MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

■lACTIVE BUSINESS CONDITIONS FURTHER SUPPLIES AUSTRALIAN SULTANAS UNPROCURABLE. TAPIOCA MARKET FIRMING. "Auckland Star" Office, , Tuesday, December 1. Wholesale grocery merchants still continue to report exceptionally active busi--1 ness conditions, all departments being in . the full rush of their early December trading. General News. . Stocks of numerous lines, due to the strong demand that has been experienced over the past few weeks, are now becom- , ing rapidly depleted, and before long a ' number of lines much in demand at this period will be absolutely cleaned up. Merchants are very concerned about the difficulty of replacing a number of these shortages, particularly in regard to Californian fruits, which have been held up owing to the maritime strike. The lines most affected are dried fruits, including bulk Thompson's seedless raisins, golden bleached raisins, packet seeded and seedI less raisins; also' tinned asparagus, pilchards, sweet corn. etc. In regard to pilchards, this line is usually drawn from Canada, but owing to the short catch this season Canadian packers purposed shipping stocks from California in order to fulfil their commitments. Unfortunately, shipments due to the strike situation are being held up indefinitely. A further supply of figs was received last week, and as early consignments had previously been disposed of, this fresh parcel will most assuredly meet with a ready sale during the next week or two. The Australian Dried Fruit Control , Board advise that stocks of sultanas of all grades for export are exhausted, and ; further supplies will not be available until ] the new crop is ready about April-May ] next. The advice of the clearance of Aus- i tralian stocks for export has come rather ] as a surprise, as only a few days ago advices were received that further supplies i could be booked for December shipment at the rates previously quoted. Fortunately ( some merchants are still holding small , supplies of Smyrna grades, which will help to tide the situation over during the next few weeks, when supplies are most needed. In advising the withdrawal of sultanas I the board did not give any indication as to the position of Lexia raisins, so that in the meantime merchants are still accepting business for this line. Previous advices received indicated that supplies of Australian seeded raisins were getting rather short, so that immediate attention should be given to this line. As a point of interest, the board mentioned that sales of Australian sultanas this year in New g Zealand, ex 1036 crop, constituted a a record. . n

A small shipment of golden bleached raisins arrived last week, and have proved particularly welcome. Certain Californian packers have announced the withdrawal of quotations oil this line, and others who are still quoting are asking much higher prices, which will make present local offerings excellent buying. Australian packers of tropical fruit salad and canned pineapples announce that the winter drought has reduced the crop of pineapples so extensively that orders booked for spread shipment must wait fbr fresh supplies of pines to come in before they can be completed. Canners indicate that nothing can be done until January next, when a pro rata delivery I will be made. Due to the shortage, further supplies of fruit salad are unable to be delivered this year. Packers state that all other ingredients in the fruit salad are ready, the dearth of pineapples only holdv | ing up the_pack A liliu v.uu.h;uiiiim. iratMU iu various sizes which sold particularly well during the' season last year is again being offered throughout the trade, and will no doubt be again in demand. A small shipment of Australian tomato and mustard sauce arrived during last week, and is already oversold, so that further supplies are being awaited ex the next boat. Price is competitive with local peaches and 3-Crown dried apricots are particularly short in some quarters. Quite a number of varieties and packs of Singapore pineapples are now sold out. with further supplies unprocurable until the next shipment arrives in January. Merchants have received advice that supplier of new season's Alitalia and Patras currants cannot possibly reach tins market until approximately December 23 to 25. which makes the offers of merchants on Mildura currants excellent buying just at present. A reduction of 1/6 per dozen was announced on the price of the large size of a well-known brand of washing extract. Arrivals from overseas during the past week comprise shipments of Cohoe salmon, soap extract, safety matches, gelatine, malt extract, brushware, medicinal preparations, baking poxvder, Sicily almonds, oatmeal both fine and coarse, rolled oats, Smyrna figs in 7's and 28's bagc< anil cellophane packings, paper bags, English j cigarettes, pink salmon in %'s and l's. Siam rice. English tomato sauce, mustard l sauce, bulk Ceylon tea, bulk raisins, desiccated coconut, health preparations, etc. Tapioca. The market for tapioca in recent cables received has been advised as firm with an upward tendency, quotations being strictly subject to confirmation by shippers. Singapore pearl sago has advanced 3d per cwt, and Penang grades by 4%d per cwt. Sago flour is also listed at an increase of 3d per cwt. Resin. The market for resin continues exceedingly active and, while American has not been quoted of late, French rates in cables received last week have advanced a further 10/ per ton. Pineapples. There has been further activity in the Singapore pineapple market because of a cable advising a decline of approximately l%d per dozen all aound. This has resulted in a further parcel being put through for the next direct steamer. This business, which was transacted last week, was practically the last opportunity of connecting with the Narbada, as she is expected to arrive at Singapore within the next few days. ' Australian Currants. Latest cable information to hand yesterday states that 1 Australian packers are unable to guarantee any further supplies of currants in any grade. It is now very doubtful whether merchants will receive any more of this pack apart from small consignments which might be in the Wangauella, due in a few days. Canary Seed, v Supplies of Turkish canary §eed camc to hand last week to a fairly bare market. The shipment landed in good condition, particularly in view of -having been subject to two transhipments en route. Argentine quotations remain fairly steady in recent cables, with further interest being displayed in rates for forward shipment. Grapefruit. New season's tinned Florida grapefruit is quoted on 4 a basis of 1/ per dozer lower than last year, although it is doubtful when supplies will be received or acc'Ount of the American strike. Brazil Kertiels. New season's quotations for shellec Brazil kernels have been declared foi direct 1937 shipments. Although the basif is about Id per lb higher than last year considerable business is already passing as this line. is becoming increasing!} popular in New Zealand markets. Sicily Almonds. Quotations for Sicily almonds have shown a further decline of 7/ per cwt, bui principals advise that rates are now verj firm and likely to show aJ> advance.

' Levant Kernels. Quotations for new Levant kernels have advanced 35/ per cwt. This probably i 6 due to their being the only substitute for i Barcelona kernels, supplies of the latter ► line not being available on account of the Spanish crisis. Walnut Meat. x A shipment of new season's walnut meat came to hand by the Sydney Maru at the beginning of ia6t week, the consignment comprising approximately G26 eases. Stocks have been exceedingly short and the consignment arriving at this time will help to overcome the shortage in a number of other nut lines. Ground Almonds. Quotations for ground almonds have shown a decline of 20/ per cwt in recent cables received, but they are still considered very dear in comparison to the substitute lines (which have given every satisfaction) recently introduced on to the New Zealand market. Figs. Advices in connection with new season's figs have been received from London that there are no further supplies available from Smyrna. This has had the result of advancing quotations by approximately 10/ per cwt for shipment from London. Only restricted supplies are now available from this quarter. Soya Flour. Quotations for soya bean flour have advanced in price by 2/6 per cwt. Although this line is not very popular with bakers in New Zealand, Australia is now importing largt quantities, and its extensive use here is probably only a matter of time when the trade becomes sufficiently familiar with its nutritive properties. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—Finest grade, booked, 1/2% per lb, and 1/2 for prompt cash; first grade factory, booked, 1/2, and 1/1% for prompt cash; second grade factory, booked, 1/1%. and 1/1 for prompt cash; whey, 1/1, and 1/0% for prompt cash. Cheese.—Export (80's), B%d per lb; medium (40's), B%d; first quality (20's), B%d; loaf, 9d. Honey.—Bulk white, 5/id per lb; light amber, 4%d. Bacon.—Ham, 1/2 per lb; rolled boneless ham, 1/4; cooked whole ham, J/6; cooked rolled ham, 1/7; cooked pressed ham, 1/8; bacon sides, ll%d; rolled sides, 1/1; rolled middles, 1/2; pressed shoulders, 1/1; lard, bulk, 8d: pats, 9d; dripping, sd. Linseed. — Crushed, 16/9 per 1001b; : whole, 16/6 per cwt. , Flour.—Local: 2001b 6acks, £14 15/6 per ton; 100's, £15 12/6; 50's, £15 17/6; 25's, £16 7/6; 12%'s, £17; 6%'s, £17 17/6. Malt.—Crushed, 10/3 per bushel; whole ; white, 9/6; whole black, 11/6. Bluestone.—2B/6 per cwt. j