TRADE WITH THE EAST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 9

TRADE WITH THE EAST

SHIPMENTS FROM AUSTRALIA. CARGOES OF FOODSTUFFS. There is a boom in the shipping trade between Australia and the Far East owing to the despatch of large consign, ments of wheat, flour and other foodstuffs to China and Japan. It is true that practically no cargo is being taken from Australian ports by Japanese vessels to southern Chinese ports owing to the refusal cf Chinese stevedores to handle cargo which had been carried in Japanese ships, but large quantities of wheat and flour are being carried by Japanese ships to northern Chinese ports such as Tientsin, Darien and Tsintao, which are close to the scene of hostilities. The difficulty experienced by Japanese ships in unloading cargo at southern Chinese ports has resulted in the transference of trade to British ships and a limited number of Norwegian and Swedish vessels. A large number of British tramps are engaged in the trade.

However, war risks, low freights, and the fact that there is very little cargo offering for the return voyage from China to Australia, tend to prevent vessels from entering the Eastern trade.

A host of Japanese tramp steameis. estimated at over 80, lifted cargoes i,f wheat from all Australian ports ’his season, and a large number are still m Australian waters to load wheat. These steamers are additional to the regular Japanese lines, which lift wool and general cargo principally. Last year the number of Japanese ships around the Australian coast was estimated at 100, but the fact that Japanese vessels are not taking cargo to Southern China has caused a decrease m numbers.

Last season over 48 per cent, of Ausoversea shipments of wheat and flour went to the Orient, principally to China, and the indications are that this season the percentage will be greater. One reason is that wheat and bean crops have been lost m Manchuria. Australia’s wheat mid flour markets in the East have increased enormously during the last two years.

The opportunity for Australian trade with the East was seized by the Australian company, Australian Tramp Steamers, Limited, which is actively engaged with two steamers, the Baruiiga and the Tarcoola, and the chartering of another steamer is being considered. The Barunga sailed on Mar. h 4 with a cargo of flour mid railway sleepers for China, and the Tarcoola will arrive at Sydney this week to load. I’he former Union liner Moeraki, which was recently sold to Japan, left Sydney on Ma'rch 4 with a cargo cf flour for Japan. It is supposed that she will be broken up. The Waitemata, another vessel which lias been sold to Japan, will loud 7500 tons ->f wheat and flour at Sydney this week for northern China.