TRADE TOPICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19990, 5 November 1927, Page 9

TRADE TOPICS

COMMENT ON COMMERCE WEAKNESS IN RAISIN’ MARKET decre'ase IN DATES Brightening trade conditions, no doubt, are responsible for th j obviously improved tone at present evident in general commerce. lieports from the markets during the past week point to normal business, with anticipations of more demand owing to the rapid approach of the festive season. Prospects from the country are good and grocery houses are expecting a pronounced stimulus in activities during the next few months. A review of lines follows: Much Firmer. The market for new crop Java coffee for both prompt and forward shipment is much firmer, and suppliers in Samarang cable that prices are likely to advance again quickly. Steady Business. The rice market remains firm and steady, with millers’ willing to book merchants’ business spread until January next. Quotations for ground, although still offered by most shippers at unchanged rates, is showing a firmer tendency, and one mill has notified the trade of an advance of £2 10s per ton. Firmer Tone. Chinese (Manchurian) walnuts, in shell, continue to be offered from Tientsin shippers’ on a firmer market, a further advance of £2 per ton being advised for November shipment. Only Fractional Reductions. Although pepper quotations received from Singapore last week showed only fractional reductions, a fair amount of business was done from all parts of New Zealand for shipment by the next direct steamer, as it seems fairly certain that c.i.f. prices cannot come much lower and interested buyers did not want to miss the market altogether. No Alteration in Retail - The forward position of the Californian raisin market has shown more weakness during the last few weeks, but the reductions so far have not been sufficient to cause any alteration in retail rates, but have proved of sufficient inducement to encourage merchants to cover their requirements for late shipment where purchases have not already been made. Date Prices. Further advices recently received by cable in regard to bulk dates, indicate the possibility of merchants receiving shipment from London at prices slightly I ■ below those applying for the direct . shipment, which is now en route to Australian ports. During January the price of date shipments arriving is expected I to show a further reduction, but March deliveries will be slightly dearer on account of shippers’ requiring a premium for later delivery. Packet Dates. New season’s Turban dates are being qfioted on the same level as last year, no alteration being anticipated on account of the price of bulk being practically the same as last year. This season the carton has been improved, having a cellophane front to allow consumers to ' inspect the quality before purchasing, and in each packet is inIi eluded the usual bamboo fork. Packets are also put up in a display carton, holding a dozen packets, which should prove helpful to retailers. These dates i are packed in England by British la- | hour, under the most hygienic conditions.