MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

BRIGHT TRADING. TINNED MEAT PRICES ADVANCE. FRUIT MARKETS FIRM. "Auckland Star" Office, Tuesday, August 4. Very bright trading was experienced throughout the whole of last week, and from the amount of business that came to hand yesterday there is every appearance that distributing trade throughout the wholesale grocery warehouses will be well maintained during the present week also. A considerable increase in trading for the month of July is evident when a comparison is made with merchants' returns for the same month of last year. The increase in the purchasing power of the general public is most noticeable, and is definitely responsible for the better and more optimistic feeling that has been prevalent throughout the trade during the past few months. General News. Dried fruits such as Thompson's seedless raisins, golden bleached raisins, packet raisins and -all grades of prunes, have been registered at continually advancing rates for some weeks. This firming of the market has been partially occasioned by the heavy sales of 1935 crop, and as the 1936 crop will not be available until approximately early September next, it is fairly definite that there will 'be no reduction in price of these commodities, and in view of the clean-up of last year's crop that may be anticipated during the next few months, this must of necessity have a very strengthening effect when new season's prices are named.

- An increase in the home consumption value has been noted in a line of Australian tropical fruit salad, which lias been selling rather well on this market. This will have the effect of increasing the landed cost of all future shipments. Packers of tinned meat have advised the trade of an advance of 6d per dozen on the 12oz size, 9d per dozen on lOoz, 1/ per dozen on 240z, and 1/6 per dozen on the 21b tins. Potted meat pastes have also been advanced by some packers to the extent of 3d per dozen on the small size and 6d per dozen on the large. Malt extract plain has also been increased in price to the extent of 1/ per dozen for lib jars, and 1/9 per dozen on 21b jars. Malt and oil shows an increase o£ 1/6 per dozen for the lib jar, and 2/4 per dozen for 21b jars. A small increase is also recorded on 41b and 71b tins, although bulk extract has not yet been increased. An advance of 7d per dozen has been recorded for the shilling size of a wellknown brand of floor polish; some of the larger sizes are also recorded at advanced rates.

A bonus offer of one bar of first grade soap with each 31b packet of washing powder lias been throughout the trade for a limited period. A local shortage of Australian nectarines is advised. Sweet corn is also short, but merchants are expecting further supplies of this line to come to hand within a week or two, which will overcome the present difficulty. Although merchants covered substantially for Singapore pineapples iocal stocks are exceedingly light, and at the moment some merchants are unable to offer second grade l%lb cubes. A line of cigarette papers with a waxed tip is being introduced to the trade this week. These will be sold retail at twopence per packet, and as they will be backed by a comprehensive advertising campaign, a good reception throughout the trade is anticipated.

Arrivals from overseas aryl Southern ports comprise consignments of British [ I powdered alum, Akaroa walnuts, poultry : spice, safety matches, Ceylon tea, bulk Sair dates, loose pack dates, pitted dates, ; bulk medicinal salts, sheep and lamb : tongues, etc. Mildura Fruits. . Although the Australian Dried Fruit Control Board advised an increase of 2/ per cwt 011 sultanas for September shipment, merchants are offering to cover the trade for delivery right up to the end of October at present rates. It will be quite evident that this offer can only bo made ex merchants' stocks, and from what they have coming forward this month. The retail trade would therefore be well advised to take quick advantage of this, offer and so cover themselves for their Christmas trading requirements at the old rates. Jordan Almonds. Quotations for Jordan almonds have been withdrawn during the past week and there is a considerable uncertainty as to whether orders already booked will be executed. The effect of this has been that Sicily almonds are completely sold up and no offerings either from port of shipment or from London are named at present. Ground almonds have advanced 12/ per cwt in sympathy, and it is anticipated that stocks held by London exporters at present will not be sufficient for domestic demands, so that export orders are likely to go short. Crystallised Cherries. Latest quotations received by agents for crystallised and drained cherries are showing an advance of Id per lb. Soft Shell Almonds. Offerings for new crop soft shell almonds for shipment from port of origin are withdrawn altogether, and offers made to London for spot stocks at a premium of £2 per ton have been refused. It is anticipated, however, that stocks will be available later at a considerably higher price. Coffee. Local prices for cheaper grades of ground coffee and coffee and chicory have been advanced %d per lb, due to the increased cost of labour in manufacture. Prunes. Further advances in prices of Calif ornian prunes have -been named at an average advance of 2/ per cwt, particularly on the smaller sizes. White Lead. Late cables received from London indicate that the market for both white and red lead is particularly firm. Coconut. Market advices received from Colombo indicate that prices are particularly firm both for prompt and forward shipment. Eastern Steamer. Cables received during the past week advise that shippers of Eastern goods are experiencing difficulty in securing space for orders in hand, and present indications are that it will be impossible to ship all business previously placed, particularly on pineapples. This situation has arisen owing to the extraordinarily heavy cargo of wool packs shipped from Calcutta, the number of packs estimated to be shipped by this vessel being approximately 1,250,000. Rangoon Rice. A report received by air mail from Rangoon advises that the market was showing a tendency to a slight easing during the week under review. This decline was due principally to operators liquidating their June holdings, coupled with a slight falling off in the Calcutta offtake. The latter has now improved somewhat and as there is no pressure here on the part of millers to sell, decline in the speculative market has been checked. Prices for actual rice, however, have remained practically stationary, despite the fact that apart from boiled qualities only a small business has been done. The demand for boiled rice is well maintained, and it is an interesting fact that boiled rice exports from Rangoon during the period from January 1 to May 31 comprise about 47 per cent of the total of rice and rice offals shipped. Eastern and Western markets still show practically no increase, and the Rangoon market therefore continues to be ruled by the demand from India, although Paddy is still playing no unimportant part as a steadying factor. The total quantity of rice and rice products exported up to the beginning of July amounts to 1.912,005 tons, leaving a balance of 1,587,095 tons still available. !

Wholesale Current Prices. Butter. —Finest grade, booked, 1/4 per lb and 1/3% for prompt cash; first grade factory, booked, 1/3% and 1/3 for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked, 1/3 and 1/2% for prompt cash; whey, 1/2 and 1/1% for prompt cash. Cheese.- —Medium (40's), B%d per lb; first quality (20's), B%d per lb; loaf, B%d per lb. Honey.—Bulk white, 5%d per lb; light amber, 4%d per lb. Bacon. —Ham, 1/1 per ]b; rolled boneless ham, 1/3; cooked whole ham, 1/3; cooked rolled ham, 1/7; cooked pressed ham, 1/8; bacon sides, lOd; roiled sides, ll%d; rolled middles, 1/1; pressed shoulders, 1/1; lard, bulk Bd, pats 9d per lb; dripping, 5d per lb. Linseed. —Crushed, 16/9 per 1001b; whole, 10/0 per cwt. Flour. —Local, 2001b sacks, £14 12/ per ton; 100's, £15 12/6 per ton; 50's, £15 17/6 per ton; 2u's, £16 7/6 per ton; 12%'s, £17 per ton; OVi's. £17 17/6 per ton. Malt.—Crushed, 10/3 per bushel; whole white, 9/6 per bushel; whole black, 11/0 l>cr bushel. Blucstone.—2B/6 per cwt.