Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 302, 13 March 1928, Page 14

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, March 13, 1928. Business with the wholesale grocery merchants has been much quieter this week, the general tendency being to buy only necessities and in limited quantities. This state of affairs is expected to continue until the end of the month, when with stocktaking and the annual balance over, a return to normal conditions will no doubt be in evidence. the exception of dried and * canned fruits overseas markets are in most instances decidedly firm, and buyers who have booked their supplies for forward shipment are assured of heavy business later on, with a fair margin of profit, although price-cutting is still being indulged in to some considerable extent. The arrivals last week included the Canadian Challenger from Canadian ports, carrying numerous lines which were in short supply, and the Ivaretu from Adelaide and Melbourne, with quantities of salt and canned fruits. COCHIN GINGER Since the opening prices were first named the market has been steadily advancing and a further sharp advance in price is notified from .India this week, making a total increase of 25 per cent, since the beginning of the season. DESICCATED COCONUT After showing an easier tendency during the last few weeks this article has suddenly reacted as cables for supplies sent up to Colombo last week at the ruling rate failed to be confirmed, shippers advising an advance of 15s a torr. CANNED FRUITS The Karetu from Melbourne brought the first shipments of the new pack Australian canned fruits. As these have landed at the lower prices owing to the low home consumption value in Australia, the shipment has met with a ready sale, particularly peaches, -which were in short supply. Competition with' the various packers has been very keen this season, but there is nothing special to report this week regarding prices, the most interesting item being that one of the principal packers advises the -withdrawal of apricots in second quality, as stocks in Australia have now all been sold. PEANUTS Cables to hand from China last week advised a sharp rise in peanuts, the market having advanced over £5 a ton. It Is anticipated that this will have the effect of firming prices of Java peanut kernels, which are being offered at more favourable Tates. RESIN Quotations for both G. and N. grades of American resin are showing an easier tendency, the latest offers being about 15s a ton below the previous rates ruling. SHELLAC Considerable business has been done during the past week in A.B.T.N. quality, prices to-day ruling slightly easier than has been the case for some time. Shipment will be made by the next direct steamer. TAPIOCAS Little alteration in prices is recorded this week, but the market is reported to rule steady. As there is still considerable business to be booked before the next sailing from the East, buyers are hoping that more favourable rates will rule before placing the balance of their business. SPICES Nutmegs are again lower in price, but the high rates for mace continue. Once again peppers have advanced, the rise this week being almost Id a lb. above last week’s offerings. As it is several months before the new crop will be available, it is unlikely that any reduction can be looked for, for some time. TEA At last week’s sales in Colombo the market was frbm 2 to 4 cents dearer, with a good demand and steady buying, and the quality had improved considerably. This week a total of 21 million lb. will be offered. JORDAN ALMONDS Favourable quotations have been received for new season’s Jordan almonds, the price being considerably lower than last year’s opening rates. Advices from London state that supplies of the present crop are almost exhausted, so that at the low rates ruling considerable business has been placed for the new pack, which will not be ready for shipment until AugustSeptember next. CHERRIES The new rate of duty on French cherries will have the effect of higher prices being asked as soon as loca’ stocks, which were landed at the old rate, have been sold. Quotations for crystallised forshipment up to next August are slightly higher than last year's prices, with every indication of still higher levels being x'eached. DATES Prices for all grades are steadily advancing, cables just received notifying a further rise of Is a cwt. Local sales have not been heavy since the New Year. Shipments are due from London in a few weeks and considerable business has been done for delivery direct from the wharf. MILPURA FRUITS Quotations for the coming season’s pack are expected to be named this week, and merchants are anxiously waiting to see how the low prices on offer for California raisins will affect the rates for Australian. PRUNES The 1927 crop was the largest on record in California, yet in addition to the carry-over of about 30,000 tons at the beginning of the season, such a large amount of this season’s crop has already been sold, that all indications point to a

clean-up in California before the 1928 new Stop comes on the market. The short crops of prunes in nearly all other P}oducing sections of the world, including Jugo-Slavia, France and Oregon (Washington) are partly responsible for the heavy increase in the distribution of California prunes, but undoubtedly this increase is also due to the extremely low prices maintained throughout the season. RAISINS There has been a steady growth from year to year in the exports of California raisins? but from the producer's standpoint the position is far from satisfactory It is? stated that this year many growers had to sell their output belowthe actual cost of production on account of the low prices prevailing. There has been a strong European demand all grades of bleached raisins and certam grades are now completely cleared up, but there are still fair quantities of oil bleached and soda bleached raisins to be disposed of.