Islands Produce

[Copyright by “Pacific Islands Monthly". 1

Coffee

THE following quotations were obtained in Sydney in mid-January:— Robusta, f.a.q., imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment, Sydney: Quote No. 1; 22/7 per cwt. (new sea son); quote No. 2; 20/- per cwt.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Syd ney, per cwt.—No. 1 quotations: (New season prompt shipment)—Grade “A", 60/-; grade “B", 58/6; grade “C”, 55/-; Triage, 39/-. No. 2 quotations: New season’s supplies are not yet available. Last quotations obtained were: Grade “A”, 59/-; grade “B”, 48/-; grade “C”, 52/6; Triage, 39/- (drought coffee), No. 3 quotations: Grade “B”. 56/-; grade “C”, 50/-.

Mysore, f.a.q., Jan.-Mar. shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt.: No. 1 quotations: Grade “A", 62/-; grade “B”, 54/6. No. 2 quotations: Grade “A”, 58/-; grade “B", 54/-; Triage, Jan. ship ment, 47/-.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney—No. 1 quotation, July- Aug. shipment: 56/- per cwt. No. 2 quotation, 68/- 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-January were: Average Java 7 27-32d. per lb., and prime Japara, 7 7-16d. per lb.

Cocoa

Quote No. 1: Cocoa beans, £30 per ton.

Quote No. 2: New Guinea cocoa £30 per ton.

Quote No. 3: Accra, good fermented Jan.- Feb. shipment £24/15/- per ton; Feb.-Mar. shipment, £25/10/- per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Cotton

London c.i.f. cotton prices during the month were: December 16, 4.75 and. lb., January ship ment; December 23, 4.88 and. lb., January ship ment; December 30, 4.90 and. lb., February ship ment; January 6,4.92 and. lb., February ship ment.

Ivory Nuts

No. 1 quotation: £6 per ton, f.o.b.

No. 2 quotation: £7 per ton, f.0.b., Sydney.

Quotations nominal.

Rice

Rangoon rice: packed in 100 lb. bags, £l2/ 10/- per ton; 200 lb. sacks, £l2/5/- per ton, f.0.b., Sydney.

Australian table rice, packed in 56 lb. bags, £lB per ton.

Trochus Shell

Owing to Japan’s restrictions on oversea credits, there have been no sales for some time.

Quotations are nominal.

The following quotations, by two firms, re present last sales, several months ago:— (a) Trochus shell. No. 1 grade £65 Trochus shell, No. 2 grade £57 Trochus shell, No. 3 grade £44 (b) Trochus shell, No. 1 grade £6B Trochus shell, No. 2 grade £6O Trochus shell, No. 3 grade £45 All quotes are f.0.b., and on the Australian £.

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell, good quality, was quoted by Sydney buyers in mid-January at £SO per ton.