Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 384, 19 June 1928, Page 12

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, Trade has been fairly brisk during the past week and orders for the Islands, although somewhat on the small side, have helped to improve the position. This week, being the quietest period of the month, finds conditions a little easier, although the orders for delivery on the 25th are coming in very freely. THE expected reductions in a popular brand of baking powder are now advised and as a fixed selling rate to the public for both large and smallsized tins has been announced, no doubt this will have the effect of eliminating the cutting which has been in evidence with this line for some time. A reduction of Id a lb in the price of cheese in 61b blocks took place last week. A well-known brand of Southern rolled oats has advanced, 4’s now being Is a dozen dearer, packets 6d a dozen and 20’s 4s a dozen. Two of the local packers of bacon have reduced their prices this week by Id a lb. Another item of interest to the trade is the introduction of a smaller-sized tin of canned oysters packed by a Dominion manufacturer and this handy size is meeting with a ready sale. WALNUTS A small shipment of New Zealand walnuts is to hand this week, quality being exceptionally good. The shells being thin, are very easily removed and some retail traders are having these nuts shelled and selling as halves or pieces as the case may be. as French and Chinese shelled nuts are so dear at present. RICE Samples of the new crop of Australian-o-rown rice are now to hand, and quality appears to be quite satisfactory. Reports from shippers in New South Wales aie to the effect that the crop is a fairly large one, and the price meanwhile remains unaltered from last year s f.o.b. rate. PEPPER This market, which has been steadily advancing for months, is now a few points easier for forward deliveries, although Eastern merchants are still unable to quote for shipment before the end of the month. Some of the local spice millers have already removed bulk pepper from their lists in order to ensure their being able to offer branded packs until such time as the arrival of new crop peppers will ease the position. NUTMEGS After reaching the lowest levels of the year, prices of nutmegs are now tending upwards, but" most merchants covered for their requirements on receipt of news that this advance was probable. OLIVE OIL The market for olive oil remains firm, but prices are so far unchanged. Producers, however, expect the later months of the year will bring about a renewed demand with a consequent all-round increase in quotations. All the best-known packs are meeting with a steady demand throughout. CURRANTS With Australian crops reported to be approximately 500 tons short, a few of the merchants have covered for their requirements in the Greek varieties, prices for which have already advanced 3s a cwt above opening rates. London operators still view the market as one with a firming tendency and refuse to speculate forward on any lower figures than the current market quotations for present crop fruit. MUSCATELS The speculative prices for new season’s Spanish muscatels which have been available in certain sources for some weeks have been found to be on slightly lower levels than the actual new crop prices and these agents have been advised to advance their prices accordingly. Although some orders have already been placed, most buyers are awaiting information on the quality of the fruit and further advice of the possibilities of the market before placing the season’s business. SEEDLESS RAISINS Definite quotations for the new crop of Thompson’s seedless raisins are now to hand and compared with the opening prices of 1927 are about 15 per cent, lower, but as the market did not hold during the latter part of the season, these new prices are about on a par with the ruling rates for present crop fruit. Little business has been placed so far as buyers are anxious to see if prices will hold before operating to any extent. Slightly easier rates are now in evidence for both oil and soda-bleached raisins. There has been rather a better demand for oilbleached Californian sultanas this year and as supplies have been plentiful, bookings for prompt and August shipments have been heavy, as the new season’s rates are about 10 per cent, above the prices ruling to-day. SEEPED RAISINS An increasing demand for seeded raisins in cartons has had the effect of moving off some of the accumulated stocks held locally, and further business in freslilyseeded raisins for July and August shipments has been placed at attractive rates. Quotations for the new season’s pack for shipment in October next are now available and although these are slightly above the prices ruling at present, they are much below the opening prices of last year. It would appear that there must be huge crops of fruit to be harvested this year, and the quotations available so far should result in a good volume of business being booked by the merchants. PRUNES Although the crops were so heavy last year that prices dropped to a lower level than was in evidence in pre-war days, a recovery was later advised and quotation available at present for prompt shipment are several shillings above prices quoted earlier in the year. From this it would appeaor that stocks are being rapidly depleted and there is reason to believe that all remaining stocks will be cleared before the new crop is ready. Prices for the new season’s fruit are just to hand and these are a little higher than the first prices declared last year, but as those rates did not hold and considerable reductions took place, it is possible that the market may ease a little before the majority of the business is booked. It is evident that prices of dried fruits to the public will be even lower than those ruling last year, which were considered most favourable. Unfortunately, owing to the cutting tactics so much in evidence during the past two years, there is a tendency in some instances for quality to be neglected in favour of price. KAPOK Latest advice from Java indicates that the market for this season’s Prime Srfiarang quality is slightly easier, quotations for prompt shipments being approximately one-eighth penny a lb under previous rates. The forward position on the coming new crop for shipment about October next is reported as unaltered and steady. TEA At the weekly sale in Colombo last week the market was very irregular some prices being slightly weaker, while others were maintained. An improvement in quality was noticeable and the demand was keen. There was a total offering of over 2.500,0001 b, but at this week’s sale over 3,000.0001 b are to be offered.