Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 16

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, Nov. 13. 1928. Although trade with the retail section has not been as good as expected, the wholesale merchants have had a very busy week. Heavy bookings are being made for delivery on the 25th, as it is realised that forward orders at this time of the year must be placed early to ensure prompt dispatch. SALES of Smyrna tigs for delivery on arrival about the end of this month have been so numerous this year that it is feared that there will not be sufficient quantities landing to meet the demand. There is again a shortage in Australian sliced peaches and further supplies are not due from Melbourne until about November 23. Stocks of Australian currants and sultanas are also running low. but a shipment due next week will relieve the position. A small parcel of haricot beans ex Sydney stocks has just been landed at a considerable advance on previous importations. The local shortage of greaseproof paper has now been relieved by a shipment just to hand, while further supplies will be available in a few weeks’ time. Among the list of goods arriving this week may be mentioned California bleached raisins, macaroni, vermicilli. coconut. English salt, clothes pegs, borax and boracic acid and sugar corn, while all grades of Californian unbleached and seeded raisins and muscatels are expected shortly. GINGER Prices for the new season’s crop of whole raw ginger are now announced and ! in comparison with the opening quotations of last year show an increase of over £lO a ton. Suppliers cable that the crop is a partial failure and is estimated to be only 50 per cent, of last season’s crop and that present prices are likely to advance still further. Shipment for the new crop begins about FebruaryMarch next. CANNED FRUITS With the advent of the warmer weather, the demand for all packs of canned fruits, particularly sliced peaches, has greatly increased. Unfortunately no further supplies of sliced peaches are available from Australia, prices having been withdrawn last week, but merchants still have to receive the undelivered balance of their contracts, which will keep them supplied for some time. PINEAPPLES A strong demand continues for spot stocks of Singapore pineapples and it is anticipated that the heavy stocks which were held some weeks ago will probably be almost cleared out before the end of the year. Meantime quotations for the November/December steamer are so favourable that considerable business has been booked. CLOVES _ lfc \ s reported that the new crop of Zanzibar cloves has been, a failure and prices are expected to be much higher. A further advance of 3d a lb has just been advised, the market to-day being nearly 100 per cent, above last year’s rates. SPICES Nutmegs and mace are easier in price and quotations are receding slowly to the low level they reached some months a f?°* However, as this market is inclined to recover quickly, a considerable amount °f business has already been steamer. Bl “ pmelU by the next direct PEPPER toS D e |rw^ e t„ e£ L ect that lower P ril =ds weH / b ex Pected have been Justified, as quotations have declined between Id and 2d a lb this week and further reports to hand state that the market is dull, with a downward There are some speculative offers now being made, consequently it is very difficult to state to what extent prices "will decline, but buyers are advised to hold off meantime until there are signs of market stability. DRIED FRUITS Cables have been received from Austraha advising that supplies of all grades of currants, also three crown sultanas ai e now exhausted, and the Dominion selling agents' have been notified to withdraw this Iruit from further sale. The only offerings now available from Auscrown quality. tanaS ln Plain and two RAISINS The first shipments of the new season’s crop ot oil-bleached raisins are just to quality is stated to be excelmarket for most varieties of Californian dried fruits remain firm, espeoially for unbleached qualities, and it is unlikely that any lower offeis will be > made this season. DATES

The direct steamer Trelyon is expected to arrive m Melbourne in about a week and supplies of new season’s dates should arrive here early in December, in ample tune for the Christmas trade. Reports from London shippers confirm the information that the crop is smaller than last year, and the market is very firm with still higher prices likely. Quotations for the direct steamer shipments will remain unaltered until arrival in Australia, but prices for any unsold quantities will then be advanced 3s 6d a C V* Offers are now being made for Khadrawi quality packed in lib paper bags, but as the prices are much bove the rate for Sairs in bags, no orders have been placed meantime. ALMONDS

A reduction of £lO a ton in PG Sicily almonds for November shipment was cabled this week, and present rates are much more favourable than has been the case for some time, although there seems every possibility of still lower levels being reached. Jordan almonds are again slightly easier for November and December shipments, but the local market is now well stocked, in anticipation of the heavy Christmas demand. NUTS

An advance ol £~ a ton in the price of Sicily Filbert nuts for prompt and forward shipment has just been advised, while Brazil kernals in 281 b tins are now quoted at an increase of ,\d a lb. CHERRIES

As further evidence of the short crop of French cherries, prices for crystallised have been advanced Id a lb for Novem-ber-December shipment. A fair amount of business has been booked in broken drained cherries in tins, owing to this line being offered at a fairly reasonable price, but the high prices being asked for No. 1 grades are still restricting business. JUTE GOODS

Both cornsacks and wool packs are being quoted by Calcutta. shippers at slightly easier rates, 48-inch cornsacks being down about 3d a dozen and packs about 2d a pack. The offers for cornsacks are for shipment by the Novem-ber-December steamer, and wool packs for July-August shipment next year.