Islands Produce

Coffee

The following quotations were obtained on December 18: Robusta, f.a.q., imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment, Sydney: Quote No. 1: 36/6 per cwt.; quote No. 2: 26/6 per cwt.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. Season closed; last quotations were:— No. 1 quotations: Grade “A,” 52/-; Grade “B,” 48/-; grade “C,” 45/-. No. 2 quotations: Grade “A.” 58/-; grade “B,” 52/6; grade “C,” 48/-; Triage, 47/6. No. 3 quotations: Grade “B,” 57/-; grade “C” 47/-; Triage: Season closed.

Mysore, f.a.q., prompt shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt.: —No. 1 quotations, grade “A,” 57/-; grade “B,” 51/-. No. 2 quotation: Grade Triage, 50/-.

Arabian (Aden), Hodeidah, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney. Quote (a) No. 1, pure, 64/- per cwt. Quotation (b) : 65/- per cwt.

Note: Importers of coffee from Java, etc., pay the following additional charges; Exchange, duty (4d. lb.), primage (10 per cent.), landing costs (1/per cwt.). Coffee from Papua and New Guinea escapes most of these charges.

Kapok

Based on firm conversion of exchange, the c.i.f. official prices for kapok quoted in Sydney in mid- December were:—Average Java 7|d per lb. and Japara, 7 7-32 d per lb.

Cocoa

Quote No. 1 : Cocoa beans, £49 per ton.

Quote No. 2: Accra, good fermented, £4B/10/per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Ivory Nuts

No. 1 quotation: £9/10/- per ton, f.0.b., Sydney.

No. 2 quotation: £9 per ton, f.0.b., Sydney.

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell, good quality, was quoted by Sydney buyers in mid-December at £5O per ton.

Trochus Shell

Quotations for trochus shell obtained in Sydney from two different sources were: (a) Trochus shell. No. 1 grade £ll2 Trochus shell. No. 2 grade £lO9 Trochus shell. No. 3 grade £97 (b) Trochus shell. No. 1 grade £llO Trochus shell. No. 2 grade £lOB Trochus shell. No. 3 grade £96 All quotes are f.o.b. and on the Australian £.

Cotton

London c.i.f. prices for cotton during the month were:—Nov. 27, 6.51 d lb., Dec. shipment: Dec. 4, 6.58 d lb., Jan. shipment; Dec. 11, 6.88 d lb., Jan.

Rice

Rangoon rice, packed in 1001 b. or 2001 b. bags, £l2/10/- per ton f.o.b. Sydney.

Australian table rice, packed in 561 b. bags, £l6/10/- per ton.