THE DAIRY MARKETS

Shannon News, 23 January 1925, Page 1

THE DAIRY MARKETS

♦- BUTTER. As is usual when exceptionally heavy shipments are in sight, the: demand for butter is slow as only hand to mouth buying takes place. Up to Christmas when holiday requirements had to be covered, prices'—although declining—kept above, 200/-. However, from December 20 to January 1 prices declined from 208/ to 190/ with every prospect of a further drop, The Port Caroline, Kaikoura and Arawa, which would hardly have finished discharging, carried 166.780 boxes of butter from New Zealand (4170 tons). Hard upon these steamers, several further heavy consignments are just about due which will all contribute to bring about a serious congestion for the time being. The following shipments of New Zealand butter are due to arrive during January:—

Boxes. Remuera, January 3 58,364 Karamea, January 4 44,07'6 Orari, January 8 122,000 Tainui, January 15 67,600 Turakina January 10 24,700 Hertford, January 25 70,504 Pt. Campbell January 26 54,694 Total 441,938 It will be seen that the January arrivals of New Zealand butter, representing approximately 11,048 tons, with the 4,170 tons which are being discharged at present, would, in themselves, have almost been sufficient to supply the total requirements of the London market for the month of January. In addition to these quantities, however, Australia will be landing between 7,000 and 8,000 tons, Argentina approximately 4,000 tons and Denmark something like 8,000 tons. In the face of these heavy arrivals it is easily understandable why buyers will barely buy the barest necessities, for it is simply a question as to how low prices are likely to drop. At the same time it is fairly certain, if a further serious decline does take place, such decline is hardly likely to be of a lasting nature; The month of January has during the last few months been regarded as a crucial period, as the shipments from New Zealand in the early part ■oi - the season were far from satisfac. ovy and too much butter was crowded ir. the January arrivals. Onco the preesnt accumulation is worked off, the ;ha* ket has still got ample time to recover before the Northern Countries make themselves seriously felt. CHEESE.

While butter prices are declining the demand for cheese is firming quotations for New Zealand cheest standing at 94/-. This is all the more satisfactory as the Port Caroline. Kaikoura and Arawa arrived Home a few days ago with 45,000 crates aboard. In addition to these boats, the following shipments of New Zealand cheese will arrive during January: Crates. Remuera 13,300 Karamea 12,300 Orari 16,536 Tainui 19,800 Turakina 52,068 Hertford 19,850 Pt. Campbell 23,300 Total 157.154 This quantity . represents 11,225 tons and it must certainly be regarded as a healthy sign that such a large quantity of cheese in immediate sight did not have the effect of depressing the market. Prom now onwards, and for several months to come, New Zealand cheese will have a fairly clear run on the Loudon market, and when compared with butter to-day, cheese certainly looks better proposition. Cheese at 95/- is practically as good, and should give the same return to the supplier, as butter at 190/ and seeing that very little of this season's cheese has been sold below this figure and considering the present tendencies, there may be very little to choose between the two at the end of the season.