TRADE IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23084, 8 July 1938, Page 7

TRADE IN AUCKLAND

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BUSINESS STILL BRISK MORE SHIPMENTS EXPECTED Auckland wholesale houses have had another busy week and orders 'have come in very consistently from both town and the country. A wide range of goods has boon dealt with and next week also promises well, ono of the principal features being tobacco deliveries to town and country for the period from July 16 to July 31. These will be made next Friday. The arrival in the next 10 days of several vessels carrying shipments of lines which are in short supply is being awaited with interest. In only a few commodities, however, have'there! been any price changes. For retail. businesses the opening of the annual sale period has been accompanied by brisker trade. CURRANTS AND SULTANAS Some merchants have been bare of certain lines of Australian sultanas and curranis. Ample stocks, however, are now available. CITRIC ACID The summer season in Europe, with tho corresponding heavier demand for citric acid, has caused prices to firm slightly, according to advice from London. SOUPS Heavy seasonal trade is being dono in canned and packet soups and most merchants are finding it rather difficult to keep adequate stocks of all varieties. PEAMEAL It is expected that the present firm prices for peas will influence the price of peameal In the near future, and accordingly an advance is anticiapted. CANNED FRUITS There has been a steatiy demand for canned fruits and most merchants have now . covered themselves with Australian stocks for deliveries up to October. HERRINGS IN SAUCE There is a widespread shortage of merchants' supplies of herrings in tomato sauce, but a shipment is now stated to be handy and the position is easing as a consequence, SARDINES The Port Alma is expected to bring a shipment of sardines when she arrives at Auckland on July 18. Recently merchants have experienced the heaviest demand for sardines they can remember and stocks are generally short. BRAZIL NUTS A reduction of 7s Gd pejgewt in quotations for Bold Para Brazil nufSf was advised by oversea shippers during the past week. Rates are still well above the opening prices at which merchants covered their requirements. TEA The quantity offered at this week's Colombo tea auction amounted to 2,125.0001b. The quality was barely maintained* There was a good demand, especially for common grades at an advance of %d. Medium and good sorts sold at late rates. Next week's auction will comprise 2,000,0001b. WOOLPACKS AND CORNSACKS The latest air mail report from Calcutta states that only a few small orders for No-vember-December have been reported for New Zealand cornsacks. Both New Zealand and Australian buyers of woolpacks had been in the market for fair quantities, but the demand now seemed to be almost satisfied. FIGS Prices for new season's supplies of Turkish figs packed in Tib linen bags have been reduced 5s per cwt and the market generally for all grades of figs appears to be weaker. As most of the orders for the .September steamer have already been hooked, few; buyers are in a position to place further business at the lower rates. JUTE Due to a very limited demand from Calcutta and oversea consumers, coupled with the anticipation of a good 1938 crop, there has been a gradual and steady decline in raw jute prices, states the last air maj_L. report from Calcutta. Private reports indicate that this vear's acreage under Jute is nearly. 10 per cent more than last season. The London quotation for firsts is stated to be £l6 11b 3d a lon. DEIED FJiTJirS Little price movement is noticeable in most grades of Californian raisins and prunes, present quotations, however, being on a very low level Onlv limited business has been booked so far, but any slight firmness m the market would have the effect of considerable Quantities of all grades of dried fruit being ° r( A r further shipment of Am erican dried fruit is expected by the Mariposa to-day. Supplies of prunes should be included. Some fruits are in short supply in merchants Btores ana. replenishment will be very welcome.