CANADA'S TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1933, Page 9

CANADA'S TRADE

DAIRY PIIODTJCTIOX

THE LATEST REPORT

BUTTER SHOWS DECLINE

An interesting report in regard to tho production of dairy factories in Canada from the- New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner in that Dominion has been received by the ActingMinister of Industries and Commerce (tho Hon. J. G. Cobbc). The report, which is compiled from particulars submitted by the Department of Trade and Commerce, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Ottawa, was handed to "The Post" today by the Minister. The report reads as follows: — "Tho production of creamery butter in Canada during the year 1932 amounted to 213,738,614 pounds, and tho ■ total value was -t0,'113,:j7S dollars. Compared with the preceding year the quantity of butter made shows a decrease of 12,216,632 pounds, or 5 per cent., and tho value a decrease of 9,785,300 dollars, or 19 per cent. The 1932 quantity of output, however, is the second largest in the history of the industiy, being exceeded only by the production of 103.1. The average price per pound at the creamery,, for .the whole of Canada, in 1932, was 15.91 cents, compared with 22.22 cents in 1931. The 1932 average is the- lowest price recorded for any year of the period commencing with 1900, when complete statistics of dairy factories worefor the first time inado available. Ontario is first among the provinces with regard to quantity of output, having a total of 74,346,183 pounds, while Quebec is second with 64,889,670. • Tho relative position of each province with respect to the total-output of creamery butter: in Canada in 1931 and-1932 is shown''in .-.the following statement of percentages, the figures for 1931 being placed within parentheses:—Ontario, 35 (34) per cent.; Quebec, 30 (31) per cent.; Alberta, 10 (10) per cent,; Manitoba, 9 (9) per cent.; Saskatchewan, 9 (8) per cent.; Nova Scotia, ,3 (3) per cent.; British Columbia, 2 (3) per cent.; and New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, each 1 (1) per cent. FACTORY CHEESE. "The output of factory cheese in 1932 totalled 120,312,2881b, valued :it 11,360,044 dollars, compared with 113,95G,6391b, valued at 12,824,095 dollars in 1931. The average, price per pound in 1932 was 9.44 cents, compared; with: 11.25 cents in,1931. ..The 1932 averago.is the lowest-price recorded -in any year of tho-period 1900 to 1932. Ontario is the large, cheesuprodueing province, with a tptal in 1933 of. 86,709,5681b, or 72 per cent, of the output for tho whole of Canada. Quebec is second in order of quantity of product with a total of 29,361,1191b. These two provinces together produced 96 per cent, of the cheese output of Canada in 1932. All provinces, excepting New Brunswick and British Columbia, show increases compared with 1931. Included under the ■ general term "concentrated milk" arc condensed milk, evaporated milk, milk powder, and items of like character. The total value of these products in 1932 was 5,952,947 dollars, compared with 7j067,807 dollars in 1931. Although tlm. value of production was lower than in 1931, the quantity of output was well maintained. Evaporated milk, th? principal item, showed an increase of two million pounds, but condensed milk and skim milk powder, tho other two principal items, each decreased by about, a million pounds. "Miscellaneous Factory Products.— . Under this heading are included all pro-,, ducts of dairy factories, other than butter and cheese, and concentrated milk. The principal items arc milk and cream sold, and ice cream. The total value of these miscellaneous items in 1932 was 28,573,905 dollars, compared with 34,391,020 dollars.; in 1931 ' ■ "Number of Dairy Factories.—There were 2734 dairy factories in operation in Canada in 1932, comprising- 1219 creameries, 1172 cheese factories, 017 combined butter and cheese factories, and 26 concentrated milk plants. Hie total number shows an increase of 3compared with 1931. .-,-• "Total Output.—The value of all.products of dairy factories in 1932 was 86,300,474 dollars compared witn 104,482,400. dollars in 1931. FOREIGN TRADE. "Exports.—The total 'value of exports of Canadian dairy products in 1932 was 11,801,735 dollars. The principal item is cheese, which had a' total export in 1932 of 86,939,900 pounds, an increase over the preceding year oi two million pounds. The export of evaporated milk was double that of 1901, but butter, condensed milk, and milk powder record decreased export. "Imports.—The Canadian imports of dairy products in 1932 wero comparatively small, having a total value of only 407,439 dollars, compared with 1,329,126 dollars in 1931. The main item of import was cheese, with a total of 1,166,506 pounds. Tho import of butter decreased from 2,821,317 pounds in 1931 to 238,145 pounds in 1932. Butter was mainly imported from New Zealand, and the bulk was marketed after the close of the year and during the depth of the Canadian -winter —February to April, 1933. "Due to drought conditions there is likely to be curtailment of production of butter for the current calendar year. For the five months ending May last there was a slight increase over last year of 0.7 per cent. (60,809,663 in 1933, and 60,365,047 in 1932), but during tho whole of June and July very hot weather has been experienced, and preliminary reports point to decreased output in most of the leading producing provinces. If similar weather conditions continue during August the decline will be accentuated. "Cheese held in' store as at July 1 shows an increase of 6.9 per cent., butthe dry weather factor is now affecting its manufacture. "It will be possible at the end of October next to further analyse the statistical production, and to forecast the possibilities of the marketing of Now Zealand butter for winter sale in Canada during the season 1933-34. "I attach hereto a statement showing the production of creamery butter in Canada, by provinces, for 1931 and 1932."