DAIRY PRODUCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1931, Page 10

DAIRY PRODUCE

RUSSIAN COMPETITION

.. . ' ■ LONDON,. 18th April. ■Although the consumptive demand for butter remains good, prices continue to decline steadily, as importers and retailers alike do not desire to carry stocks, and there is a general desire to keep clearing. Consequently stocks are in the moderate compass of about 250,000 boxes, compared with 661,000- a year ago. ' However, prospective supplies are heavy, and the Continental production is steadily increasing, so the policy of selling seems justifiable. The 'Empire Dairy Council announces that Siberian butter will be arriving in large quantities this year. The total is expected to amount to about 17,500 tons. This is considerably in excess of any postwar year, but the Russian imports before the revolution were very much larger, amounting to 41,723 tons in 1916.

The butter and cheese markets are reporter! by the Dairy Board to be "steadier iit the end of this week- (17th April)," and "very slow," respectively. The board's price list at the end of the week was as follows:- —New Zealand salted butter 106s to 108s, a fall of 3s to 4s per cwt on the week; unsalted was 112s to 114s per cwt, a fall of 2s to 6s on the week. ■ Australian butter was 104s to 106s for salted, or 4s less than the week before. Danish was quoted 122s to' 124s per cwt spot, the same as the week before. New Zealand butter was unchanged at Is 2d per pound retail, but Danish was reduced during the week from Is id to Is 3d per pound retail. Cheese was easier in price, New Zealand white being 49s to 50s and up to 51s per cwt, with a. premium of Is per cwt for full cream cheese. Canadian cheese was selling at 72s to 76s per cwt for white and 74s to 76s for coloured, a slight advance on the week for the former and a slight fall for the latter. Stocks New Zealand butter in' store at 17th April 4862 tons, compared with 7950 tons this time last year; stocks of Australian, 825 tons, compared with 3250 tons 2nd .April, 1930. Cheese—Stocks New Zealand at 17th April were 161,000 crates, compared with 107,619 crates 17th April, 1930. .Stocks Canadian cheese, 143,872, compared with 105,005 boxes as at'loth April, 1930.' Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co. report New Zealand butter, 107s;'-New "Zealand cheese, white 50s, coloured 535, "both very quiet." The. New Zeaiand Producers' Co-opera-tive Marketing Association's market report., London, dated 17th. April, gives, prices as above and describes the butter market "steady with more inquiry." Cheese: Market "is slow and prices have declined."