Shipments of Evaporated Milk During August Exceed Those of Condensed—Export Prices Lower.
The movement of unsweetened evaporated milk in cases during August was considerably larger than that of sweetened condensed milk, and the tone of the market for the former class of goods was proportionately better, as shown by a review of the latest available reports from milk manufacturers. The demand for bulk goods has decreased materially with the approach of cooler weather, especially the demand from the ice-cream trade.
Manufacturers’ reports of total stocks on hand Sept. 1 indicate approximately the same surplus of condensed case goods as on Aug. 1, but show a decrease of over 35% in the quantities of evaporated case goods. A similar condition prevailed with regard to unsold stocks, supplies of condensed case goods being practically the same as on Aug. 1, while stocks of unsold evaporated case goods decreased almost 50%. Stocks of case goods of both condensed and unsweetened evaporated milk on Sept. 1 were less than one-half the quantity reported on hand Sept. 1, 1920.
The export movement during August apparently served to give considerable relief to the general situation. Exports totaling 22,803,000 lbs. of evaporated milk more than doubled the July exports. Exports of condensed milk were but 7,557,000 lbs., although this was 2,000,000 lbs., heavier than in July. The United Kingdom received the heaviest shipments, 12,716,000 lbs. of evaporated and 3,232,000 lbs. of condensed going to that country. France and Germany each received approximately 3,000,000 lbs. of evaporated milk.
Exports of condensed milk during the first eight months of 1921 were but 62,000,000 lbs., compared with more than 221,000,000 lbs. during the same period in 1920, while exports of 116,000,000 lbs. of evaporated milk this year are 5,000,000 lbs. heavier than the shipments in 1920.
Manufacturers’ selling prices to the domestic trade during August remained practically the same as during July, but reductions occurred in prices to foreign trade. The largest cuts averaging 34¢ per case were made in export prices of sweetened condensed milk. Unsweetened evaporated milk prices to foreign trade were not so generally reduced, as some manufacturers seem to have advanced export prices slightly, with the result that the average export price was but 4¢ less per case than during the previous month.
Wholesale Prices of Condensed and Evaporated Milk.
(To domestic trade.)
| Geographic section. | Sweetened condensed case of 14-oz. cans. | Unsweetened evaporated case of 16-oz. cans. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. | July. | Aug. | July. | |
| New England | $6.07 | $6.16 | $4.82 | $4.83 |
| Middle Atlantic | 5.95 | 5.89 | 4.88 | 4.79 |
| South Atlantic | 6.47 | 6.47 | 5.02 | 4.97 |
| East North Central | 6.41 | 6.48 | 4.52 | 4.64 |
| West North Central | 6.38 | 6.44 | 4.76 | 4.75 |
| South Central | 6.49 | 6.53 | 4.91 | 5.05 |
| Western (North) | 6.38 | 6.33 | 4.72 | 4.61 |
| Western (South) | 6.53 | 6.37 | 4.78 | 4.67 |
| United States | 6.28 | 6.26 | 4.83 | 4.78 |
Prices to Producers at Condenseries for 3.5% Milk.
(Per 100 lbs.)
| Geographic section. | By manufacturers of case and bulk goods. | By manufacturers of bulk goods only. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. | Aug. | Sept. | Aug. | |
| New England | $1.91 | $1.91 | $3.30 | $3.30 |
| Middle Atlantic | 2.23 | 2.06 | 2.17 | 2.14 |
| South Atlantic | 2.15 | 1.88 | 1.66 | 1.87 |
| East North Central | 1.84 | 1.85 | 1.88 | 1.87 |
| West North Central | 1.80 | 1.80 | 1.77 | 1.40 |
| Western (North) | 1.77 | 1.53 | 2.23 | 2.30 |
| Western (South) | 1.73 | 1.61 | ... | ... |
| United States | 1.87 | 1.87 | 2.04 | 2.06 |