Islands Produce

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

Coffee

Robusta, f.a.q., imported from Java on firm conversion of exchange, c.i.f., prompt shipment.

Sydney: Quote No. 1 (Based on 12 Guilders to £): 19/-t per cwt. Quote No. 2: 37/6* per cwt.

As the result of a fire destroying large stocks of coffee in Kenya in March, Sydney importers are unable to quote Kenya coffee. It is under stood that the market is in the vicinity of 68/per cwt. for Kenya “B” grade, and 64/- for Kenya “C”.

Mysore, f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney, per cwt.. No. 1 quotations: Grade “A”, 95/-t; grade "B”, 93/-; Triage, 77/-. No. 2 quotations: Grade “A”, 74/-*; grade "B”, 72/6* grade “C”, 66/-*.

Arabian (Aden) Hodeidah. f.a.q., c.i.f., Sydney.

No. 1 quotation, 75/-* stg. per cwt. No. 2 quotation, 78/- per cwt.t tPurely nominal, as sterling rates of exchange have been fluctuating. ♦Extra freight and war risk for buyer’s account.

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-April were:— Average Java, sd. per lb., and Prime Japara, 5 7/32d. 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: £39-42 per ton. Quote No. 2: £36. Quote No. 3: £4O.

Accra, good fermented: £3l stg.

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 there have been no sales for some time.

The following are nominal quotations from three Sydney sources;—■

Mother of Peart Shell

Sydney agents report that since the outbreak of war, no regular public sales of Mother of Pearl shell have been held in London.

Green Snail Shell

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

£ £ £ No. 1 grade 76 78 80 No. 2 grade 66 66 69 No. 3 grade 52 53 56 All quotes are f.o.b,, and on the Australian £