Export of Potatoes

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 64, 17 March 1938, Page 5

Export of Potatoes

PROSPECTS FOR THIS SEASON. PAIR QUANTITIES REQUIRED. Exports of potatoes to SoulU America have reached large proportions during the last two years, and in 1931 the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, announced that exports to Uruguay and Argentina amounted to 15,580 tons, valued at £131,357. Advice to hand this week indicates that the Argentine is again likely to require fair quantities this year, but the prospects for the revived New Zealand export trade will depend largely on the price. At present there is some uncertainty about the market and further reports are awaited. The Argentine Ministry of Agriculture estimated last year that imports of 15,000 tons, or 300,000 crates, of foreign seed potatoes could be financed by local dealers, but by early September it was evident that shipments from Canada alone would almost reach that figure. Canada, it was estimated, supplied almost exactly half of the certified seed imported last season, into Argentina, ller exports amounted to 303,806 crates (each containing two bushels net). Denmark was the second largest supplier with 209,907 crates. All other countries together supplied only 88,360 crates. New Zealand is chiefly concerned with the export of table stocks, and last year Argentina's imports from the Dominion totalled 11,310 tons. Holland was credited with nearly 60 per cent, of the total,' but New Zealand wag the uext biggest supplier. Table stock and certified seed are both sold in Argentina through tho same dealer channels. Consequently the Argentine potato dealers have obtained excellent trade experience during the past years, in addition to substantial cash profits. All potatoes are sold on a cash-bcfore-shipment basis, so that business methods are simple. Tho new trado aroused considerable interest among all supplying countries which participated from the outset in 1936, when, as the result of the failure of tho crop, some 345,450 bushels of imported seed was planted. The Argentine outlook for volume sales this year will depend largely o*i the aggregate production obtained from current crops and the resultant effect on the domestic price level.