BUYING OF WOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 9

BUYING OF WOOL

DEMAND FROM JAPAN SWING TO SOUTH AFRICA SLIGHTLY LARGER CLIP With the Japanese wool buying turning from Australia to South Africa the estimate of this season's South African clip holds special interest. The swing in dcnipml is illustrated bv the fact that from July 1 to August 31 only 929 hales were exported from Australia to Japan, compared with 48,599 bales in the same period last year. This month's South African clip is expected to total 262,000,0001b., the equivalent of approximately 873,000 bales of Australian weight, an increase of 80,530 bales on the 1935-36 production. However, this is -227,000 bales below the peak quantity of 1932-33, when 330,000,0001b. or about 1,100,000 bales were grown.

Figures covering the exports of greasy wool for the 12 months show that France was the largest buyer in South Africa with the equivalent of 220,693 bales of Australian weight shipped to her ports. Exports to the United Kingdom were 182,996 bales, Germany 141,553 bales, Belgium 71,643 bales, United States 10,250 bales, Italy 9253 bales. The quantity taken by Japan was so small as to be unquotable. In 1934-35 and 1933-34, however, considerable quantities were taken by Japanese operators. Japan has already bought freely in South Africa this season.

That increase in buying and the absence of a great advance in the size of the clip will debar other countries from securing last season's quantities. If they contiuue to need Merinos, Australia is the only other quarter by which appreciable supplies of them can be secured. Until the* South African auctions have proceeded for some time, the full elfects of that possible change cannot be seen.

SALE OF SHEEPSKINS COMPETITION AT DUNEDIN [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] DUXEDIX, Tuesday Competition was keen for all grades at to-day's sheepskins sale and there was little change in the values ruling at the last sale. Prices may be quoted at from par to id dearer than at the last fixture. Following is the range of prices:—Halfbred: Full woolled, 13d to 13$ d; half woolled, 9d to 9Jd; quarter woolled, 7*d to Sjd. Fine crossbred: Full woolled, lid to 111 d; half woolled, BJd to 9d; quarter woolled, 7£d. Crossbred: Full woolled, 9Jd to 10id; half woolled. Bicl to 9d; quarter woolled, 7*d to 7jd. Merino, 103 d to ll|d; halfbred hogget, IC%I to lid; fir.e crossbred hogget, 9jd to crossbred hogget, 9d to Old; first pelts, sid to 6{d; second pelts, 3Jd to 4d; halfbred, dead and damaged, IOJ-d to lljd; fine crossbred, dead and damaged, 9d to 9id; crossbred, dead and damaged, Bsd to B*d.

TIN CONSUMPTION - INCREASE IN HALF-YEAR Statistics for the first half of 1930, just published by the Hague Statistical Department, show an increase of 7£ per cent in world tin consumption compared with the first half of 1935, and of 24 per cent compared with the similar period of 1934. The apparent consumption of tin in the first half of 1936 is given as 73,348 tons, against a production figure of 79,440 tons. Considering the 12-morith periods ending in June, 1935, and June, 1936, respectively, world apparent consumption increased bv 16.4 per cent, from 126,881 tons to 147,720 tons. World production of tinplate in the year ended June, 1936, was 3,332,000 tons, against 3.011,000 tons in the previous year, and tho quantities of tin used in tinplate manufacture were 54,300 tons and 45,900 tons respectively. The world visible stocks of tin at the end of July, 1936, stood at 15,964 tons, having increased by 428 tons during the month. These stocks represent 10.8 per cent of the current annual rate of consumption, the corresponding ratio at the end of July, 1935, being 12.1 per cent. The average price of tin on the London market in. July, 1936, was £'lß6 4s sd, against £232 12s 7d in July, 1935.