BITUMEN SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 12

BITUMEN SUPPLIES

IMPORTS TO DOMINION EFFECT OF MEXICAN COUP CARGOES FR(JM ROTTERDAM ' As a, result of the recent expropriation by the Mexican Government of British and American oil properties, New Zealand has lost one of its principal foreign sources of bitumen. Although Tampico, in Northern Mexico, is probably the chief export in o; centre of bitumen to the Dominion no cargoes have been despatched since the Mexico coup in April. To maintain supplies the importing company is turning to other sources, notably Holland. The New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Remuera, which reached Auckland this week from London, is discharging several hundred tons of bitumen transhipped from Rotterdam, and the liner Rangitiki, due here from London, via Wellington, on July 6, has more than 1000 tons.

Although it is hoped that negotiations may lead to resumption of the Mexican supply, it is understood that the company may turn to Oruba Island, off the Venezuelan coast, to which products from Lake Maracaibo are shipped. Already one small shipment of bitumen has reached Auckland from Oruba island.

■ The shipping service between Gulf of Mexico ports and New Zealand conducted bv North German Lloyd has been affected to some extent by the withdrawal of the Mexican bitumen supply. Monthly sailings for the Dominion depended to a considerable degree upon bitumen loadings, cargoes averaging from 1200 to 1700 tons each voyage. One sailing has been cancelled, presumably as a result of the shortage, and the Anhalt, expected bore from New Orleans on July 2, will be the first ship from the Gulf of Mexico since the, Naumburg on April 16.