Islands Produce

THE Sydney market for the limited amount of produce offering remains steady; few changes in the mid-December rates having been reported during the past month. Exceptions were:—lndian Kapok, which rose from lid. to 1/8 per lb. c.i.f. stg. (equal to about 2/8 per lb. in store Sydney) and New Caledonian Cotton, now quoted at 12d. per lb. c.i.f. stg., an increase of iy 2 d. per lb. Other lines were unchanged at the following nominal quotations, most lines be ing under Government control:—

Cocoa

New Hebrides; Quote No. 1: £7O (in store, Sydney). Quote No. 2: £65 to £7O (c.i.f.).

Accra: £75 (in store, Sydney), New Guinea cocoa beans: No quotations.

Western Samoa: Sales reported, Ist quality £BO (f.0.b., Apia),

Coffee

No purchases are now permitted without the consent of the Tea and Coffee Control Board, to whom all offers must first be submitted!

Nominal quotations as follows; New Caledonian: Arabica, £Bl per ton (c.i.f.

Sydney). Robusta, £6B per ton (c.i.f. Sydney).

New Hebrides: Robusta, £6B per ton (c.i.f.

Sydney), Kenya and Mysore: £B5 per ton (c.i.f. stg. and War Risk Insurance).

New Guinea and Papuan: No firm quotations available.

Java: No quotations.

Vanilla Beans

White Label: 26/- per lb., C. & F., Sydney.

Green Label: 21/ -per lb., C. & F., Sydney.

Kapok

Indian kapok is being quoted for indent at 1/8 per lb. c.i.f. stg.

Market for Javanese kapok has been suspended.

Cotton

New Caledonia: Quote No. 1: 97 2 d. to 12d. lb (c.i.f., Sydney). Quote No. 2: 10V 2 d. to 12d. (c.i.f., Sydney),

Ivory Nuts

No firm quotations available.

Trochus Shell

Recent sale f.a.q. £lO3 per ton, in store, Sydney.

Rice

As a result of war conditions in the Far East, the market for Rangoon rice has been suspended.

Green Snail Shell

Small parcel sold recently at £ 103 per ton (f.a.q.) in store, Sydney.

Pearl Shell

Government-controlled price:— “B” Class. £2OO per ton. “C” Class, £l9O per ton. - “D” Class, £135 per ton.