TRADE IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23036, 13 May 1938, Page 5

TRADE IN AUCKLAND

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL . / Vi; .• _ DEMAND FOR DRIED FRUITS STEADY BUSINESS REPORTED Good, steady business has been reported by Auckland wholesale merchants during the past week. Deliveries have kept well up and staffs have been kept fully occupied in despatching ' orders to all quarters. A particularly good demand has been experienced for dried fruits, and such lines as dried prunes, sultanas, currants and raisins have met with a keen inquiry. Tobacco deliveries for the period May • 16 to May 81 will be made to the town and country on Monday. The following week wholesale grocery merchants will commence delivering goods on June account. Deliveries to the country will be made on Monday, May 5}3, and to the town and suburbs on the following Wednesday. Following a sharp advance in the price of sago last week, indentors report that the market this week shows an easing tendency. Nutmegs are reported to be fractionally easier. Shipments of sultanas and a large cargo of Eastern produce arrived during the OIL OF LEMON Reports from Sicily indicate a firmer toiie for oil of lemon. One firm of shippers has been notified of an advance of 6d per lb. CHUTNEY An advance of 2s a dozen in the price of an imported line of chutney has been announced by the Melbourne manufacturers. Landed costs will be correspondingly higher. CHILLIES Chillies are scarce' and tho price is high, according to reports from the East. Owing I to smaller crops, it if* stated that Japanese ' growers have been unable to fulfil orders. PINEAPPLES : '' • Quotations for pineapples are steady at a very low figure. Some shippers are demand* ing a premium for forward shipments, although others are asking only the ruling rates. GREASEPROOF PAPER A decline of at least £3 a ton in quotations for greaseproof paper from somersnippers is announced in recent advices -from the countries of origin. A further reduction in price is indicated. SICILY FILBERTS One firm of shippers has advised advances in the Sicily filberts market. Frosts in the districts where filberts are grown are considered to be the main factors causing the increase in prices. OLIVE OIL Prices for olive oil are fluctuating slightly and this week's quotations indicate an easier market. This is largely due to variations in the value of the franc and at tho moment it is very difficult to forecast the position of the market.

GREEK CURRANTS Latest prices for Greek currants, both Amelias and Patras, have receded to Is below he figures nominated about a month ago. ?hie reduction has brought prices down to ,n unusually low level. . TINNED SPINACH A line of Canadian spinach in tins is now >eing offered on the New Zealand market or the first time. The new line should prove i welcome addition to the range of tinned vegetables in demand when local supplies of treen vegetables are short. TEA The quantity offered at this week's Colombo tea auction amounted to 3,250,0001brhe quality was about the same as that of the last offering. There was a good demand it late rates, especially for common sorts, which advanced by from l-8d to v <d. Medium and good teas sold at late rates. The quantity to be offered at next week's unction will # amount to 3,000,0001b. SICILY ALMONDS Reports from Sicily indicate that the crop of new season's almonds is likely to be very much affected owing to the very heavy damage caused by ■ frosts which have occurred very late this year. As it now appears that the crop will be considerably less than was anticipated, shippers have advanced prices. Buy- j era are taking advantage of the present rates in view of the advice that a further advance is expected. BRAZIL KERNELS The market for Brazil kernels this year has been most difficult to follow. Certain shippers have indicated considerably cheaper prices than those at which the market opened at the end of last year, while others are quoting at very slightly higher levels. DRIED FRUITS With the exception of a few odd tons, held ai outports the whole of the 1937 harvest of Australian currants and sultanas has been cleared, according to a report issued by?.the . Commonwealth Dried Fruits Control Board. Supplies of the 1938 season's fruit are now available and opening sales have been «inade at an average price of £39 lis 8d in-Aus-tralian currency for sultanas and £34 12s 7d for currents. . ' Because of the earlier season, shipments to the British market to April 28 amounted to 24,859 tons, as against 15,911 tons up to the seme date last year. A quantity of 1844 tons of sultanas has been shipped to da As a result of the favourable drying season the qnality of the Australian sultanas is regarded as being the best for the last 15 years. In the absence of any carry-over of last season's fruit, it is hoped that a strong market will develop early in the season. The total output of dried fruit from the . MiMura district, mostly sultanas, currants and ißTi».it, for the present season is estimated at 54.000 tons. The last- season has been a good one for growers, and with the peak of the packing season now over the packing sheds have reduced hands.