Grocery Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 10

Grocery Review

The Sun Office, August 20, 1929. Reports from the wholesale grocery houses are to the effect that an all round improvement in trade has been noticeable during the past week, both town and country business showing an increase on last year’s figures. still remains on an exceptionally keen basis, but with the winter now almost over a steady general demand for foodstuff lines will soon be apparent. ’ A great proportion of the Christmas lines is booked for shipment from London and Europe during August each year and the mail to hand last week brought advice of the dispatch of these goods, which will soon be landing. Owing to the continued price cutting among several of the local merchants, one well-known Southern manufacturer of baking powder will not supply any further quantities to the trade meantime. A new line of Zealand cigarettes will be placed on the market on the 26th inst.. and as these will be packed in packets of 12 cigarettes, which will retail at Bd. a good demand is expected. Both prunes and dried figs are getting very short on spot, but although further quantities of the former will arrive at the end of this month, supplies of neiv figs will not arrive until about the end of November. The manufacturers of a. well-known brand of washing soap in tablets advise a reduction in this line of 2s 9d a case. The list of goods just to hand includes shipments of the following items: Laurel Wreath salmon, pilchards, sugar corn, Brazil nuts, oil of lemon, clothes pegs and salt. ALMONDS

Quotations for both sweet Sicily and soft shell almonds are slightly higher this week, the former having advanced £ i a ton for September-October shipment a’->d ’he latter £2 10s a ton. Most of ft > forward business in all these lines has already been booked, supplies being due to arrive about Xovc^.iber. NUTS The market, for Brazil nuts continues to weaken, prices for all grades now being lower than has been the case for some 3-ears. On the other hand, Barcelona nuts are much firmer, latest cables from London shippers notifying an advance of £3 10s a ton on previous rates PEANUTS Although stocks of Chinese peanuts have been very short locally, this position has been relieved by the arrival of some heavy' shipments by the Marania last week. The market in China remains unaltered but firm, and in response to ca.bled inquiries, suppliers state that it is still too early to quote for the new crop nuts. CREAM OF TARTAR The advance of £3 10s a ton in the prices of a well-known brand of English cream of tartar has now been followed by a further rise of 15s a ton for either prompt or forward delivery. The continued shortage. of raw' materials which is responsible for the increased rates is still in' evidence and still higher prices are expected before long. DATES The demand for ail packings of dates continues very strong and although there are still good stocks of Khadrawi quality available, it is anticipated that these will all be cleared up before the arrival of the new fruit in December. Bookings for the October direct shipment via Australia are not as heavy this j'ear owing to an early direct shipment via London being available at lower prices. Offers by. this route are rather confusing, as some buyers have been under the impression that concessions were being offered for the October shipment via Australia. Prices for shipment via this route lemain unchanged, but should any fall in the market take place before the arrival of the fruit, buyers will benefit accord - ingiy. CLOVES «, Prices for Zanzibar cloves have ruled on a very high level for some time, the crop last year having been a partial failure. Offers for new season’s supplies for shipment ’from Zanzibar in August are jnst to hand, and compared with tfae quotations previously ruling, show' a decline •of about -40 per cent. As local stocks are very short at present, considerable business has been placed for the above shipment, which should arrive about November next. EASTERN GOODS

The direct steamer (s.s. Narbada) from the East has left Singapore and is due here on September 4 with large quantities of tapiocas, pineapples and spices, but limited quantities of pepper. Present quotations • for tapioca, both seed and medium pearl, for shipment by the Xovember-December direct steamer remain stead3', being the lowest rates which have ruled for over seven years, and considerable business has alreadj' been booked for this delivery. Little interest is being shown in canned pineapples for this shipment, as large quantities are still to be landed—prices for the next sailing remain steady at last rates. As regards pepper, most buyers have been waiting for lower prices which have not eventuated and this week the market in Singapore shows an advance of Id a lb. It is very difficult to foreeast the future of this item. SALMON

Quotations for the new pack of British Columbia salmon have at last been announced and on the whole, prices are much firmer than last y'ear. In making comparisons with last year’s figures Sockeye, in particular, shows higher •prices than other grades, halves being 3s a case and ones tails and flats 2s 6d a case higher. This is mainly due to an absolutely bare market in British Columbia with no carry-over whatsoever from the p.-evious year, and although fishing prospects are fairly- favoux-able at present, it is much too early- to judge the ultimate result of the catch. Cohoes remain very much on a par with last year, halves being quoted at the same price, ones flats at 3s 6d a case lower and ones talis at 3d a case .lower. As regards pinks, prices for halves, ones flats and tails are Is a case higher. There is little alteration in the rates for Chums, halves and ones flats being unchanged, and tails 3d a case lower. Good business has already' been booked by agents for shipment from Vancouver at" the end of this month and spread deliverv can also be made until the end of December. The packers of Laurel Wreath Sockeye were able to get a shipment away'by' the July' sailing and this arrived by the Makura last week to a bare market, consequently- supplies have gone into immediate consumption. PRUN ES

Following the earlier information on the new crop prunes, prices were furthiadvanced last week, the rates for t ft larger sizes especially showing mue« higher values. Quotations are also available for shipment from San Francisco in February-March and as the future position of the market seems most uncertain, a fair amount of business has already been placed for this delivery. Figures now to hand from San Francisco show that the world's production of prunes in 1927 was 299,056 tons and in 1928 256,104 tons, while the estimated crops this season are 182,000 tons. Anyone who studies these figures must admit that the prune situation is in an exceptionally strong position, particularly as the carry-over from last year is practically' exhausted. The low prices which ruled last season were the means of creating a very strong demand for supplies and although the higher figures this year will no doubt have their effect on sales, there is bound to be a steady inquiry throughout the year, especially for the medium sizes, which will now be more within the range of most buyers. FIGS The opening quotations Cor Californian figs which have just been announced, are about 10 per .cent, higher than last season’s prices, but ps they are still much below the Smyrna article, no doubt considerable quantities will be brought forward. The crop is somewhat later than usual and shipments will probably not be here until about December.