Butter Supplies In 1961 Increased

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29893, 6 August 1962, Page 14

Butter Supplies In 1961 Increased

After the poor 1959-60 winter in Europe, butter production resumed its long-term rising trend and supplies in most countries were greater in 1961, reports A. J. Mills and Company, Ltd, Tooley street merchants. Average prices tended to be lower in those markets where values were influenced by supply and demand factors and consumption was stimulated. Margarine consumption was generally down, except in those countries which maintained high internal butter prices. Butter consumption again declined last year in both the United States and Canada, while the same trend was experienced in Australia. Now that the Canadian authorities are subsidising butter consumption, the bulletin says, further gains by margarine may be prevented. United Kingdom Figures In Britain, margarine consumption fell to 13.51 b a head. Butter consumption, however, rose by nearly 21b to 20L’o a

head between 1960 and 1961. The swing might have been even greater if butter imports had not been reduced toward the end of the year. British butter prices were again forced up when the 12monthly import quotas were imposed. As a result, consumption is likely to continue at the same level as in 1961. New Zealand stands as the largest butter consumer cf the countries listed by A. J. Mills. Consumption was maintained at 43.31 b a head in 1961.

The bulletin quotes the following official statistics of butter and margarine consumption:— BUTTER MARGARINE lb a head lb a head

1959 1960 1961 1959 I960 1961 U.K. . 18.5 18.1 20.0 14.5 152 13.5 W. Ger. . . 17.2 183 19.2 25.1 24 0 22.7 France . 22.5 24.3 n.a. 5.3 52 n.a. N’lands . 9.0 10.4 10 8 41.8 43.9 432 Belgium 21.5 20.2 n.a 25 4 36.2 n.a. Denmark . 23.8 23.8 24.0 41 4 42.1 41 9 Finland 32.4 33.7 n.a. 14.6 148 n.a. Sweden . 22.5 21.2 20.9 335 34.6 34 4 Norway . 8.4 8.6 9.3 53.1 52 7 520 Aust. • . 25.9 26.2 25.1 8.6 9.1 94 N.Z • . 43.2 43.3 43.3 nil nil nil Canada . 181 170 164 87 93 10.3 V S A. . 7 9 7 5 7 4 * Seasonal figure* 92 9.4 96