Islands Produce

THE following quotations were obtained in Sydney in mid-December: —

Coffee

Robusta, f.a.q., imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment, Sydney; Quote No. 1: 19/-t per cwt. Quote No. 2: 20/3 per cwt.

Kenya, f.a.q., immediate shipment, c.i.f., Syd ney, per cwt. Quote No. 1: Grade “A”, —; grade •B”, Jan.-Feb. shipment, 66/-; grade “C”, 62/6; Triage, 57/6. Quote No. 2: Grade “B”, 64/-t; grade “C”, 58/-t.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt.. No. 1 quotations: Grade “A”, 68/-t: grade “B”, 64/-t; Triage, 58/-. No. 2 quotations: Grade “A’ - , 72/- (Prompt Shipment); grade “B”, 65/- (Prompt Shipment); grade “C”, 57/-; Triage, 52/-.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney -No. 1 quotation, 80/- stg. per cwt. No. 2 quotation, 82/- per cwt.t tPurely nominal, as sterling rates of ex change have been fluctuating widely.

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. prices for kapok in mid-December were;— Feb.-June—'Average Java, sVad. per lb., and Prime Japara, s‘/id. per lb.

Ivory Nuts

No. 1 quotation: £7 per ton. f.o.b.

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

Quotations nominal.

Cocoa

New Guinea Cocoa: Quote No. 1: £36-£3B per ton. Quote No. 2; £39 per ton.

Rice

Rangoon rice, packed in 100 lb. bags, £l6 per ton; 200 lb. sacks, £l5/15/- per ton, Australian table rice, packed in 56 lb. bags, £2O per ton.

Trochus Shell

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

The following are nominal quotations from three Sydney sources:—

Mother of Pearl Shell

At the last Mother of Pearl Shell sales in London, before war broke out, prices ruling were; Torres Strait shell, from 110/- per cwt. B Stout medium to 15/- per cwt. for EE rejections; Black Edged Tahiti, no demand; Black Edged Fiji, 20/- for small to bold and 5/- for defective and broken.

Green Snail Shell

Green snail shell, quoted nominally by Sydney buyers:—Quote No. 1: £4O; No. 2: £5O.

£ £ £ No. 1 grade 75 77 80 NO. 2 grade 65 66 Vi 70 No. 3 grade 52 52 56 All quotes are f.o.b., and on the Australian £.