Produce Prices

(Unless otherwise stated, quotations are in Australian currency. New Zealand $1 equals 5A1.24, Western Samoa $1 equals $A1.24, 8/- Sterling equals SAI; 1 pa’anga (Tonga) equals SAI; 5,381 rupees Ceylon equals SAI; 98 Pac. Frs. equals SAI and 5U51.125 equal SAI.)

Copra

PAPUA-NEW GUINEA:—AII production Is delivered to Copra Marketing Board, controlled by six members, including three planters’ representatives. The board directs distribution and sales," and makes pay ments to the producers. Production goes mainly to (a) Unilever, in UK, (b) Aus tralia for local consumption, (c) crushing mill in Rabaul, and (d) Japan (surplus as available). Prices generally tally with ruling rate in Philippines with premiums for hot-air dried.

P-NG Board’s purchase prices for copra delivered main ports in October were hot-air dried, $126 per ton; FMS, $123 per ton; smoke-dried, $l2l per ton.

FIJI:—The Fiji Coconut Industry Board fixes the prices to be paid for Fiji copra on a formula based on that for Philippines copra, and taking into account freight, taxes, selling costs, shrinkage, etc. The copra must be graded at centres in Suva, Levuka, Lautoka, Savusavu and Taveuni. Prices in Suva to Nov. 12 were; Grade one, £F6I/17/6; grade two, £FS7 and grade three, £F49/2/6. A scale of deductions has been established for copra delivered to grading centres other than Suva.

WESTERN SAMOA:—AII production is sold to the Copra Board of Western Samoa at fixed prices. The Board makes payments to producers through its agents —the local firms—and sells the copra on the open market with a portion to Abels Ltd., NZ. Last prices in October were SWS96 for grade one, SWS9I for grade one sun dried, and SWSB3 for grade two.

TONGA: All copra is sold to the Tonga Copra Board which sends it to Europe and the open market. October prices to growers were $T99.50 first grade and $T87.50 second grade.

SOLOMON IS.; All production marketed through official BSI Copra Board, at prices based on Philippines rate. Output goes to Unilever, UK; to Australian crushers; and the balance on to the open market. Prices on Oct. 13 were: Ist grade, $120; 2nd grade, $116; 3rd grade, $lO6 per ton, BSIP ports (Honiara, Yandina and Gizo).

GILBERT AND ELLlCE:—Production marketed in Europe through official Copra Board, at prices based on Philippines rates less freight, etc. The Copra Board subsidises the price at $67.20 per ton for first grade.

NEW HEBRIDES:—Copra sold direct by planters to France and Venezuela. Official price on Oct. 28 was $B4 (8,400 Pac.

Francs). French price then was 1,030 francs per metric ton, c.i.f., Marseilles.

COOK IS.: —Copra goes to Abels, Ltd., of Auckland, who operate the only NZ copra crushing mill. Price paid is average London price for previous three months, less handling charges. Prices for October, November and December, have been fixed, subject to freight adjustment, at $NZ132.93 first grade, hot air dried; $NZ130.97 first grade, sun dried and $NZ129.51 standard grade, all per ton packed f.o.b.

Other Produce

BECHE-DE-MER: Chang Sing Loong Co., Suva, quote F 2- (4 in. to 7 in.) to F3/- (9 in. to 11 in.) lb for well processed commercial varieties.

COCOA: —Islands prices are usually based on the rates for Ghana cocoa.

On Oct. 26 these were app. £ Stg.23B/15/per ton, c.i.f., Sydney (Oct. to Mar. ship ment) .

On Oct. 27, Quote No. 1: In store Rabaul, export quality $460 per ton, ex wharf Sydney, $5lO, and declining. Quote No. 2: Best quality, ex-wharf Sydney, $5OB, in store NG ports $477 (for UK, Continent and USA shipments).

VV. Samoa. —Latest prices quoted in Sydney, on Oct. 25, were: Grade 1, £ Stg.24o, grade 2, £Stg.222/10/- per ton, f.0.b., Apia.

COFFEE.—P-NG; Oct. 27, Quote No. 1, good quality A grade 37c to 40c per lb; B grade 36c to 38c; C grade 35c to 36c; X grade 36c to 39c and native X grade 33.5 c to 34c.

Crocodile Skins. On Oct. 27

Sydney buyers quoted for 12 in. and over, first grade quality as follows: P.-N.G.— $2.90 per in., f.o.b. P-NG ports, small scale (salt water); large scale (fresh water) $l.BO per in. 8.5.1., Honiara: $1.89 per in. Gizo: $2.10 per in.

GREEN SNAIL SHELL.—Sydney buyers quoted: Oct. 27, No. 1, Ist grade, $5OO, f.o.b. Islands ports, 2nd grade, nom., $240 on wharf, Sydney. Honiara: 16c lb.

PAPUAN GUM: New Guinea graded gum $lB5 per ton, f.0.b., Samarai, un graded gum $174, f.0.b., NG.

PEANUTS.—P.-N.G.: Sydney agents re ported Oct. 27, f.0.b., Lae; Kernels— white Spanish 15c lb.

PEARL SHELL.—Pished by Japanese and Australian interests around Cape York and Broome, North Australia, for mainly cultured shell production. Shells were scarce in July. Two Sydney buyers, on Oct. 27, quoted these prices: Sound $1,650 per ton, D grade $l,lBO, E grade, $650, EE $470 (in store Sydney).

Solomons. —Honiara, mother of pearl blacklip 15c lb, goldlip 20c lb.

Cook Islands.—Penrhyn Island, SNZ7OO (approx.), f.0.b., Rarotonga.

RICE (Aust.): Prices, until Mar. 31. 1968, are—P.-N.G.; Dried brown rice, 112 P bags, $l2B per ton, f.o.w. Sydney or Melbourne. Vitamin enriched white rice, 56 lb bags, $142 per ton, f.o.w. Brown,

40 lb bags $l3B per ton. Other Pa< Islands: Polished white (56 lb bags) dried brown rice (112 lb bags), $l5O ton, f.o.w.

RUBBER.—P-NG price is based Singapore rates, which on Oct. 21 w Prompt nominal shipment 49% Mala cents per lb, c.i.f. (14.31 Aust. cen Nov. MSOVsC (A14.54c) and Dec. M 5( (A14.71C).

SHARK FINS: Chang Sing Loong Suva, offers P4/6 per lb for well-dried of commercial quality. ICEP Pty. I 22 Taylor St., North Curl Curl, Sydi quote 65c to 85c lb., ex-store Sydi according to quality.

TROCHUS.—Sydney buyers indies the following quotations to Islands ] ducers: Oct. 27 Papua $175-j per ton; N.G., 8.5.1,—5150-$l6O per f.o.b. Islands ports—direct shipment overseas markets.

TURTLE SHELL.—BSI: first grade marked 90c a lb at Gizo.

VANILLA BEANS.—Victor Karp Tull Co., Sydney, buy mainly from Tahiti Sydney and Melbourne essence mak Prices on Oct. 27 were: white and yel label processed, standard packs, $6 green label, $6.40 c.i.f. Sydney.

Uk, Us, Ceylon Quotes

COPRA: LONDON, Oct. 24, Philippi in bulk, SUS 247 per long ton, c, UK/Nth. European ports. Malayan c.i.f. UK/Nth. European ports, UQ.

Pacific Coast, Philippines, SUSI9S short ton. CEYLON: Spot, 1,215 Ruj per long ton.

Coconut Oil: London. Oct.

Ceylon, 1% in bulk, £Stg.l2s per ' c.i.f., UK/Nth. European ports.

Rubber: London, Oct. 21, I

19%d Stg. lb; Oct. 14-9/16d Stg. lb Jan. 15-11/16d Stg. lb.