Islands Produce

[Copyright by “Pacific Islands Monthly”.]

Coffee

THE following quotations were obtained in Sydney in mid-March:— Robusta, f.a.q., imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f,, prompt shipment, Sydney: Quote No. 1: 24/- per cwt. (March shipment); 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: Grade “A”: New season's supplies are not yet available. Last quote was 60/-; grade “B”, new season, 56/-; grade “C”, new season not yet available —last quote, 53/-; Triage, 40/- (drought coffee), No. 3 quotations: Grade “B”, 54/-; grade “C”, 48/-.

Mysore, f.a.q., March-April shipment, c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt. No. 1 quotations; Grade “A”, 61/-; grade “B”, 53/-. No. 2 quotations: Grade “ A ”, 59/-; grade “B”, 53/6; Triage, 51/-.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Sydney—No. 1 quotation, July- Aug. shipment: 66/- per cwt. No. 2 quotation, 67/- 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 f-i f - official prices for kapok quoted in Sydney in mid-March were: Average Java, 7 27-32 d. per lb., and Prime Japara, 7 7-16 d. per lb.

Cocoa

Quote No. 1; Cocoa beans. £3O per ton.

Quote No. 2: New Guinea cocoa £26-28 per ton.

Quote No. 3: Accra, good fermented, March shipment, £22 per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

Cotton

London c.i.f. cotton prices during the month were; February 17, 4.83 d. lb., March shipment; February 24, 4.86 d. lb., March shipment; March 3,4.96 d. lb., March shipment; March 10, 5.05 d. per lb., April shipment.

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 overseas credits, there have been no sales for some time.

Quotations are nominal. (a) Trochus shell, No. 1 grade £69 Trochus shell, No. 2 grade £6O Trochus shell, No. 3 grade £44 (b) Trochus shell, No. 1 grade £7O 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 nominally by Sydney buyers in mid-March at £5O per ton.