THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 4

THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE.

•. WHOLESALE TRADING MAINTAINED. TEMPORARY SHORTAGE OF DRIED FRUITS. Auckland "Star" Office, Tuesday, May 10, 1927. Wholesale merchants commenced business this week on a quieter, scale, although considering the time of the year general distributing business ia being fairly well maintained. In the retail grocery section business is considered to be showing a slight improvement, a comparison of sales taken for the same period of last year showing the present period as making a slight gain. Business along the waterfront will be fairly brisk for the next few days owing to the number of oversea vessels that arrived during the week-end. General. The cabled advice that pepper stocks in Singapore were short and also the further advance in prices came somewhat as a surprise. This market has been ruling at a high level for quite a while and it was not anticipated that prices would further advance but quotations would remain steady until Ihe new crop woe brought in. Fairly good stocks of prunes are being held locally with the prices quoted very much in buyer's favour.. At this time last year they were in heavy demand but this year the sales are not nearly so heavy. Dried apricots are selling unusually well this year, even the cheapest grades being noticeable for exceptional fleshiness and brightness of colour. Soup Powders. Owing to the higher cost of some of the ingredients, Tuckers have been compelled to advance their soup powders 3d per dozen. White and Red Lead. English quotations for white and red lead, and also white lead paint are all listed at reductions on previous lists. White lead in oil and also dry, £1 per ton, red lead £2 5/ per ton, and white lead paint £15/ per ton. Castor Sugar. Up to a few weeks ago the Colonial Sugar Co. had been supplying the trade with castor sugar in two packings— 281b and 701b bags. They now advise that the 281b packing has been discontinued and in future only the larger size will be sold. Rattens. Suppliers state that there is an unusually good demand from China for rattens, and the tendency at present is for market quotations to advance to still higher levels. Australian Sultanas and Currants. Merchant* have now run out of stocks of practically all grades and further supplies cannot be obtained until the arrival of the Melbourne direct steamer Kaituna, which will not be until the end of this month. In consequence of this shortage some urgent business has been done for prompt shipment via Sydney, which will slightly increase landed costs, an buyers •re having to pay the extra shipping • •Sβ* , .. γ-mhi- ~ _ i

Tomato Sauce. The manufacturers of Oak Tomato Sauce advised the trade last week that they had reduced their quart size 1/ per dozen. Pepper. Early last week cables received from Singapore shippers advised an increase of a J /£d per lb on Singapore black pepper, %d on Singapore white, l%d on Sarawak and a Id on Muntok for forward shipment by the next direct steamer, JulyAugust. Two days later a further cable was received from Singapore advancing all grades a further V*d per lb, which makes the total advances for the week unusually heavy. This sudden alteration in forward quotations has been caused by the fact that the total quantity at the present rate of demand will not be sufficient to last until the next crop ia available. Tapioca and Sago. These commodities continue to remain firm and, although some good business was offered by Singapore shippers last week for the July-August direct steamer at prices a little below the week's cabled quotations, this business was declined and the market has since advanced to higher levels. This market is an exceedingly difficult one to follow as any outside demand quickly affects prices, and from present indications it does not seem that quotations for the next steamer will be so favourable as those now coming to hand as the market tendency seems to be more for advances than reductions. Coffee Beans. Suppliers of both Mysore and Nilgherry coffee beans have cabled that they have made a slight reduction in their prices. They also advise that any interested buyers must operate at once as further business from Indian ports cannot be done after this week as the season has now closed. Norwegian Brisling. Cable advice has just been received from some of the better-known packers asking buyers to name their quantity requirements for the coming season, which begins approximately in June or July. They state that it is quite impossible to name prices at this juncture, but they are quite willing to book business with merchants on a basis of prices or the season's purchase being subject to buyer's approval of quotations when named. They state that buyers secure a great advantage by booking forward, as they will be the first to be supplied if the fishing is poor, and as all booking is subject to approval and acceptance, there is absolutely no risk to the buyer n booking. Contracts for the whole of ast year were entered at extremely low figures, and as the season advanced those who had not purchased ahead had to pay two successive advances, one in August and the other in October. Cornsaeks. Prices for all cornsacks now being offered for shipment by the next direct sailing scheduled to leave Calcutta in July-August are listed at the same level of indent rates as those ruling just prior to the departure of the previous steamer. Prunes. Mail advices estimate the stock of mines left in California at the end of March totalled about 35,000 tons, consisting principally of 30-40's, 40-50's, and 50-60 s, with considerably less than 7000 tons in Oregon, consisting principally of 3545 s, and 40-50's. Packers state that :hey are continually grading out some of ;he smaller sizes both in California and Oregon, but owing to their scarcity packers are not at all anxious to sell them alone. Business in other varieties of Cahfornian dried fruits has also shown a marked improvement, the significant fact being the renewed demand from the Continent. Stocks of apricots and pears are quite insignificant, and should be quite out of the way before the new crop is available. On peaches and apples, supplies are more than liberal, but the demand for these two varieties has likewise increased, from which it is assumed that prices are now at their lowest. Sicily Almonds. During the last few weeks a considerable amount of forward business has been done by the various merchants on new season's Sicily almonds, owing to quotations being particularly attractive to the buyer. Most of this business has been done for first shipment, in the hope of getting stocks to land here before Christmas, but to get deliveries completed in time for the Christmas trade is extremely problematical, although some agents are guaranteeing to do so. Last year, although strong efforts were made to get shipments away in time, there was only one consignment that got away by September 20, the balance being shipped by October 1. This last date left insufficient time in which to get deliveries completed in time for the requirements of the trade* as these shipments did not arrive till early in January. In regard to old season's, this market has made appreciable advances during the last few weeks, the latest alterations being an increase in one instance of £5, and in another instance of £9 per ton for prompt shipment. Preserved Ginger. Some quotations for Chinese preserve ginger were listed at slight advances n previous rates about the beginning of the' month. This week a special offer was cabled on a parcel for prompt shipment from Hongkong, which, on comparison with the previous price, showed a reduction of %d per, lb. Dates In Bulk and Packets. Tentative prices have been named on new season's dates, which represent an advance on bulk of 1/6 per cwt on present indent rates. These prices are purely speculative, and it is considered top early yet to operate or ascertain the possibilities of. the market. Hardware. Wholesale hardware dealers are finding trade rather quiet at present, with collections also rather slow. Wholesale Current Priees. Butter.—Superfine quality creamery butter, booked 1/4% per lb, prompt cash, Anchor, Sunbeam, and Opotiki, 1/3% per lb. First grade factory, 1/3% per lb booked, and 1/3 per lb for prompt cash. Second grade factory, booked 1/2% per lb, and 1/2 per lb for prompt cash. Farmers' separator, 1/1 per lb. Cheese.—First grade factory, medium size, mild, B%d to 9% per lb; loaf, lid per Bacon.—Hams, 1/1 to 1/3 per lb; rolled hams, 1/3 to 1/5 per lb; boned hams, 1/3 to 1/5% per lb; bacon sides, 10% d to l/l per lb; rolled sides, 1/0% to 1/3 per lb; middles, 1/ld to 1/4 per lb; shoulders, 8d to lid per lb; rolled shoulders, 10d to 1/ per lb; lard bulk, lOd to lid per lb; pats, lid to 1/ per lb. Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £17 10/ per ton; lOO's, £18 5/ per ton; 50's, £18 15/ per ton; 25's, £19 10/ per ton; 12%'s, £20 Ij 7/6 per ton; 6%'s, £20 17/6 per ton. . Southern flour: Sacks, £17 10/ per ton; ' lOO's, £18 5/ per ton; 50's, £18 10/ per e ton; 25's, £19 per ton; 12%'s, £19 15/ per tion; 6Vβ, £20 7/6 per ton; all less 2% per cent discount. r Sharps and Bran.—Local sharps, £9 10/ 1 per ton; bran, £7 10/ per ton. s Linseed.—Whole, 21/ per cwt; ground. - 22/ per 1001b. t Malt.—Crushed, 10/6 per bushel; whole I white, 10/6 per bushel; whole black, 14/ > per bushel. Twines.—Seaming, 3/9 per lb; binder, 8d per lb. Peameal.—l3/6 per 1001b. Linseed Meal.—-Moose, 15/ per IOOIb. ■ Linseed Oil Cake Nuts.—Moose, 14/ per I 1001b. ' Bluestone.—32/6 per cwt. Ceylon Tea. At the sale held in Colombo on the ' 3rd inst., 3,500,0001b was placed under [ offer. Quality was slightly better, with the liquors brighter and of more character, • although the result of the sale showed a J very irregular market. The price nltera--1 tions were as follows:—Commons, reduced ' Y*d per lb; Price Broken Orange Pekoes, 1 firm; Plain Broken Pekoes and First 1 Classic Broken Pekoes, reduced %d; Finest ' Sorts reduced %d per lb. Exchange remained unaltered.