FRUIT EXPORT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 82, 5 January 1928, Page 10

FRUIT EXPORT TRADE

RECORD SHIPMENTS BOOKED GOOD PROSPECTS FOR GROWERS FACTORS IN OVERSEAS MARKETS A bountiful harvest is practically assured to the Dominion’s orchardists, and the present indications are that the fruit export season will be a record one, so that the prospects of the New Zealand fruit 'arming industry are particularly leight. The export of apples will start with two shipments to be made in the Northumberland and Tainui early in February. The bookings of shipping space received to date by the New Zealand Fruit Export Board indicate -that, the record shipments made in 1926 will be exceeded this season, and that the total quantity of apples to be exported will be between 850,000 and 900,000 cases. The present bookings of shipping space for the different apple exporting districts are as follow: — Cases. Nelson 572,000 Hawke’s Bay 154,000 Auckland 35,000 Marlborough 30,000 Wairarapa 15,000 Poverty Bay 12,000 Canterbury 5,000 In addition to the above bookings it is expected that from to 80,000 cases of apples will be shipped from Otago. Owing to a recent severe hailstorm in Marlborough, which caused considerable damage, the total shipments from this province will probably be reduced, but at present it is difficult for growers to estimate the real extent of the damage to the fruit crop. Heavier Australian Shipments. The, large yield in New Zealand this season coincides with heavy crops in Australia, particularly in Tasmania, and it is estimated that the shipments of apples from Australia and New Zealand this season will total approximately 4,000,000 cases. United States Apple Crop Halved. As qgainst this factor in the British markets, it is reported that owing to the very poor crop in the United States the shipments across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom will not be more than half of those during the previous season. An official estimate places the total apple crop of the United States for 1927 at 123,115,000 bushels, compared with 246,460,000 bushels for 1926. This should mean less competition from American apples on the British markets during the Australian and New Zealand export season this year, and should to a great extent offset the heavier quantities offering from this side of the world. In addition, it is expected that the small crop in the United States will result in a much higher proportion of large-sized apples which are not suited to the British market, and this should further reduce the export from America. It’would appear, therefore, that New Zealand shippers can look forward to a comparatively good season, though it is not anticipated that the average prices will be as good as those secured last season. Testing the Canadian Market. Last year a trial shipment of New Zealand apples was sent to the eastern provinces of Canada, and the results secured warrant the sending of larger shipments this season. The small crops picked in the United States and Canada last fall indicate that a better market should be offering in Eastern Canada, and working on the information obtained from last year’s experiment, sizes suitable for the Canadian market will be shipped. South American Tariff Barriers. The success of past seasons’ shipments to South American ports warranted the expectation of building up a considerable trade in apples in that part of the world. Shipments will be continued to South America, but owing to restrictions imposed by heavy duties, it is not now expected that these markets will absorb as much New Zealand fruit as in the past.

For instance, the Uruguayan Government has imposed what amounts to a prohibitive tariff on imported apples. The duty on imported apples in Uruguay is equal to 16s. per bushelcase, which is equivalent to the c.i.f. value of New Zealand fruit. It is considered that such a duty must have the effect of seriously curtailing, if not actually prohibiting, the shipment of apples to Monte Video, the chief port of Uruguay. In the Brizilian market the United States have a tariff preference equal to 3s. 6d. a bushel-case over New Zealand apples. For this reason it is expected that . shipments to Rio de Janeiro will be much smaller this year, unless the shortage of the American | crop works to the advantage of New I Zealand. On. the other hand, the Argentine I

Republic, which is a fairly large consumer of apples, admits New Zealand fruit duty free, and if there is any increase in the South American trade it will be probably wholly in the shipr ments to the Argentine.