BUTTER FOR FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 32, 7 August 1923, Page 4

BUTTER FOR FRANCE

THE MARKET PROSPECTS.

Mr. H. Bavthelemy, of Barthelemy Bacuet, Barthelemy Fils, in an interview given some months ago to "The Post," stressed 'the importance of the French market to New Zealand as an outlet for the highest quality of butter. He made a point of direct shipment via Dunkirk, in order to avoid expenses of transhipment in London, and also explained that for a beginning the market could not be large. His firm has now reported on direct importations of Australian butter during the season just concluded. The report states that from the end of November, 1922, to end of April, 1923, about 40,000 cwt of Australian butter- arrived in France. Of this-quantity only 5000 cwt arrived direct, the remainder passing through the London market. However, from Ist December the net price c.i.f. French' port always remained higher than the net prices c.i.f. London harbour. The importation would have been much more important if the drought had not lessened in a considerable manner the available quantities in Australia as from December to April. France can easily import 20,000 ewt per month", and evenmore if the goods come direct, as they then bear considerably less charges than coming via London. In order to subsist, through the winter, France was obliged to import a: large quantity of Danish, Dutch, and especially Argentine, butter. Many steamers from Australia called at Dunkirk to discharge cargo, and the butter which was thus shipped arrived in much better condition than when transhipped through London. The boxes were remarkably clean, and not broken, which is a detail of great importance for the good reputation of Australian prodnct3. The quality of the shipments was "veiy good, and enhanced the reputation of .Australian butter,,' which is now gieatly appreciated by the*] French consumer.

Shippers -.nay no doubt have been afraid; that European political events would have a disturbing effect uoon general prices obtained in the French market. This winter's experience showed that, in s-pite of the very serious turn, in international affairs which did actuall ly take place, the French market remained quite nomia!. with an excellent attitude througmiut.

The portion of Lh<> report which deals with market fluctuations states that during January, February, and March the quotations in London were Kept artificially high by putting supplies into cold store, whilst France and her neighbours \vere_ in need of butter, and canvassed for it in London, as well as in Australia, without any success. The market suddenly dropped in April after the beginning of the French production, when France was no longer in need of these • supplies.