Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 468, 25 September 1928, Page 14

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, September 25, 1928. TOURING last week business with the wholesale grocery houses was very brisk, and as the deliveries for next month’s account are now being made, this has resulted in continued activity this week. The arrival of the Sussex from Eastern ports with large shipments of tapiocas, peppers, pineapples, etc., was most welcome, and heavy distributions of these lines have beep made to the retail trade. Shipments of Java peanut kernels, Rumanian walnuts, Sunmaid raisins, B.C. salmon and English salt just to hand are meeting with a , steady sale. A further reduction of 10s a ton in the price of all grades of sugar was advised last week, while the price of pearl barley has also been slightly reducedCITRIC ACID

Cables received from London advise a very firm market for citric acid, and following on the advances previously notified, the price of Kernball Bishops has again been increased by over 4d a lb. PATES

Contrary to expectations the market for all grades of dates in Basra is now very firm, and this has had the effect of a general increase in prices. Quotations for shipment by the October direct steamer remain unchanged, but for Nov-ember-December shipment from London higher prices now rule, and even higher figures are asked for shipment in March. Pound paper bag dates have also advanced, an increase of over Is a cwt. being asked for November-December shipment from London. RICE

Although most grades of rice are unchanged at present, cables from San Francisco notify a reduction of over £1 a ton in the price of fancy coated Japan rice for prompt shipment. NUTS

An advance of £2 a ton in new season’s Barcelona nuts cabled a few weeks ago has been followed by increased prices being asked for Barcelona kernels, which are now £1 10s a ton higher than the opening prices. Brazil nuts remain on a very high level, and all quotations for new season’s walnuts continue to advance. PRIED FRUITS

The Kaitangata arrived yesterday from Melbourne and Southern ports with further- shipments of Australian dried fruits. Owing to the long interval since the last Melbourne boat, this market has been short of supplies, particularly in plain sultanas. The most recent advice regarding currants is that supplies in South Australia are almost depleted. The raisin market in California remains firm as far as most grades are concerned, although Thompson’s unbleached raisins are again reduced and some shippers are prepared to give spread shipment up to August next. Golden bleached raisins', which have been meeting with a strong European demand, have advanced over a farthing a pound, with still higher prices expected to rule later on. PEANUTS

Java peanut kernels in first hands are still in short supply. Some shippers are unable to offer until October-November shipment. The indent market is *still firm and likely to remain so until the main crop is reached, approximately De-cember-January. TAPIOCA

Prices lor the next direct steamer are a little easier at present, but buyers are not in a position to operate meantime, as tlje Sussex brought about 100 tons of all grades, which will keep the local market supplied for some months. PINEAPPLES

It Is estimated that over 6,000 cases of canned pineapples were landed here from Singapore last week, but as this shipment will be the last this year and prices are attractive, stocks will soon begin to move off more freely. Quotations for shipment by the NovemberDecember steamer remain unaltered. MEATS

A well-known Southern packer of canned meats advises an advance of 3s 6d a dozen in the prices of 21b tins of all assorted beefs, but reports having no further stocks of corned beef at present. Several other packers have also withdrawn their quotations. TONGUES

Sales of sheep tongues have not been as heavy as usual this year, and this is probablj r the reason for a reduction by one of the largest canners of 2s a dozen in the price of their 12oz tins. This also applies to warehouse stocks on hand, so the reduced rates will take effect immediately. PRUNES

Shipments by the Wairuna of present crop prunes arrived to a favourable market. Prices for new season’s prunes continue upward, as there has been a good inquiry from European markets owing to the crops in Yugoslavia and other parts being unsatisfactory. One packer has. now withdrawn quotations for several of the larger sizes as these are required for the carton trade, for which there has been a greatly increased demand during the past few years. SHELLAC

The Calcutta market for A.B.T.N. and superfine qualities is still strong, and fractionally higher than quotations received a fortnight ago. The c.i.f.e. indent rate to-day is higher than it has been for some months, and buyers are waiting for more favourable prices before interest will be shown for the next direct steamer,' November-December. HESSIAN Latest cables from Calcutta for both 14oz and lßoz hessian show slightly reduced prices of approximately 2 per cent, for November-December shipment. Other jute lines are at present unaltered from previous c.i.f.e. rates. ~ FUTURE OF RUBBER

Authorities in the rubber trade are far from being agreed as to what course prices will take when the export restriction scheme ceases to operate at the beginning of November. The uncertainty has checked speculative activity, with the result that values have been steady beyond all anticipations for several months. That shipments of rubber will largely increase from November onward is taken as a foregone conclusion. The lack of reliable data as to the amount of rubber in producers’ hands, however, increases the obscurity as to the extent to which shipments will expand in the early weeks following the restriction of free marketing conditions. At the same time, producers have been observing with satisfaction the continued reduction that for months past has been taking place in London stocks of rubber. The total about a month ago was 34,294 tons, which compares with more than 64,000 tons at the corresponding period of last year. “The Times” quotes a report that consumption in America keeps up fairly well, and there is no doubt that the present relatively low price will do much to stimulate consumption throughout the world. It is said to have had already the effect of decreasing the percentage of manufacture of reclaimed rubber, though it is difficult to support this statement by trustworthy statistics. One reported development which has an important bearing upon the situation is that labour has lately been leaving the native estates in the Dutch East Indies. So far as Sumatra is concerned, most of the labour there comes from Java, and if it be approximately correct that the cost of reimporting coolies from Java to Sumatra is £2O a head, it is probable that rubber will have to rise well above the present level before native growers in Sumatra find it worth while to engage in any large reimportation of labour. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET (Australian and N.Z. Pi'ess Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. CHICAGO, Monday. Wheat.—September, 1 dollar 14g cents a bushel; December, 1 dollar lSg cents: March. 1 dollar 225 cents; May, 1 dollar 252 cents.