DRIED FRUITS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 31, 6 August 1923, Page 7

DRIED FRUITS

BUYERS HOLDING OFF.

(l/NITBD PSESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIGHT;) (AUSTRALIAN - HEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION),

„, , . . r LONDON, 4th August. me dried fruit trade is in a very unsatisfactory condition, buyers persistently keeping off the market, and though holders have reduced prices for currants sultanas, and lexias, they have not yet succeeded in inducing buyers to do more than fill immediate requirements. Apparently retailers are hoping to get further reductions before operating o.n anything like a large scale. The position regarding sultanas is really serious, stocks in London on 31st July being five times freater than on the same date in 1922. tocks of Australian amount to 2334 tons, compared with 862 tons last year, and despite reductions in prices the business done is almost negligible. The position of currants is almost as bad, for stocks of Australian amount to 2159 tons, and the reduction of price asked for Three Crowns to 66s has failed to bring buyers. It is difficult to comprehend what is influencing buyers in their policy of abstention;; for neither wholesale' dealers nor retailers are carrying any stocks, and the quantity of green currants in the warehouses is 3542 tons, against 4621 tons, last year. The only theory is that they are endeavouring to obtain still further reductions, and it looks as if holders will have to Make more concessions.