BRITISH BUTTER SUPPLY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1932, Page 16

BRITISH BUTTER SUPPLY

NEW ZEALAND’S QUARTER. THREE-FIFTHS OF CHEESE TOTAL. BRITAIN’S IMPORTS INCREASED. New Zealand's exports of butter to the United Kingdom in 1'931 were 24 per cent, greater than in 1930, thus setting up a new record; and New Zealand -sup-, plied slightly under one quarter of the total 'butter imports into the United Kingdom. These facts are brought out in the report, just published by the Empire Marketing Board, on “Dairy Produce Supplies in. 1931.” “Supplies of butter from Empire countries increased by no less than 30 per cent, over 1930,” the report states. “Empire butter comprised almost 50 per cent, of the total imports as again 45 per cent, in 1930. Never in any previous year have Empire countries accounted for so large a proportion of the United Kingdom butter imports.” Britain now imports more butter (by value) than any other single commodity; and in 1931 she paid more for imported bacon (states the report) than for her imported wheat. The United Kingdom is the world’s largest importer of dairy produce, which accounts on the average (including pigs and poultry) for fully 30 per cent, of her total imports of food, drink and 'tobacco. BUTTER IMPORTS DOUBLED. Britain’s imports of butter alone were valued at £46,358,000 in 1931—nearly double the amount imported before the war. The total value of Britain’s imports of dairy produce of all kinds, including eggs, bacon, poultry and pork, has risen from £67,262,000 (the average of the three years before the war) to £126,002,000 in 1931, when new records were established for the imports of butter, bacon, poultry, cream and certain types of preserved milk. Denmark held her position in 1931 as Britain’s chief supplier of butter, and sent 31 per cent, of the total imports. Australia increased her exports to • the ■United Kingdom by over 60 per cent, and sent 19 per cent, of the total imported supplies. Other Empire countries which increased their exports of butter to the United Kingdom were Canada, South Africa and Kenya. Russia increased its supplies by 2J times, and jumped fromeighth to fourth place. The volume of Russian imports, however, was still well Ibeiow pre-war level. Butter prices fell in 1931 by about 13 to, 14 pel' cent, as compared with 1930, and this still further stimulated consumption, which rose by 14 per cent. NEW ZEALAND CHEESE. New Zealand supplied 60 per cent, of Britain’s total imports of cheese in 1931, as against 63 per cent, the year before. Shipments from Canada went up, and that Dominion’s share of the cheese market is now 25 per cent, as compared with 22 per cent, in 1930. Supplies from Australia rose considerably in 1931. The Empire, as a whole, supplied fully 87 per cent, of Britain’s total imports of cheese. The report points out that a seasonal difference in price between white and coloured cheese is a feature of the trade. From February to October coloured cheese appears to be most in demand; but from November to January white cheese becomes dearer than coloured. . Britain’s imports of milk powder, cf which New Zealand is the chief source of supply, have increased rapidly, the report states, in the last few years. In 1931 New Zealand sent 29 per cent, of the total, and her shipments' rose from S7,ooocwt in 1930 to 102,000ewt, the largest total yet reached. The United States increased her supplies very rapidly, and sent 82,000 cwt as again only ] ( ; l,000ewt the year before. Over 3,100,000,000 eggs were consumed in Britain last year. The volume of Empire supplies was the largest ever recorded, and accounted for 24 per cent. l of the total imports. Denmark is the chief source of imports, sending 29 per cent, of the total from all sources. The New Zealand share in 1931 was only 1,440 eggs. Britain draws her imports of eggs from, altogether, over 30 countries. HUGE BACON IMPORTS. Supplies of bacon to the United Kingdom were, states the report, “on an unprecedented scale” in 1931. Imports rose by 1,950,000 cwt or 21 per cent, compared with 1930, which was in itself a .record year. Compared with the average' of :the live years 1925-29, imports showed an increase of 37 per cent. Britain is importing considerably over twice as much bacon as in the years before the war. This figure has risen from 4,787,000 cwt to 11,138,000 cwt valued, in 1931, at £33,136,000. ■ Empire supplies represented only a small part—3 per cent, —of the total imports. The Empire .is better off,, however, as regards frozen pork, which is finding a steadily growing market. New Zealand is the chief source of' supply, Empire or foreign. This trade has developed almost tirely in post-war years. Since 1927 New Zealand has held first place, but supplies from the Dominion have declined since the peak years of 1929, and the quantity registered in 1931 was I'l per cent, less than in 1930. Australia, on the other hand, increased her 1931 exports to the United Kingdom by 400 per cent, over 1930.. The report also surveys briefly the position of the dairy produce market in Germany, the world’s most important market for butter next to the United Kingdom. New Zealand’s small exports to Germany declined in 1931, while Australia’s increased considerably. The quantity, however, is very small. Germany’s total imports declined considerably in 1931, owing to tariff restrictions and diminished purchasing power. Consumption of butter fell by 5 per cent, whereas, in the United Kingdom, it lose by 14 per cent. Germany also ranks second to the United Kingdom as an importer of eggs. Imports of eggs declined by 12 per cent, in 1931.