TRADE OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 7

TRADE OF THE WEEK

RETAIL AND WHOLESALEORDERS ON MARCH ACCOUNT GOOD BUSINESS REPORTED Very good orders on March account are reported by wholesale houses. Delivery will commence to the country today and to the city on Monday. The arrival of the Kairanga on Monday is being keenly awaited by merchants, as she is carrying several transhipment lines which are in short supply. .Retail trade is being stimulated by general drapery sales. Indent business remains fairly quiet, with few changes in overseas quotations. • < GROUND ALMONDS A London message states that further advances are possible in prices of ground almonds. SALMON A shipment of salmon arrived by the Aorangi on Monday to a fairly bare market in certain grades and brands. ASPARAGUS Now season's canned Australian asparagus is meeting with a strong inquiry and one packer has already disposed of his crop of tips. PINEAPPLES Singapore quotations for pineapples are fractionally firmer. Queensland advices report heavy sales and an early shortage of stocks is anticipated. BRAZIL NUTS The market for Brazil nuts is reported to be strong at the recent advance and an increase in the price of Brazil kernels is anticipated. Local buyers of nuts covered before the price rose. DRIED FRUIT The early shipment of dried apricots which arrived last week went- into consumption immediately as the market was bare. Such a demand at this seaflon is unusual and is attributed to the fruit crops being damaged by the recent storm. CANNED FRUIT The first shipment of Australian canned apricots has arrived, but peaches and pears are not expected for some weeks. A New Zealand pack of whole peaches will be available this season at slightly below the price of the usual halves pack. The advantage of the whole pack is that the fruit retain* the flavour better. PEPPER Singapore quotationn for pepper wa slightly harder over tho week. A great deal of activity has been shown by spice millers, who have covered for both prompt and forward shipment. Present valuee are considered favourable, as it is thought unlikely that the market will go lower. TEA The offering at this week's Colombo tea auction comprised 2,125.0001b. The quality was useful, but irregular, and occasional up-country teas showed improvement. The market wae rather unsettled, especially for good medium Broken Orange Pekoes, and bids were not accepted by tellers. There was a strong market for good kinds, but common grades •were slightly lrT eeul a r. Next week'i auction will compriee 2,000,0001b. SULPHUR The operation of sanctions against Italy has caused a marked alteration in the sulphur figures of the world. Outside the United States, Italy in the past has supplied 35 per cent of the world s sulphur requirements, . exporting 346.000 tons a vear The exports are now stated to be down to such a level that the present year 8 figures, it is expected, will not exceed, if they even reach. 285,000 tons. United States shippers have been shipping to_ B-itish Empire and othor sanction-imposing countries, and although Japan can produce 150.000 tons a year, nearly all-of this is for domestic use. An advance in the ralhnr. market seems imminent, and the longer the sanctions are in operation against Italy the higher the price may n«e.