WORLD SULPHUR SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26887, 13 November 1952, Page 13

WORLD SULPHUR SUPPLIES

“SHORTAGE A THING OF THE PAST” SURPLUS FOR 1952 IN UNITED STATES (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, November 12. “The shortage of sulphur, which in the early months of 1951 had such severe repercussions throughout the free world, is over,” says the financial editor of “The Times.” “Steady progress in recent months has.proceeded far enough for the United States to be able to boast of an outright, surplus for 1952, and it looks as if the International Materials Conference may be relieved before very long of the duty of operating the rationing scheme begun in the middle of last year “This position has been brought about partly by the intensive development of production by the leading producers, but also by many months of jigorous controls of consumption. All Government restrictions and inventory controls are now being ended in the United States because the quantities of sulphur consumed there have fallen below authorised uses. “United States consumption this year, including exports in all forms except acid, is put at 6,090,060 tons, against supplies of more than 6,500,000 tons. A further improvement is expected in 1953. “There is optimism about the longer term outlook in America,’,’ the writer adds. “A spokesman for a leading producer estimated that projects to increase world supplies will add 4,000,000 tons yearly to the total productive capacity by the end of 1955. making it round 16,000,000 tons. If this is the target attained and the new sources come up to expectations there should be enough sulphur for all. “Responsible observers in Britain, however, are not inclined to look too far ahead. Sulphur rationing still exists in Britain, in form if not in practice, though since the restrictions were first imposed in the first quarter of last year, they have been progressively eased, until it can be said that on the whole no consumer is being kept short. "Sulphur is no longer a curb on production in the textile trades, the leading consumers. Meanwhile the United Kingdom sulphur consumers can at least feel assured that world scarcity is a tiling of the past.” STOCK SALE BURNSIDE (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 12. Moderate yardings brought firm values at the Burnside weekly stock sale. There was a yarding of 320 cattle, of which a small proportion were prime quality bullocks, with many poorer quality cows and oxen. The sale opened with values showing a rise on the prices ruling at the end of last week’s sale, but all over values were much on a par with late rates. The demand dropped a little below the opening values, and the sale finished on a firming tendency. About 2200 fat sheep were offered, and some very good quality wethers were penned. The sale opened with both wethers and ewes showing a rise of 2s on last week’s rates. Many butchers had over nought at the big yarding last week, and their requirements were soon filled, with the result that prices eased. In the concluding stages it was difficult to make sales After the very large entry in the store cattle section last week, the yarding appeared very small and lacking in quality. No big lines of good breeding were offered and the demand, although good, was not keen. There was a medium yarding of vealers, and prices were easier. Forty spring lambs were offered and met with a ready sale, realising from 55s to 82s. Baconers and porkers, which were scarce, were not keenly sought, and prices could be quoted on a par with last week’s rates. , Prices:— Extra quality bullocks, to £5B 12s 6d; prime, from £45 2s 6d to £5O 17s 6d; medium. £3B 2s 6d to £43 2s 6d; light, from £45 2s 6d; prime, from £33 2s 6d to £37 12s 6d; medium, £2B 7s 6d to £3l 2s 6d; light, from £23 2s 6d. Extra prime cows, to £35 2s 6d; prime, from £2B 12s 6d to £33 12s 6d; medium, from £23 12s 6d to £26 17s 6d; light, from £l3 7s 6d. Prime heavy wethers, to 695; prime, from 57s to 645; medium, from 53s to 565; light, from 40s. Prime heavy ewes, to 435; prime, from 38s to 425; medium, from 33s to 375; light, from 28s. Three-year-old Shorthorn cross steers, £34: two and three-year-old mixed colour bullocks, £27 to £3l: Hereford cross yearling steers, £l7; Hereford cross ’ yearling heifers, from £l2 to £l4 10s; good conditioned Shorthorn cross cows (empty), £22 2s 6d. Best runners, to £3l; medium, from £l9 to £25 10s; vealers, from £8 to £l2. Fat Pigs.—Best baconers. £l2; prime, from £9 10s to £lO 6s; medium, from £8 10s to £9 Bs. Best porkers, £6 10s to £7 15s; light and medium, from £5. FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES For the first time in several weeks sterling lost ground in relation to the American dollar in the week ended yesterday. The loss was more than compensated by a gain against the Canadaln dollar. The £ lost nearly .7 cents in New York and gained almost 2 cents in Montreal. Altered telegraphic transfer exchange rates, as adv.sed by the Bank of NewSouth Wales, are as follows: N.Z. on New York: buying, 2.7933 dollars to £NZI (2.8001 last week); selling, 2.7615 (2.7677). N.Z. on Montreal: 2.7221 dollars to £NZI (2.7028): 2.6868 (2.6677). N.Z. on Belgium: 141.87 francs to £NZI (141.89); 137.33 (137.40). N.Z. on Holland: 10.76 guilders to £NZI (same); 10.50 (10.51). COLOMBO TEA SALES (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright) x COLOMBO. Nov. 11 Offerings totalled 3,321,2681 b at this week’s tea sale, the demand being fair. High-grown broken orange pekoes realised 260 cents per lb, medium liquoring broken orange pekoes 200 cents, medium liquoring orange pekoes 195 cents, low medium broken orange pekoes 185 cents, low medium dust 160 cents.