EXPANDING MARKETS.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13143, 27 June 1911, Page 2

EXPANDING MARKETS.

Afrarigeffifehts Jiare Been made (says an Australian papo?) fdr thr.ee steamers of the German-Australian Company to call at Hdbart next season for fruit. Theso boats will have a total capacity of 150,000 cases. In addition to these_ increased shipping facilities, negotiations have been entered into to reduce apple freights by 5s per ton. Just to what extent this is likely to affect Victorian shipments is not yet known, but, in the opinion of several persons engaged in the German fruit trade, it is regarded as foreshadowing a reduction on through fares on all boats leaving direct for the German markets. Moreover, it is calculated that Tasmanian consignments are not r.ikely to increase to more than 100,000 cases, in which event the remaining space fdr 50;000 may be offered in Victoria, The. reduction in freight will reduce the present cost of shipment to 60s a ton, and, as" 23 Cases go to the ton, the cost per case will amount to approximately 2s 7-Jd. For many years the German markets have been found more remunerative than the English, and in view of the development of the inland trade there is a likelihood that, despite larger consignments, the prices realised for the better grades cf Australian fruit will show no depreciation. The first shipment to the German market was made in the year 1900, when-a total number of 2,500 cases \yas forwarded. During the intervening period up to the present year the total of the annual consignments has increased to 57,434 cases of fruit. The difficulty for the past two or three years has been to secure space for Germany without transhipment at London, and if this is forthcoming next season there is every probability that Victorian consignments will amount to 100,000 cases next year.