MARKETS AT A GLANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 4

MARKETS AT A GLANCE

GOOD BUSINESS. FIRM OVERSEAS MARKETS. RICE QUOTATIONS FIRM. "Auckland Star" Office, j Tuesday, August 24. i Business during the week has been exceptionally good. Merchants commenced their September deliveries laet Friday, and , are continuing their local and suburban i deliveries for the same booking tomorrow. The Winter Shojv has been responsible for a considerable influx of I visitor* from, the country districts, and ' the retail trade in consequence reports j considerably, brighter business. Aβ the show will be open until the end of this week brisk conditions generally are expected. Reports in connection with the show are that the attendances have been very good. General News. Generally speaking all overseas markets are particularly firm. Local stocks of pitted dates are pretty well cleaned up, and merchants are aMC'.ously waiting on further supplies. Unfortunately purchases from London show a very substantial advance on previous rates, so that next landings will cost considerably higher. A certain amount of interhouse buying hae been taking place, and those who have been fortunate enough to procure supplies have been able to do eo at prices that work out slightly lees than the landed cost of new supplies, which are substantially higher. A well-known English packer of pastes is offering throughout the trade, a new line of sardine and tomato in one size only. This variety ie expected to take on very well with the public. The recent announcement of a reduction in the price of prunes has now been withdrawn, and prices have been advanced to their previous level. Interest ie now being taken in forward purchases of such lines as fly sprays, jellies, cordials and other summer selling lines. Exporters of mutton birds advise that they are now accepting business for next season (1938) at prices which represent an advance of about 10 per cent on last year's opening rates. Prices for new season's preserving jare, jam and jelly jars, etc., have now been announced for the coming season, and are on the same basis as last year. The manufacturers of 1/ tine of barky sugar advise that on account of increasing costs they have been obliged to increase slightly the wholesale prices. Retail prices remain unchanged. A bonus offer for a limited period of one free per dozen hfca been announced ob a well-known brand of fruit salts. The shipiirsut of Victorian onions which came to" hand by the Wanganella last week were of excellent quality, and are moving out very satisfactorily. 'No further supplies are expected for about a month. An advance of approximately 5 per cent has been advised b.v one manufacturer in tKe cheaper grade of coffee essence. Arrivals from overseas and coastal porte during the week comprise shipments of bulk tea, medicinal emulsion, bulk desiccated coconut, vegetable extract, chewing gum, macaroni and vermicelli, essence of anchovies, English Worcester eauce. canned peaches in halves and slices, pears and apricots, Glauber salts, fine salt, both bulk and s's, coarse salt, seeded Lexia raisins, English meat extract. English cigarettes, ground almonds, bottled anchovies, curry r.owrter, castor oil in 4oz and soz sizes, loz Ensom salts. French capers. 2oz and 4oz Seidlitz powders, carbonate of magnesia in loz packets and bulk, isinglass, 12's red herrings, herrings in tomato sauce, paper bags, etc. Siam Rice. ":■ The market for Siam rice is firm, and advancing quotations are considered not likely to decline owing to the unsettled , conditions now prevailing in China. It is ; considered by ncente that prices are more likely to go higher. Java Kernels. The market for Java kernels is still very firm, in fact during the pmrt week one distributor was forced to withdraw prices owing to supplies being unprocurable. Kerosene. This' commodity has been selling very well of late, and supplies at the present time are exceedingly short. The shipping facilities are rather, erratic, and this W having an effect on supplies for this 'market However, further shipment* arc expected by the Wairuna nt the end of this month, which should take care of the position for the time being. Nutmegs and Mace. Nutmegs have been at an exceedingly high level for some weeks. Latest cables received, however, advise that the market has eased slightly, llO's being quoted at a reduction of %d per lb. fiound shrivelled %d. and broken at l-16d per lb. Mace is Ktill in short supply, one seller advising their inability to quote this-week. Tapioca. The market for tapToca lias continued steady for several weeks, with price fluctuations within narrow limits. Last wc«k quotations for Penang grades were reduced iy 2 d per cwt for medium pearl. Small pearl sago is still listed at a very high figure, and is of no interest to this market at the moment. Pineapples. Pineapples continue steady with, if anything, a firm tone; lVfelb cubes, l%lb sliced flats and 21b sliced are listed at an increase of %<1 per dozen. Mail ndviees to hand state that fruit supplies are now comparatively small and there will be no further large crop until October. Stocks from the United Kingdom are moving satisfactorily and there has been a marked improvement in inquiry for prompt and forward shipment. The market this week is a good deal firmer and all indications point to higher prices in the near future. Rangoon Rice. The market for Rangoon rice has shown considerable firmness of late, latest information received from this quarter advising an increase of 10/ per ton. Figs. Latest reports in connection with the market for Smyrna figs show a considerable firming in forward prices. Jordan Almonds. Quotations for Jordan almonds in cables received last week are now being named at fancy- prices for September shipment from London. The prohibitive prices, however, will probably considerably restrict buying. . Shelled Brazil Nuts. The growers of Brazil nuts have. not cleared their stocks at the high prices ruling -arid there is now a reduction of l%d j>er lb, which will enable merchants to. cover their Christmas requirements at more reasonable levels. Figs. Bulk supplies of Smyrna figs have advanced in price 1/ per cwt this week, but ae • most local buying is now completed this is not likely to affect the Christmas trade. Australian Dried Peaches. Quotations for Australian 1 crown dried peaches are again available after having been withdrawn for many months. The trade for dried fruits, however, this year hae been very largely on better grades, and it is anticipated that 1 crown will now be neglected to a certain extent. Ginger. Raw ginger is also affected by the Chinese unrest, the market already showing signs. of considerable activity. Manufacturers the world over are endeavouring i to cover their requirements ahead.

Fruit Juices. Orange juice, the uee of which is proving increasingly popular in this country, is again, quoted at the same opening rateq ae last year, with the introduction of a smaller size tin, which should be of considerable interest to the Xew Zealand trade. Pineapple juice ie also again available at last year's rates. Californian Canned Apricots. A mail report to hand from one of the largest Calii'ornian canners states that the movement of apricots from that country to the. trade for the season ending June 1, 1937, amounted to 3,515,330 caees. The average movement ~for the previous five years wae 2,173,000 .cases, showing that the movement of. the 1936 season, therefore, wag 60 per, cent greater than the average movement of the previous five years. This big increase oame about by the development of whole apricot business. Whole apricots now represent a very large part of the total apricot pack and are now going into territories in big volume, where in earlier years they were sold only in moderate quantities. A further increase in consumer demand and industry shipments ie anticipated during the present season. Mildura Sultanas. Cables received from the Australian Dried Fruit Control Board advise that supplies of sultanas, especially 4 crown, are becoming rapidly exhausted owing to the activity of British and Canadian markets. Exporters desire to know if any further quantities are required from New Zealand buyers. Early ordering is requested in order to secure confirmation. Wholesale Current Prices. Butter.—Finest grade, booked 1/3 per lb, and 1/2% per lb for prompt cash; first grade factory, booked 1/2% per lb, and 1/2 per lb for prompt cash; second grade fa<Story, booked 1/2 per lb, and 1/1 % per lb for prompt cash; whey, 1/1% per lb, and 1/1 per lb for prompt cash. • Cheese.—Export (80's), B%d per lb; medium (40's), 9%d per lb; first quality (20's), 9%d per lb; loaf, 10% d per lb. Bacon.—Ham, 1/2 per lb; rolled boneJees ham, 1/4; cooked whole ham, I/ft; cooked rolled ham, 1/10; cooked pressed ham, 1/9; bacon sides, ll%d; rolled sides, 1/1%; rolled middles, 1/3; lard, bulk, 8d per lb; pats, 9d; dripping, pats, 5d per lb. Linseed.—Crushed, 16/9 per 1001bwhole, 16/6 per cwt. Flour.—Local, 2001b sacks, £14 15/6 per ton; lOO'e. £15 12/6; sO's, £15 17/6: 2o's, £16 7/6; 12%'s, £17; &A 's, £17 17/6. Malt.—Crushed, 11/3 per bushel; whole white, 11/; whole black, 12/6. Blueetone.—43/6 per cwt.