GROCERY TRADE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 13

GROCERY TRADE

PROSPECTS AND PRICES The features of the grocery trade during the week were an alteration in the price of sugar and amended retail prices for butter, the latter being due to the recent increase in the guaranteed price. .it* Trade generally has been quiet, but nevertheless turnover for the week has been satisfactory. Arrowroot The price of arrowroot in Australia will, as from .September 30, be advanced 10 per cent, on export orders for New Zealand. Dates Shipping advices of steamers to depart from Busrah show that the first ■ steamer to leave for Australian ports (after the date crop is ready) with' cargo for transhipment to New Zealand, will depart on October 30. This means that new season's dates which will be ready for export in September, SSiStb" l&d for Australia and New Zealand until October 30 ™s wssei is due in Australia about the first weeK in December, and it therefore looks, from present advices, that new sea- 1 on™ dates will not be here until close on to Christmas week. In fact, if no transhipping opportunity is available nt Svdnev or Melbourne to fit m with the arrival of the Busrah steamer, new season's dates may not be here in time for Christmas. Nutmegs those ruling previously. Salmon Outside packers of Canadian salmon (ie packers outside the combine) have r&sr BS^s?'!? £ -;| lists, which are expected any day now. Tea At Calcutta last week 2,250,0001 b, of Indian were offered by auction to a bench of spirited buyers. Despite the, fact that quality was below that of the previous sale, the demand was brisK, especially for common broken pekoes. Leaf tea, being irregular in quality, was inclined to be easier. W London values for Indian tea are reported to be a shade below those rul%!ffoUowfn* prices were obtained at the Calcutta a" c , tlon '— B - r °7*° orange pekoe, common 11 annas 3 pies, me a dfum P l2 annas, good 1 rupee 1 pm. Broken pekoe, common 11 annas, me dium 11 annas 3 pies, good 12 annas i 3 pies. Fanmngs, common U annas. { medium 11 annas 3 pies, good went to 14 Lastweekelylon tea sold by auction in Colombo realised for broken orange pekoe, common 70-71 cents medium 84-87 cents, fine 1 rupee to 1 rupee 3 cents. Broken pekoe, common 70 cents, medium 80-82 cents. Broken tea, common 69 cents, medium 72 cents. A British Tea Trade Review to hand by mail contains some very interesting details concerning the working of the export restrictions now operating on exports of tea from Ceylon, India, and Java. In 1930 a voluntary scheme was tried and failed, but on April 1, 1933 a new scheme came out under tne control of the International Tea Committee with headquarters in London. This scheme had behind it legislative powers enacted by the Governments of India, Ceylon, and Dutch East Indies. Planters in these countries can only ship such quantities of tea as are set out in their export licences, the object being to regulate supplies to the world's markets, and thus obtain better prices. At present the tea exported by British producing countries (India and Ceylon) is just equal to the demand of the British Empire. The weekly average price of tea (Indian, Ceylon, and Java) in London before the enforced control of exports was 9.45 d. By 1936 this had increased to 13.07 d, and by May, 1937, values had mounted to 16.23 d. Thus it will be seen that since the introduction of the export control of tea shipped from India, Ceylon, and Java, prices have advanced more than 70 per cent. This position has, according to the report, given great satisfaction to • the tea planters concerned, and, according to their views, "placed the trade on a remunerative basis." These increases are no doubt due very largely to the control system, but improved trade conditions would account for part of the advance. Sugar Early this week sugar, syrup, and treacle were reduced by 10s a ton. This represents approximately 4d a bag, and the drop is too small to influence prices to the public. Rice Referring to the recent price increase in Australian rice, shippers advise that at the new price they are prepared again to book contracts for delivery up to the end of November. Late cablegrams from the East advise that all markets there for rice are very firm. Cheese The market for cheese is firmer and prices on an average are quoted at Jd ] per lb advance. Seeded Raisins j Californian cablegrams quote new season seeded raisins at 2s 6d to 3s per cwt below present stock prices. This seems to indicate a shortage of stocks of old fruit on hand at present. Shippers of raisins, in fact all goods dispatched from San Francisco, are at present a little apprehensive as to the shipping situation. Reports from California show that another shipping holdup is not outside the bounds of possibility. Nuts Quotations issued for new season's Barcelona nuts show a very high figure, and this commodity will land at advanced prices. Soft-shell almonds this coming season will arrive at a high price; in fact too high to be of much attraction to the trade. ' Tapioca, Sago Tapioca and sago in Singapore have been making small price advances, and these look like remaining, and probably advancing further. An improved demand has set in. which is no doubt due to the increase in the price of rice, and accordingly it is thought that the recent price movements in sago and tapioca will stand, and thus bring these commodities to a parity with rice. Peanuts - Java peanut kernels are due to land shortly in Lyttelton by the steamer Narbada (now discharging in the North Island) and these should be good value, as according to recent cable quotations prices in Java have advanced since the Narbada left. Chinese peativits in shell, and also kernels have not been quoted recently, and in any case there may be now some difficulty in obtaining shipment. Pime.nto, Cloves Overseas advices regarding pimento state that this line is likely to be dearer in the near future. The new crop of cloves will this season be later than usual, and prices at the moment are firm. Hemp Seed Fairly reasonable quotations have been issued by oversea shippers for hemp seed. As the tendency for such seems as hemp, millet, and rape is toward higher levels these lines are worth the attention of buyers in want of supplies. Wrapping Paper Kraft paper has advanced another £2 10s a ton.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS Good supplies of vegetables came forward on the Christchurch markets this week, and choice quality lines met a keen demand. Prices received were as follows:—Cauliflowers, up to 7s a dozen; cabbages, from 3s to 6s a dozen, according to quality; spinach, up to Is 6d a dozen; lettuce, best quality to 4s a dozen, others Is 6d to 3s a dozen; rhubarb, best quality to 7s a dozen; sprouts, up to 8d per lb; potatoes, realising from 4s to 4s 6d a sugarbag. Onions: The market has shown an improvement during the week; best quality from 5s to 6s a sugar-bag. Fruit—Apples: Good supplies are coming forward, but only choice quality lines are in demand; inferior quality are difficult to sell even at low rates. Extra choice Jonathans up to 9s 3| case, Delicious up to 10s, Sturmers up to Bs, inferior grades much lower. Pears: Choice dessert up to 5s 6d a half-case, cooking 3s 6d to 4s 6d a J half-case. New Zealand passion fruit: Good supplies coming forward, and realising up to 18s 6d a case. New Zealand lemons: Increased quantities coming forward, and values are lower than last week. Imported Fruits—A shipment of Californian grapes, lemons, and grapefruit arrived during the week, and a further small quantity is expected next week. A further shipment of Queensland pineapples is also expected next week. Eggs—First grade up to Is 2d, seconds Is to Is Id, duck eggs up to Is 2id a dozen. DUNEDIN DUNEDIN, September 10. Choice quality dessert apples and cookers have a better demand. Ripe bananas have had a good sale during the last week. It would appear that there will be a shortage of ripe bananas before the next shipment arrives on September 28. Supplies of oranges are now sold out of the marts. The next shipment is due on Tuesday, September 21. A shipment of Californian lemons, grapes, and grapefruit is expected in the marts early next week, transhipped ex the Monterey at Auckland. Part of the grape cargo was forwarded by rail and reached the market yesterday. ,