Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-12 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL FRUIT TRADE,

Since May I have not issued any report of the Fruit
Market here, as May, June, and July are months in which
little business are doing, and in which there is little
worthy of recording. There has, however, been
considerable change in prices during this period,
especially in Currants, which all through the season,
till the end of April, had kept high, although they had
gradually receded from opening prices some 5s per cwt.,
but in June prices fell some 103 to 15s per cwt ; this was
not the result of any single circumstance, but of many,
amongst which may be named : Ist, an impression
pevailed that the stocks in the United Kingdom were
very heavy and not ascertainable accurately ; secondly
that the demand was short of what might have been
expected,- whilst in London the duty paid clearances for
the first six months of this year were actual:y short of the
previous year ; but, probably the very favourable
accounts received from abroad of the growing crops was
the principal reason which caused holders of stock to
accept lower prices—this they ought to have done earlier,
in which case consumption would have been greatly
increased ; as it was, the reduction in price and the
anxiety of holders to sell paralised the market to a certain
extent, dealers, thinking prices would fall still lower, only
bought sparingly. They are firm at present rates, and, in
fact, have recovered themselves a little and are now selling
freely. The stocks in Liverpool have been taken by the
Customs. The official document now before me makes
the Stock on the 30th of December, 1856, 77,942 cwt 3qrs
2lbs, say 3,897 tons. We have since imported to the 30th
of June, 1,495 tons, whilst we have exported 850 tons, and
duty paid, 1,761, making our total clearances from Decem-
ber 31 to June 30, 1857, 2,611, being 1,116 tons more than
our imports, so that our Stock at that date was 2,781 tons,
and on the 31st of July 2,364 tons. Our clearances and
elports for the last three months are as follows

May. June. July. Total
tons. tons. tons. tole.
Duty paid .... 212 261 238 783 against 339 correspond,ng
months last year.
Exports 145 126 142 422 against do. do.
and for the season commencing in September, 1856, and
ending April, 1857, show most gratifying results, being
greatly in excess of previous seasons,- and, as compared
with last, shows a very large increase in this branch of
business.

From Sept. '56 to April '57. Sept. '55 to '56 Increase.
Clearances for Home Cansumption.. 3.844 agst. 1,328 2,55 q.
Exports
_ . _

The corning crop is very promising, and it is estimated
that it will be larger than any since 1851, and will reach
somewhere about 40,000 tons.

In Raisins there has been little business doing during
the last three months;. prices are without change. Stocks
(of all kinds) very light.

May; 701 111 tons against 287 corresponding months
Clearances for June,26 last year.
July, 151
May, 96
Expons for June,23l 116 tons do. 122 do. do.
July, 27
The business of the season, both for home consumption
and for export has been larger than usual, and shews an
increase, as compared with last season, of 30 per cent. on
the former and of 300 on the latter; viz:, from Septeinber,
1856, to April, 1857 2,547 tons were duty paid against
1,792 from September, 1655, to April, 1856, and 1,185 tons
during same period were exported against 400.
Figs : The transactions in figs have been unimportant,
p prices are lower than they have been any time during
e season. The clearances for home consumption are
70 tons for May, 29 for Jane, arrtit-29 -toms for July—and
our exports respectively 9d, 4, and 8 tons.
Almonds: In almonds of all kinds here is little doing,
and prices continue high. Jordan's, however, are lower.
Prunes and Plums : In prunes there is very little doing,
and prices are cons clerably lower. Plums in retail de-
mand, clearances of prunes, May, 28 tons, June 5, and
July 5, 'making a total of 38 tons ; clearances of plums,
for May; June, and July, 2 tons. Exported during same
period about 5 tons of the former, and 1 ton of the latter.
Nuts : _Barcelona nuts have advanced since May is 6d
to 2s per bag, and have been selling freely, other kinds,
little doing in.
Oranges have come forward in small quantities, and are
selling at higher rates. Of lemons we have had several
arrivals, and prices have given way, the demand has been
limited. THOMAS PARRY.