POSITION OF HOPS ABROAD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1412, 12 April 1912, Page 8

POSITION OF HOPS ABROAD.

The position of, hop? on the English market, according' to latest mail advice, was irregular. Everything warrantee firmness,, but market manipulation had denied ([notations to a' material extent Keports from Bohemia, .fcurcml,ur», and other German centres were all to the effect of firmness. Belgium was an exception, ruling, easier American hops have ruled steady at 2s. l!d. 'I lie Luglish outlook-on figures looks unpromising. The minimum annua English cousiiinp•tion of hops is probably aoO.OOOcwt. llisr total. supplies /or the 1!112 season (inehu'iii" the 1911 crop and the estimated net imports) will probably he 4(B,()uocwt showing a deficit for the current season at U7,Coocwt., towards which not more than liO.OOOcwt; of' new and old hops (both Engli=h and foreign) are at present available. The necessarv exhaustion of these reserves -points to the fact that, as consumption during the past seven years has exceeded the whole of the English supplies bv over IOO.OOOcwt., and as there can be'no balance to carry forward to next -eaion, the position is mest critical and the outlook of the maintenance of high prices apparently clear. The word s supply of hops has not .-diawn any marked increa" since last, harvest, llie consumption efbeer is rapidly increasing all over Ihe world. The two facts make a coinbina.'ioii that indicate* hi:;h future values, unless fresh are?,s are planted at once.