Copra Prices

Whale-Oil’s Effect on

Significant Figures Shipments Much Less, Yet Market Depressed

AN interesting compilation, dealing with the copra market, has been is sued by the well-known London house of Messrs. Faure, Blattman and Co., under date October 3.

In this compilation are shown the copra shipments from the beginning of 1930, so far as they are available, from the different countries of origin, compared with the same period in 1929.

The following are worth quoting;

Commenting on these figures, the London firm says: “It will be seen that, so far, the ship ments are 89,000 tons less than last year—a somewhat surprising fact, hav ing regard to the unprecedented fall in prices which has taken place. It is obvious that this fall must be attrib uted, not to an excess of copra sup plies, but to an excess in supplies of competing material, mainly whale oil, which forces the consumers to restrict the use of copra.

“Java is responsible for the biggest reduction, the shipments during Jan.- Aug., 1930, being only 6,832 tons against 37,918 tons during the same period last year. The cause of the reduction in the Java shipments is to be found partly in the smaller crop and, partly, in the improvement in the demand for coco nut oil for local consumption in Java.

“It is clear that the future move ments of the market will continue to be dictated for some time, more by the supply of competing material than by the actual supply of copra.”

Tons shipped in Country Jan.-Aug., 1930 1929 Java . . 37,918 Macassar . . . . 66,653 Sangir, Menado, Gorontolo (Dutch Indies) . . 54,202 . . 48,907 Padang .. 14,725 .. 12,795 Other Ports in Dutch E.I 69.092 73,070 Singapore, Penang etc. ..101,729 .. 117.332 Ceylon . . .. . . 62,500 Philllppines Total ..422,323 .. 501.879