32 firms, operating 84 establishments. Cur- rently, the industry employs about 83,000 persons in manufacturing and administration. Employment has increased at an average rate of about 10 percent annually since 1954. Many thousands more are em- ployed in selling, servicing, and repairing the machines in sales and service establishments throughout the Nation. The industry's annual payroll approximates half a billion dollars ($481 million) of which nearly 60 percent is paid in hourly wages. Wage rates have climbed steadily and have been consistently higher than the average wage rates in allied industries, as shown by the following fig- ures of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor: Average hourly wages Industry 1956 1957 1958 1959 Computing machines and cash registers.... $2.32 $2.42 $2.55 $2.68 Office and store machines , 2.16 2.26 2.35 2.46 Machinery, except electric. 2.21 2.30 2.38 2.50 In addition to contributing directly to the national economy through payment of wages, and indirectly by providing opportunity for many retail, wholesale, and service establishments, the computing and re- lated products industry spends about $300 million annually for mate- rials, containers, fuel and power, and contract work. Another $30 million to $100 million is spent annually for capital improvements— construction and new equipment. l Production United States production of adding and calculating machines and cash registers has declined in both number and value since 1953, the num- ber of adding machines and cash registers by about 20 percent and of calculators by nearly 3 percent (table 1). Most of the U. S. produc- tion enters the domestic market. Although the proportion of U. S. production exported has remained practically constant since 1953, the volume of exports has shown a downward trend reflecting the de- cline in production. 1 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Bureau of the Census. Table 1. -Domestic Production and Sales of Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Adding machines Calculating machines Cash registers Year Number Retail value Number Retail value Number Retail value 1 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 356,193 287,161 336,251 345,080 338,917 286,777 89,733 2 81,000 89,970 94,193 92,207 67,188 99,717 94,206 118,675 130,914 124,419 96,971 60,898 2 65,500 74,392 83,246 84,180 66,611 101,477 109,865 116,857 102,559 87,841 81,621 81,000- 91,000 88,000- 99,000 93,000-105,000 82,000- 92,000 70,000- 79,000 65,000- 75,000 1 Estimated; actual value not reported. 2 List price value estimated for 1954 on basis of f.o.b. value, which was $48,463,000 for adding machines and $39,326,000 for calculators. Source: Facts for Industry, Series M35R, Bureau of the Census. Trends in the retail sales value of domestic factory shipments of these products since 1953 are mixed. Adding machine sales value reached a high of $94 million in 1956, but fell to $67 million in 1958. Calculating machine sales value rose steadily to a high of $84 million in 1957, but dropped to about $67 million in 1958. The sales value of domestic shipments of cash registers is not reported. However, the number of cash registers shipped during 1953-58 averaged about 100,- 000 units annually, reaching a high of 116,857 units in 1955 and then declining rapidly to 81,621 units in 1958. On the basis that the average retail value of a new U. S. cash register is $800 to $900, domestic cash register sales during 1953-58 may be estimated at $80 to $90 million annually. For comparison, sales of cash registers in 1958 alone would be estimated at $65 to $75 million on the same basis. The sharp drop in sales of these products in 1958 reflects their sensitivity to the level of business activity. Through the first half of 1958 the general economy was in a marked recessionary trend. As in the general economy, an upturn in activity in these products became evident in the third quarter, equaling or surpassing the previous year's sales for the comparable period. This upturn continued into 1959, the first quarter combined sales estimates of these products showing an increase of about 7 percent over 1958 sales estimates. 2 Exports The United States has lost its position as the leading exporter of adding and calculating machines and cash registers. While European exports have greatly increased since 1953, U. S. exports showed a slight downward trend throughout most of the period, until 1958, when they took a sharp drop-- about 12 percent. This was the first marked reduction and may have signaled the beginning of a rapidly declining trend. Exports for 1959 showed a further decline of 2.5 percent. 2 Sales estimates based on industry sources. Table 2.— U. S. Exports of Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers and Parts, 1953-59 (Value in thousands of dollars) 1953 Units Value Units Value Units Value Adding machines: Listing Nonli sting and printing calcu- lators Parts, listing -adding Calculators: Nonlisting Printing Cash. registers: New Used and rebuilt Parts 34,499 !2,719 20,496 10,200 3,897 5,300 x 583 n.a. 7,227 3,039 438 3,259 39,853 *2,707 20,086 10,461 4,131 6,040 x 639 n.a. 7,047 3,844 391 3,755 32,422 ^,915 22,572 13,091 3,199 5,370 1 1,228 n.a. 8,346 (*) 4,175 342 4,041 Total.. 71,811 19,846 77,238 21,716 78,199 23,502 1956 1957 Value Units Adding machines: Listing Nonlisting and printing calcu- lators Parts, listing -adding Calculators: Nonlisting Printing Cash registers: New Used and rebuilt Parts 28,193 6,781 4,825 1,120 n.a. 34,922 9,070 23,176 C 1 ) 15,573 3,980 ( l ) 8,532 ( l ) 18,958 ( l ) 5,564 1,966 n.a. 7,486 4,931 419 3,688 14,904 3,996 4,222 397 3,783 Total.. 77,703 23,515 81,850 23,418 1958 1959 Item Units Value Units Value Adding machines: Listing Nonlisting and printing calcu- lators Parts, listing -adding Calculators: Nonlisting Printing Cash registers: New Used and rebuilt Parts 30,468 n.a. Total.. 12,905 5,780 11,835 3,176 4,496 n.a. 2 5,938 5,269 1,461 3,890 361 5,043 31,546 n.a. 13,506 7,110 10,374 2,985 3,938 n.a. 2 5,418 5,860 1,591 3,425 536 4,658 64,164 2 20, 520 65,521 2 20,008 n.a.— Not available. Printing calculators included with nonlisting adding machines classification, 1953-57. 2 Adding machine parts data not available before 1958. Totals for 1958 and 1959 exclude value of adding machine parts to maintain comparability with previous years. Source: U. S. Exports of Domestic and Foreign Merchandise, Report FT 410, Pt. 2, Bureau of the Census. United States exports of parts, unlike those of complete machines, have shown a rising trend. Unfortunately, data on exports of adding machine parts prior to 1958 and on calculating machine parts are not available. It is reasonable to assume, however, that they have followed a trend similar to that of exports of cash register parts, which in- creased from $3 million in 1953 to $5 million in 1958. In 1958, exports of both adding machine and cash register parts surpassed in value the exports of complete machines (table 2). Parts may thus have become more important as an export commodity than complete machines. Distribution of U. S. exports.— The U. S. export pattern of these products has not changed greatly; the major U. S. world markets were the same in 1958 as in 1953. In terms of total trade, Europe is still the major U. S. export market, followed closely by Canada, Central America, and South America. Generally, however, the U. S. has lost some trade with the major markets of Europe, Canada, and Central and South America while registering comparatively slight gains in other areas. (Table 3.) Table 3. — Distribution of U. S. Exports of Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers by Major World Regions, 1953 and 1958 (Percent of total value) Year Canada and North America Central America South America Europe Asia Australia and Oceania Africa Un- distrib- uted Listing adding machines 1953.... 1958.... 10.1 11.7 23.4 21.4 25.4 29.5 22.2 20.0 8.4 13.0 5.2 3.0 5.2 1.1 0.07 Nonlisti ng adders and printing calc rulators 1953.... 8.4 8.4 12.7 7.5 28.9 13.9 30.4 63.9 8.8 3.8 9.7 2.1 1.2 1958.... Calculators (nonlist) 1953.... 1958.... 17.3 15.4 11.7 18.0 8.2 12.2 46.4 1 11.0 27.9 16.2 2.4 5.3 2.9 3.0 0.05 Cash registers (new) 1953.... 1958.... 9.3 7.5 22.8 24.3 19.8 13.1 32.6 15.2 4.7 23.6 4.3 6.4 6.4 9.8 0.2 Cash registers (used and rebuilt) 1953.... 22.1 25.0 34.3 39.7 13.1 10.4 13.6 19.8 14.6 4.7 0.1 0.4 0.1 1958.... Cash register parts 1953.... 1958.... 50.3 41.6 1.0 1.1 2.3 5.0 32.3 42.8 12.8 7.4 0.4 1.8 0.5 0.2 0.2 Note: Percentage totals do not always equal 100 because of rounding. Source: Computed from U. S. Exports of Domestic and Foreign Merchandise, Report No. FT 410, Part 2, Bureau of the Census. 10 In terms of individual products, theU. S. export market has changed. South America (in both 1953 and 1958) took the largest share of U. S. adding machine exports, and Europe was the largest consumer of cal- culators. Central America was the largest consumer of both new and used cash registers in 1958, replacing Europe in the first category. Europe in turn in 1958 had displaced Canada as the largest importer of U. S. cash register parts. Europe accounted for an increasing pro- portion of U. S. exports of printing calculators, used and rebuilt cash registers, and cash register parts, but a rapidly decreasing share of exports of nonlisting calculators and new cash registers. In exports to Canada and Central and South America, increases in some products were offset by decreases in others, but the overall proportions were for the most part unchanged. The United States made significant gains in exports to Asia, par- ticularly to Japan and the Philippines, in the 1953-58 period. Asia took nearly a fourth of U. S. exports of cash registers in 1958 com- pared to about one- twentieth in 1953. Small increases in exports to Australia, Oceania, and Africa of calculators and cash registers were largely offset by decreases in exports of new adding machines, used machines, and parts. U. S. Firms Abroad Several factors indicate that a further decline in U. S. exports of these products may be expected. First is the rapid growth of the Euro- pean industry and the resultant heightened competition for world mar- kets. Second is the trend for U. S. manufacturers of these products to locate new plants overseas. Marketing considerations in Europe, as well as tight trade and foreign exchange controls in other areas, are important factors influencing this trend. Economic arrangements such as apply to the European Common Market, other proposed free trade areas, and the Commonwealth countries, offer tariff and cur- rency convertibility incentives as well as the promise of growing, protected markets. These factors bear heavily on the decisions of U. S. manufacturers as to whether to export from the U. S. or to man- ufacture abroad. Other factors are the generally lower production costs prevailing overseas and the industrial development programs of many countries which offer special inducements, such as low factory rents and tax advantages, to manufacturers locating a new plant in their country. 3 While no longer the leading exporter of adding and calculating ma- chines and cash registers, the United States is still an important factor 3 A recent study by the National Industrial Conference Board, Produc- tion Costs Here and Abroad, Studies in Business Economics No. 61, Na- tional Industrial Conference Board, Inc., New York 22, attests to the attractiveness of European sites. This study, based on 192 replies to questionnaires sent to 500 U. S. firms, reveals a distinct pattern of lower production costs in Europe as compared with costs in the U. S. In about 80 percent of the replies, unit production costs in Europe were from 55 percent to 85 percent of the cost of producing the same product in the U. S. 11 in world trade. U. S. firms have placed added emphasis on expanding their foreign trade, and all of the leading manufacturers of these prod- ucts recently have strengthened their foreign marketing organizations by establishing new sales and service establishments in all major regions of the world. The larger firms have also established or ac- quired new production facilities in one or more foreign countries. Since 1953, seven of the larger firms have established one or more new plants in Europe, Latin America, or Asia. Two firms have new plants in all three of these major world regions. The effects of locating these plants overseas have been widespread. The foreign sales resulting from greater accessibility to foreign mar- kets have usually been several times greater than the previous volume of exports of the same firms from the U. S. More than half the output of the overseas plants in Europe is exported, thereby contributing to the rise of several European countries to importance in world trade in these products. Also, U. S. firms have found that lower overseas production costs make it possible for them to ship products from for- eign plants to the U. S. market at competitive prices, thereby strength- ening their competitive position in the domestic market in some lower priced product lines. Statistical data on the volume of these imports are not available, but at present it is relatively small and is confined to only a few models. Overseas production has stimulated a general upgrading of foreign markets. Previously, foreign market acceptance of new models gen- erally lagged several years behind their introduction in the U. S. New models are now generally introduced at the same time both here and abroad. Before the advent of lend-lease programs and World War II, knowl- edge of modern U. S. business machines and equipment was generally lacking throughout most of the world. Foreign production was limited and the U. S. was the source of machines in quantity. The lend-lease programs and subsequent expeditionary forces of the U. S. effectively scattered U. S. business equipment around the globe and introduced modern methods of handling complex business transactions. Much of this equipment acquired by foreign countries continued in use after the war and some is still in use, even though clearly obsolete. In the postwar period, as more- advanced machines were developed in the U. S., many of the superseded models were shipped abroad to replace the obsolete machines in use, and gradual upgrading of the foreign markets thus became established. During the boom years of the early and middle 1950' s, foreign demand rapidly narrowed the time lag insofar as introduction of new models abroad was concerned. More recently, establishment of U. S. plants overseas and added emphasis on developing foreign markets have reduced the time lag to almost zero. Imports While United States exports of adding and calculating machines and cash registers have been declining, imports have been increasing steadily and have more than doubled in volume. The U. S. is now the world's leading importer of these products, and, in 1959, imports 12 exceeded exports in value, making the U. S. a net importer of these products. Data on adding machines imports in 1953 are not available, but based on the trend during 1954-58, they probably totaled about $2 mil- lion in value. Total imports of the three types of machines under study may therefore be estimated at about $6.9 million in 1953, compared to $25.9 million in 1959 (table 4). Table 4.--U. S. Imports of Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers and Parts, 1953-59 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Adding machines 1 2,000 3,363 1,591 2,329 2,708 1,478 3,519 3,138 2,323 5,353 5,808 2,476 5,745 5,814 3,280 6,014 5,840 3,608 10,596 9,098 6,203 Calculating machines... Cash registers and parts Total 1 6,954 6,515 8,980 13,637 14,839 15,462 25,897 1 Estimate. Source: U. S. Imports of Merchandise for Consumption, Report FT 110, Bureau of the Census. Although data limitations permit only an estimate of total domestic consumption of these products, it is clear that imports have accounted for an increasing share. The proportion of estimated consumption of adding machines met by imports has nearly tripled and that of calcu- lators and cash registers has nearly doubled since 1952 (table 5). Table 5.— Imports as a Percent of Estimated Consumption, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Adding machines Calculators Cash registei s Year Con- sump- tion Imports Per- cent Con- sump- tion Imports Per- cent Con- sump- tion Imports Per- cent 1953.. n.a. n.a. 40,510 3,363 8.3 43,113 1,591 3.7 1954.. 44,752 2,329 5.2 34,987 2,708 7.7 45,993 1,478 3.2 1955.. 55,536 3,519 6.3 42,430 3,138 7.4 54,356 2,323 4.3 1956.. 60,370 5,353 8.9 53,700 5,808 10.8 61,475 2,476 4.0 1957.. 55,784 5,745 10.3 56,682 5,814 10.3 59,761 3,280 5.5 1958.. 43,023 6,014 14.0 46,545 5,840 12.5 55,256 3,607 6.5 n.a.— Not available. Note: Dollar values are f.o.b. and declared value. Consumption estimates assumed equal to shipments minus exports, plus imports. Source: Computed from Facts for Industry Series M35C, U. S. Exports of Domestic and Foreign Merchandise, Report FT 410, Pt. 2, and U. S. Imports of Merchandise for Consumption, Report No. FT 110, Bureau of the Census. 13 Adding Machines U. S. imports of adding machines have tripled since 1953. West Germany, Sweden, and Italy are the principal suppliers . In 1954, these three countries supplied about 85 percent of all imports of electric and about 43 percent of nonelectric adding machines. They have steadily increased their combined share of the U. S. import trade, in 1958 supplying about 94 percent of electric and 75 percent of nonelec- tric adder imports. West Germany has clearly dominated the U. S. import trade since 1953, although Italy has made by far the most significant gains. Sweden has lost trade relative to Germany and Italy, though imports of elec- tric adders from Sweden have doubled since 1954 . Other countries that regularly share in the U. S. import trade are Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Norway, and Denmark. Occasional imports come from France, Belgium, Netherlands, East Germany, and Japan. The imports from Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark are foreign model machines. Some of the imports from Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands are U. S. models made abroad and imported by U. S. firms for the domestic market. Table 6.--U. S. Imports of Adding Machines and Parts by Country of Origin, 1954-59 (Value in thousands of dollars) Country of origin 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Electric motor: West Germany Sweden 863 792 33 20 144 1,368 1,263 234 130 78 1,997 1,706 620 339 45 2,121 2,065 702 194 30 2,305 1,586 1,082 158 137 2,582 2,475 2,858 508 1,051 Italy Switzerland United Kingdom Subtotal 1,852 138 3,073 79 4,707 67 5,112 61 5,268 22 9,474 89 Other countries Total Nonelectric: West Germany Sweden Italy 1,990 28 119 3,152 68 40 4,774 68 79 112 75 25 6 161 5,173 147 40 241 62 29 45 3 5,290 343 38 165 75 67 16 5 9,563 553 52 132 72 140 Norway United Kingdom Denmark 3 31 4 23 22 104 1 79 Switzerland Subtotal Other countries 208 130 314 53 526 53 567 5 709 15 949 83 Total 338 367 579 572 724 1,032 Source: U. S. Imports of Merchandise for Consumption, Report No. FT 110, Bureau of the Census. Calculators Imports of calculators have more than doubled since 1953, increas- ing from $3.3 million in 1953 to $5.8 million in 1958 and to $9.1 mil- lion in 1959. Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom supply 14 more than 80 percent of the imports of calculators, Italy alone sup- plying well over one-half of the total. West Germany until 1958 was not an important factor in the U. S. market, but in that year supplied 9 percent of the total, compared to about 1 percent in 1957. Italy con- tinued to gain in 1959, supplying about 65 percent of the total imports, while Germany supplied only 2 percent of the total. Sweden has been an important supplier of calculators to the U. S. but has lost trade relative to other countries, even though imports from Sweden have doubled since 1953. The relative decline of Sweden in U. S. import trade exemplifies the rapid growth of the U. S. do- mestic market and the rise of extremely competitive market con- ditions; a doubling of sales has still resulted in a declining share of the available market. Table 7.— U. S. Imports of Calculating Machines and Parts by Country of Origin, 1953-59 (Value in thousands of dollars) Country of origin 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Italy Netherlands 1,927 335 635 111 144 ' "i72 27 1,725 75 605 20 192 3 48 30 1,814 227 215 15 247 521 67 25 2,695 842 208 180 256 608 20 982 3,081 1,374 458 80 373 289 73 24 3,170 954 738 527 295 32 18 11 5,908 1,498 United Kingdom West Germany 917 248 Sweden France 201 17 Switzerland 60 Canada 29 Subtotal 3,351 12 2,698 10 3,131 7 5,791 17 5,752 62 5,745 95 8,878 220 Other countries Total 3,363 2,708 3,138 5,808 5,814 5,840 9,098 Source: U. S. Imports of Merchandise for Consumption, Report No. FT 110, Bureau of the Census. Cash Registers U. S. imports of cash registers and parts have almost quadrupled in value since 1953, increasing from $1.6 million in 1953 to $6.2 mil- lion in 1959. Sweden, West Germany, the United Kingdom, and Norway supplied practically all of these imports, Sweden alone accounting for from 60 percent to 90 percent of the annual total. West Germany made the greatest gains in cash registers, largely at the expense of the United Kingdom. In 1953, Germany supplied less than 1 percent, the U. K. about 34 percent; in 1958, Germany supplied 32 percent, the U. K. only 3 percent. Norway has lost trade relative to the other countries, its 1958 share being only about half that of 1953 even though having approximately the same value. 15 Table 8.--U. S. Imports of Cash Registers and Parts by Country of Origin, 1953-59 (Value in thousands of dollars) Country of origin 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Sweden 933 9 540 105 1,397 7 8 46 1,871 380 2,319 88 2,437 441 307 81 2,144 1,171 132 115 3,849 West Germany, 2,100 United Kingdom 63 Norway 66 57 115 Subtotal ...» 1,587 4 1,458 20 2,317 6 2,464 12 3,266 14 3,562 46 6,127 46 Other countries Total 1,591 1,478 2,323 2,476 3,280 3,608 6,173 Source: U. S. Imports of Merchandise for Consumption, Report FT 110, Bureau of the Census. 16 The Industry Abroad European countries now dominate international trade in adding and calculating machines and cash registers. Despite this fact and the fact that European production has increased phenomenally, Europe is still the major market for United States exports of these products. Italy Italy, now the leading exporter of adding and calculating machines, in 1953 ranked fourth after the United States, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Since that time Italy's production has nearly tripled, exports have more than tripled, and the country's share of estimated world total exports has almost doubled, rising from 16 percent in 1953 to 30 percent in 1958. Europe is Italy's largest export market for these machines, taking about 50 percent of the total. The United States and Mexico are also major export markets. TheU. S. takes about 10 per- cent of the adding machines and about 25 percent of the calculators, Mexico about 8 percent and 6 percent respectively, of Italy's total exports of these products. Although Italy doubled both production and exports of cash registers during 1953-58, the country dropped from fifth place to sixth in these Italy: Production and Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 Units Value Units Value Units Value Adding machines: 8,290 2,432 2 82,737 66,494 16,243 30,621 24,009 6,612 8,673 3,741 4,932 100 1,953 664 I 1 ) 10,989 1,290 2 101, 800 89,480 12,320 40,216 32,012 8,204 6,256 2,127 4,129 152 3,783 648 20,144 1,987 2 132,651 121,874 10,777 55,066 45,664 9,402 6,892 2,638 4,254 187.4 4,480 1,070 Exports Imports Calculators: Production, total.. 1,212 358 1,233 234 2,133 348 Printing.... Nonprinting. Exports, total Printing Nonprinting Imports, total Printing. Nonprinting..... Cash registers: Production index.. 6,046 5,145 901 3,215 2,132 1,083 7,775 6,694 1,081 2,542 1,508 1,034 10,121 8,845 1,276 3,257 2,167 1,090 Exports Imports 455 182 797 206 687 343 See footnotes at end of table. 17 Italy: Production and Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58-Con. (Value in thousands of dollars) included with calculators. 2 lncludes adding machines. 1956 1957 1958 Units Value Units Value Units Value Adding machines: Production (*) 24,397 1,980 2 141,902 132,970 8,932 62,606 54,707 7,899 6,195 2,183 4,012 147.9 3,675 1,273 ( l ) 30,551 42,493 2,431 2 2 30, 689 Exports Imports Calculators: Production, total.. 2,590 419 4,050 598 5,660 521 2 193,154 183,877 9,387 85,266 76,741 8,525 2,735 2,534 201 201.0 4,804 1,063 Printing Nonprinting Exports, total Printing Nonprinting Imports, total Printing Nonprinting Cash registers: 12,429 11,309 1,120 2,464 1,413 1,051 18,102 17,102 1,000 2,842 1,748 1,094 88,522 81,437 7,085 4,804 1,123 3,681 208.5 5,627 1,187 18,202 17,293 909 1,801 1,156 645 Exports Imports 695 332 1,018 422 865 388 exports, and in 1958 supplied only about 4 percent of the estimated world total. Available information shows that there are at least 10 manufacturers of adding and calculating machines and cash registers in Italy. Two are subsidiaries of U. S. firms. Sweden Sweden in 1958 ranked second to Italy as an exporter of adding and calculating machines but supplied only about 20 percent of the esti- mated world total, the same as in 1953, despite an increase from $9.7 million to about $16 million. Europe, the major market, took about 53 percent of Sweden's exports of these products; West Germany was the best customer, taking about 18 percent of the total. The U. S. is a growing market, rising to about 15 percent of Sweden's exports of these products in 1957 compared to 10 percent in 1953. Sweden is now the leading exporter of cash registers, rising from third place after Germany and the United States. By 1958, Sweden's exports of cash registers had tripled, and the country's share of the estimated world total exports had climbed from about 22 percent to nearly 40 percent. About 45 percent of Sweden's exports of cash registers go to Europe, the United Kingdom taking about 19 percent and West Germany and Denmark about 4 percent each. The United States is the best single market, taking about 34 percent of the total in 1957. Canada and Brazil are also important markets, taking 7 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of Sweden's total exports of cash registers in 1957. 18 Latest sources show six Swedish firms producing either adding and calculating machines or cash registers. Two of the larger firms have announced plans to expand existing production facilities, and a third firm was recently acquired by a United States corporation. Sweden: Production and Foreign Trade, Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 Production: All office machines Adding, calculating machines, typewriters and cash reg- isters, complete Exports: Adding and calculating machines Cash registers , Imports: Adding and calculating machines , Cash registers , n.a. — Not available. 20,956 17,123 9,698 2,531 254 430 25,271 20,257 11,249 4,120 282 400 29,946 23,942 12,526 4,649 426 697 35,598 27,970 15,136 6,970 372 464 41,500 31,600 16,024 6,415 590 545 15,157 7,947 612 675 West Germany West Germany is a major producer and supplier of adding and cal- culating machines and cash registers. Unfortunately, complete sta- tistics on Germany's world trade in these products are not available. Exports prior to 1956 can only be estimated by interpolation from the fragmentary data available and the subsequent trend. In 1956, Germany ranked fourth in exports of adding and calculating machines, after Italy, Sweden, and the U. S., and supplied about 14 percent of the estimated world total. In 1958, Germany's world mar- ket position remained the same, although exports had increased to about $10.7 million from about $9.8 million. The United States has become the best market for German adding machines, taking nearly 42 percent of total exports in 1958. Europe imported about 27 percent, France receiving 8 percent to become the second largest foreign market in 1958. France was Germany's best market for calculating machines in 1958, taking 18 percent of the export total. The United States took about 14 percent, and Europe, including France, imported about 49 percent of the total. German production of cash registers has increased substantially since 1954, the output value rising from $11.6 million to about $20.1 million in 1958. Exports of cash registers are not shown separately for those years, but statistics for 1950 and 1951 show exports of cash registers totaling $988,000 and $3.9 million, respectively. A crude estimate of later exports may be obtained from the import data of other countries. Import figures of Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, 19 France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and the United States, which together receive more than 60 percent of the estimated world total imports of cash registers, show a steady increase of im- ports from West Germany during the period 1953-58. These countries imported from Germany the following amount of cash registers and parts: 1953, $1.4 million; 1954, $1.5 million; 1955, $3.3 million; 1956, $2.9 million; 1957, $3.4 million; 1958, $3.1 million. On this basis,' total German exports of cash registers in 1953 may be estimated at about $2.3 million, or about one-fifth of the world export trade, giving Germany third place after the United States and Sweden in volume of exports. On the same basis, Germany's 1958 exports of cash registers may be estimated at about $5.1 million, or about 24 percent of the world total, placing Germany second only to Sweden. The United States in 1958 took about $1.1 million, or about 20 percent, of Germany's estimated export trade in cash registers. Latest information sources show 25 firms manufacturing adding and calculating machines and cash registers in Germany, 4 of them being subsidiaries of U. S. manufacturers of these products. Germany: Production and Foreign Trade, Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 Units Value Units Value Units Value Adding machines: Exports n.a. 30,959 87,730 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 7,616 11,611 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 31,401 123,079 n.a. n.a. 27,152 n.a. 8,254 13,281 n.a. n.a. 11,617 n.a. 24,098 144,291 n.a. 14,363 37,318 Imports Calculators: Production Exports Imports 3,853 16,512 n.a. 2,619 15,188 Cash registers: 1 Production Item 1956 1957 1958 Units Value Units Value Units Value Adding machines: Exports Imports Calculators: Production Exports 55,100 23,996 168,889 25,230 11,746 35,823 6,378 4,801 19,224 3,475 2,296 15,912 65,012 28,000 176,820 22,420 18,900 35,378 7,818 4,952 22,430 3,805 3,938 16,289 2 518,735 32,011 198,383 24,603 28,749 39,251 6,549 3,131 22,600 4,186 4,856 20,117 Imports Cash registers: 1 Production n.a.— Not available. 1 Import and export statistics in cash registers are not shown separately but are included in statistics for bookkeeping and accounting and punch card machines. includes a large number of stylus -operated, pocket- type devices not previously recorded in this category. 20 United Kingdom The United Kingdom, though still a major producer and supplier of adding and calculating machines and cash registers, has suffered a decline in the world export market both percentagewise and in export volume. In 1953, the U. K. ranked third in exports of adding and calculating machines, shipping about $8.3 million, nearly 18 percent of the esti- mated world export total. By 1958, the country's exports had declined to $5.4 million, about 7 percent of the estimated world total, and the U. K. had dropped to fifth place. British Commonwealth countries are the U. K.'s largest market for exports of adding and calculating ma- chines, taking about 52 percent of the total in 1957. European coun- tries took 20 percent and the U. S. about 15 percent. Although U. K.'s exports of cash registers increased slightly be- tween 1953 and 1958, its share of the estimated world total declined from 14 percent to 9 percent and the U. K. dropped from second place to fourth among the exporting nations. The Commonwealth countries are the U. K.'s best market for cash registers, taking about 74 percent of the total exported from U. K. in 1957. The United States is also a major market, importing about 20 percent of the total. United Kingdom: Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) 1953 Units Value 1954 Units Value 1955 Units Value Production (all office machines) Adding machines: Exports 1 .. Imports Calculators: 2 Imports Cash registers: Exports Imports 27,236 2,982 3,936 9,505 1,716 82,426 8,298 321 1,605 572 24,959 7,583 5,046 7,585 2,678 98,358 4,913 501 1,252 1,622 979 25,176 10,173 8,790 8,084 3,915 109,474 4,887 885 2,006 1,766 1,632 1956 1957 1958 Item Value Units Value Units Value Production (all office machines) Adding machines: Exports 1 Imports, Calculators: Imports Cash registers: Exports Imports 24,256 9,691 7,849 5,541 6,770 126,232 4,539 817 1,861 1,485 2,412 25,948 15,063 9,333 8,082 9,668 136,349 4,940 1,201 813 1,559 2,878 145,051 5,407 2,013 1,906 3,997 includes calculators. 2 Exports included with adding machines. 21 At least 10 companies are manufacturing standard- type adding and calculating machines and cash registers in the United Kingdom. Five are reportedly subsidiaries of U. S. firms and one is a subsidiary of an Italian firm. Switzerland Though Switzerland's exports of adding and calculating machines increased by about 25 percent during the period 1953-58, the country dropped from fifth place to sixth and also lost part of its share of the world total, receiving 6 percent in 1958 compared with 8 percent in 1953. Europe is the chief market for Switzerland's exports of adders and calculators, taking 64 percent of the total in 1958, and West Ger- many is the largest single market, receiving about 27 percent of the total. The U. S. imported about 9 percent. Data on Switzerland's exports of cash registers are not available. In the country's official trade statistics cash registers are combined with bookkeeping machines and parts. Exports in this combined classi- fication have tripled since 1953, rising from $586,000 to $1.8 million in 1958. Since three firms produce cash registers in Switzerland and three firms produce bookkeeping machines, it may be assumed that a substantial proportion of the total value of exports in this classifica- tion represents cash register exports. At least 12 firms are reported to be producing either adding ma- chines, calculators, or cash registers in Switzerland. One is a sub- sidiary of a major U.S. firm. Switzerland: Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 Adding and calculating machines: 3,810 2,548 1,177 81 4 2,079 471 722 313 573 586 1,372 4,525 2,886 1,356 86 197 2,185 553 595 283 754 861 1,461 4,557 2,971 1,349 84 153 2,645 597 927 380 741 1,145 2,070 4,683 2,212 2,398 52 21 2,772 516 1,017 411 828 1,487 2,034 4,550 1,704 2,692 21 133 4,249 645 1,524 691 1,389 1,498 1,986 4,737 26 lbs. or less 26 lbs. to 44 lbs 1,674 2,474 44 lbs. to 220 lbs 142 220 lbs. or over 447 Imports, total 26 lbs. or less 26 lbs. to 44 lbs 4,228 745 1,086 44 lbs. to 220 lbs 420 220 lbs. or over 1,977 Cash registers (includes book- keeping machines): Exports Imports 1,799 2,249 The Netherlands The Netherlands ranked seventh in volume of exports of adding and calculating machines in both 1953 and 1958, although during that time 22 the country's exports tripled and its share of world trade in these products rose from about 2 percent to about 4.5 percent. Calculator exports comprise the bulk of the trade in these products, about 88 percent of the value in 1958; adding machines represented 12 percent. Europe is the country's best market for calculators, taking about 55 percent of the exports in 1958. France and Germany accounted for 20 percent and 12 percent respectively, of the total; the United States re- ceived about 18 percent. Europe is also the best market for Nether- lands adding machines, accounting for about 56 percent of the total in 1958. Though the Netherlands produces a substantial number of cash reg- isters, imports of these machines are usually several times greater than exports. Production has declined slightly— from 9,636 units valued at $1.5 million in 1953 to 8,295 units valued at $1.3 million in 1958-while imports have doubled~$400,000 in 1953; $1.0 million in 1958. Exports, never large, have dropped sharply from $64,000 to $21,000. Information currently available shows eight firms in the Nether- lands manufacturing these products, three of which are subsidiaries of U. S. firms. Netherlands: Production and Foreign Trade, Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 Units Value 1954 Units Value 1955 Units Value Production (all office machines) Adding machines: Exports Imports Calculators: Exports Imports Cash registers: Production Exports Imports 33,868 2,107 7,400 2,986 3,516 9,636 248 1,839 3,183 332 1,017 786 523 1,507 64 473 3,393 11,742 5,613 5,476 9,900 12 2,172 4,492 505 1,271 989 745 1,672 4 524 85,312 3,737 15,604 10,596 7,714 9,292 303 3,491 9,978 558 1,401 2,145 1,566 1,417 41 849 1956 Units Value Units Value Units Value Production (all office machines) Adding machines: Exports Imports Calculators: Exports Imports Cash registers: Production Exports Imports n.a.— Not available. 139,508 3,847 16,551 13,326 8,257 7,281 109 3,689 14,002 552 1,527 3,507 1,192 1,182 16 994 168,009 3,781 15,731 19,914 10,281 8,295 98 3,674 15,684 568 1,699 3,846 1,609 1,322 20 1,157 2,828 22,027 15,209 4,820 65 3,411 430 1,204 3,137 1,099 21 1,058 23 Norway Though not a major producer, Norway has doubled its production of adding and calculating machines and cash registers. Total production of office machines rose from about $1.9 million in 1953 to $3.7 mil- lion in 1956, practically all of which was accounted for by adding ma- chines and cash registers. Norway's exports of these products totaled $2.5 million in 1957, of which about 77 percent went to Europe and about 6 percent to the United States. The U. S. imports were about 50 percent adding ma- chines and 50 percent cash registers. Norway: Production and Foreign Trade in Office Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 All office machines: 1,897 929 1,003 319 2,328 1,397 1,156 240 2,999 1,783 805 297 3,671 2,523 1,089 320 n.a. 2,513 1,453 509 n.a. Exports Imports Cash registers: Imports n.a. 1,370 498 n.a. — Not available. France France is not an important exporter of these products. Exports of adding and calculating machines rose slightly from $492,000 in 1953 to France: Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 Adding machines: Exports, total... Listing Nonlisting Imports Listing Nonlisting Calculators: Exports, total... Printing Nonprinting... Imports, total... Printing Nonprinting... Cash registers: Exports Imports 299 282 17 911 787 124 193 157 36 2,824 787 2,037 94 494 197 190 7 932 787 145 190 140 50 3,981 1,382 2,599 115 624 354 343 11 1,084 997 87 172 115 57 5,464 2,454 3,010 81 1,169 ( l > 2 372 316 56 2 7,946 4,546 3,400 66 1,018 C 1 ) 2 386 337 49 2 6,388 3,990 2,398 54 936 (*) 2 516 464 52 2 7,186 4,092 3,094 51 867 Adding machines combined with calculators for these years, includes adding machines. 24 $516,000 in 1958, or about half of 1 percent of the estimated world total. Imports during the period increased rapidly, from $3.7 million to $7.2 million. French possessions and former colonies took about 25 percent of these exports in 1957, Europe about 28 percent. France's trade in cash registers is much smaller but shows a simi- lar trend. Exports are negligible and have been declining; imports have almost doubled since 1953, amounting to $867,000 in 1958. About 90 percent of the 1958 exports of cash registers went to French pos- sessions. Recent sources indicate that there are six firms producing these products in France. Three are subsidiaries of major U.S. firms. Denmark Denmark's production of adding and calculating machines rose 50 percent from 1953 to 1957 but still amounted to less than a fourth of imports, and was also less than exports. Denmark's strategic geographical location, which results in use of its ports and cities as distribution and exchange centers, explains this apparent imbalance between the country's production, import, and export statistics. For example, production of adding and calculating machines in 1953 totaled $180,000; exports $233,000; and imports $1 million. Europe took about 60 percent of Denmark's exports of these products in 1957, the United Kingdom leading with 19 percent of the total. France and the United States each accounted for about 9 percent. Most of Denmark's imports of these products were supplied by Sweden, Germany, Italy, and the United States. Denmark's production of cash registers is limited, amounting to only $199,000 in 1957. Both imports and exports are negligible. Only two firms are currently reported to be producing these prod- ucts in Denmark, and they also make other types of business ma- chines, chiefly duplicators and dictating machines. Denmark: Production and Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-57 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 Adding and calculating Machines: Production 180 233 1,014 247 33 8 293 352 1,360 183 26 261 311 1,227 141 13 22 206 215 1,012 177 7 17 284 Exports 342 Imports 1,351 199 0.3 19 Cash registers: Production Exports Imports 25 Belgium Though not a producing country, Belgium has been a consistent ex- porter of adding and calculating machines and cash registers. Like Denmark, Belgium enjoys a strategic geographical location, its major ports functioning as distribution and exchange centers for Central Europe. Consequently, Belgian trade statistics show an unusual vol- ume for so small a country and an apparent imbalance of exports and imports. Belgian exports of these products totaled $166,000 in 1953 and increased slightly to $193,000 in 1958. The Belgian Congo im- ported 26 percent of the 1958 total, Europe nearly 53 percent. France and West Germany took 23 percent and 18 percent, respectively. Belgium is a large importer of these products. Imports in 1953 totaled $3.8 million and in 1958 $4.0 million- more than 20 times ex- port volume. The United States, West Germany, and Italy were the principal suppliers. Belgium: Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) Item 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 Calculating and bookkeeping machines and cash registers: Exports 166 3,850 98 4,327 196 3,986 186 3,885 238 4,225 193 4,015 Imports Canada Canada is a major producer of these products, practically all out- put coming from assembly plants operated by several of the large U.S. firms. Though only a small proportion of Canadian production is ex- ported, the volume is sufficient to rank Canada next to last among the 12 leading exporters. Canada's exports of adding machines declined from $337,000 in 1953 to $171,000 in 1958. Exports of calculating and bookkeeping machines and parts— which are combined in the statistics— have tripled since 1953, increasing from $3.4 million to $10.8 million in 1958. The United States is Canada's best market for exports of calculating and adding machines, taking 38 and 68 percent, respectively, in 1958. There is no record of exports of cash registers from Canada. Large quantities of parts for assembly of cash registers are imported, chief- ly from the United States. 26 Canada: Production and Foreign Trade in Adding and Calculating Machines and Cash Registers, 1953-58 (Value in thousands of dollars) 1953 Units Value 1954 Units Value 1955 Units Value Adding machines: Production Exports , Imports , Calculating and bookkeeping machines and parts: Exports , Imports , Cash registers: Imports, complete machines Imports, parts for manufac - turing 17,044 111 6,643 1,394 9,889 2,190 337 1,427 3,378 8,433 379 1,520 14,311 42 6,415 1,332 8,135 2,147 251 1,567 3,562 8,811 819 1,873 19,057 82 9,662 2,703 9,559 2,868 308 2,326 4,704 10,746 577 1,692 1956 1957 1958 Units Value Units Value Units Value Adding machines: Production Exports Imports Calculating and bookkeeping machines and parts: Exports Imports Cash registers: Imports, complete machines.. Imports, parts, for manufac- turing n.a. — Not available. 18,700 227 9,986 2,882 11,900 2,821 585 2,578 7,335 15,063 785 1,820 n.a. 239 11,052 2,600 12,196 n.a. 297 2,447 10,387 17,280 729 1,946 n.a. 220 12,030 2,867 10,666 n.a. 171 2,248 10,830 14,058 854 1,996 Other Countries The 12 nations heretofore discussed account for practically all of the world trade in adding and calculating machines and cash registers. Czechoslovakia and East Germany also produce these products for ex- port; though reliable data on the extent of their trade is not currently available, it is known that both countries export some machines to most of Europe and to Latin America and the United States. Recently, several other countries have begun to produce or as- semble these products on a limited scale for local markets: Union of South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, and Mexico. Subsidiaries of foreign firms— United States or European— account for most of the production in these countries. 27 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I960 O -548202