GROCERY TRADE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 13

GROCERY TRADE

PRICES AND PROSPECTS Trade during the week in the retail grocery business has. according to reports received yesterday, been on the quiet side. Prices generally have not fluctuated much since last report, the only item of special interest being an unexpected advance in the price of sugar. Jute Market The Indian jute market has commenced to show signs of hardening, probably due to the high demand by Australian operators. Corn sacks last week advanced by 23d a dizen in Calcutta, with the market reported as being firm at the new quotation. Fish Recent cablegrams from England mention that the herring fishing in and round the United Kingdom this present season has been very disappointing, and hint at an amendment in export prices in the early future. Prunes News from the United States concerning the new season’s prune market states that prices are now very firm and likely to remain so. The United {States Government recently assisted growers by relieving them of all stocks of old season’s prunes, and, acting apparently under Government guidance, all growers’ associations quoting prunes for export will now quote the same schedule of prices. In the past, there were very often slight variations in prices issued by different operators acting as selling agents for the growers. Peas and Barley The Australian market for milling peas is still very firm and the best export quotation available is 7s 6d f.0.b.. Melbourne. Barley for prompt shipment is quoted at 3s 9d for English malting and 3s 4d for Cape Feed, both prices being f.o.b. Melbourne. Greaseproof Paper Ample supplies of greaseproof paper have now arrived on this market, and reasonable quotations are available for August-September delivery, this being the period of highest demand. Sugar Early this week the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, Ltd., advanced the prices of sugar, syrup, and treacle by 10s a ton. As this advance is effective immediately, the retail price of sugar by the bag will be advanced correspondingly, according to an authoritative statement issued yesterday by a city retailer. Tea The Governments of India, Ceylon, and Netherland East Indies are at present in consultation over a suggested amendment of the date on which the International Tea Committee is to brim down its next fiat defining the export tea quota of each country under the Tea Export Restrictions which have been in force in India, Ceylon, and Java for several years. It has been suggested that the International Tea Committee will be better able to view the position of the world’s tea requirements at a later date than November of this year, when the quotas are due to come up again for revision, and accordingly it is desired to move the date forward to February of next year. A catalogue of more than 1,500,0001 b of Indian tea with export rights was offered last week at Calcutta. The. demand was steady, and the market generally firm. Due to a slight drop in the quality of the higher grades prices for the tea were slightly easier than at the previous sale. There was a keen demand for all tinny teas and these sold ready. The Java tea market last week disclosed a rather poor selection, except for medium broken pekoes, which were up to standard and sold well. Generally the demand was poor. lacking buyers’ support and prices of leaf teas were unchanged, with fannings likewise, in spite of the poor demand for the last-named. Olive Oil During the last few months, the olive oil market in Europe declined steadily, but this movement has now been arrested, according to latest cabled reports and quotations are firm at last prices and in some instances shippers are asking small advances. Onions Australian ohions were quoted this week for export to New Zealand at £9 10s to £9 12s 6d a ton for prime Brown Spanish, f.o.b Melbourne. Dates Referring to the date crop now ripening in the Busrah territory, a cablegram states that the harvest this coming season will be short of the quantity gathered last season. The approximate decline in this season's harvest was not stated. Blnestone Following on advices recently that the oversea markets for bluestone had advanced, a further report states that the increase is approximately 5s per cwt. Pineapples Recent cablegrams from Singapore state that pineapple li’s cubes have advanced by 2|d a dozen and other sizes accordingly. Eggs In spite of the recent cold weather retailers reported yesterday that supplies of fresh eggs had been fairly plentilul during the week. The flush season is now close at hand and present prices are not expected to last much longer. Yesterday city stores were paying for supplies to farmers and producers the following net prices; Firsts Is Bd, seconds Is 6d, duck eggs Is 6d. Almonds After experiencing several declines in price the Sicilian almond market in London is now firmer, both for present Stocks and now season’s fruit, due for shipment in September. This has caused the ground almond market to advance in sympathy, and notification of an advance of £3 a ton in this commodity is announced. Dried Apricots According to a report Issued independently of the Commonwealth Dried Fruit Association, stocks of dried apricots in Australia are showing signs of being short. It is stated that all grades below 3 crown have been sold, and the full demand for the cheapest fruit has now fallen on to the 3 crown quality. Tapioca and Sago Tapioca and sago are again a trifle weaker in price in Singapore, according to latest advices. Dried Fruit For’ the week ended July 14 the London office of the Commonwealth Dried Fruit Control Board sold close on 1000 tens of sultanas, currants, and lexlas. Average prices realised ran as follows: Sultanas, £39 10s a ton; currants, £27 5s a ton; lexias, £SO 6s a ton. The London market for all lines is reported by the board to be firm. • Canary Seed The overseas market for canary seed has eased slightly, but the effect of this will not be felt here for several months.