South African Produce on the Oversea Market. 589 



SOUTH AFRICAN PRODUCE ON THE 

 OVERSEA MARKET. 



Extracts from Report of the Acting Trade 

 Commissioner. 



June, 1920. 



Wool. — Auction sales were held on the 3rd, 8th, and 10th of June, but 

 only a small quantity of South African wool changed hands out of the 4400 

 bales offered. The bulk of the offerings did not obtain satisfactory bids and 

 were consequently withdrawn. A few parcels of greasy wools were purchased 

 by the manufacturers, but ordinary topmaking wools were passed over by 

 the Continental buyers as well as Home trade. It is very difficult indeed to 

 give a basis for prices, but the trade state that greasy combings at the above 

 auctions were from 25 to 30 per cent, below those ruling at the April-May 

 auctions. Snow Whites have not been so seriously affected, but superior 

 qualities have declined 10 per cent., medium sorts 20 to 25 per cent., and 

 inferior descriptions 10 to 15 per cent. 



Mohair. — The market for this article is very quiet, and no transactions of 

 any importance have been recorded. The nominal prices given in my previous 

 report more or less apply to-day. 



nicies and Skins. — The hide market is lifeless and buyers show no inclina- 

 tion to purchase. The few transactions that have taken place show a general 

 decline. According to the reports received from the trade here there is hardly 

 any prospect of an improvement for the next three months. 



Sheep and goat skins are in a similar position to hides, and all descriptions 

 are neglected. 



Wattle Bark. — The market continues dull, and with the large stocks at 

 present on hand an improvement cannot be expected for some time. The 

 position at the moment is that tanners are overstocked with raw materials 

 and have large supplies of leather on hand, with the result that short time 

 is being worked in the tanneries. The Continental demand has declined and 

 prices have fallen. Shipments from the Union have fallen off, but this may 

 help the situation later on, and it is hoped that the market will improve within 

 the next two months. At the moment £17. 10s. per ton for ground and 

 £15. 10s. for chopped, on the spot, is being asked, but these quotations are 

 nominal. 



Ostrich Feathers. — During the past month the market for ostrich feathers 

 has shown no appreciable improvement in prices, but the demand for the 

 Home trade has to some extent improved. Continental buyers are, however, 

 still holding off, hoping for a further improvement in the exchanges. Wing 

 feathers of medium quality and short coloured feathers in hard and floss have 

 been principally in request. 



South African Maize. — Here, again, the market is stagnant, and only 70s. 

 to 72s. 6d. per quarter c.i.f. is being offered for South African White Flat 

 No. 2. Argentine maize is quoted at 59s. to 61s. per quarter c.i.f. 



Export of Grain, etc. 



In last month's issue we publislied a statement (page 505) show- 

 ing the quantity of grain, etc., exported from the Union during the 

 seasonal year 1st July, 1919, to 30th June, 1920. For July, 1920, 

 the first month in the new seasonal year, returns show that 2763 

 bags maize, 420 bags maize meal, and 138 bags beans were exported, 

 while the stock on hand at the end of the month consisted of : maize, 

 2367 bags; maize meal, 29 bags; and lucerne seed, 35 bags. 



