February 7, 1913 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 289 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, February 6. North Wales. Wrexham. GOAL. All the collieries in this locality continue to have a good demand for the various classes of coal raised. They are all working full time and prices are being well maintained. There is little or no change in prices:— Prices at pit f.o.r. :— Bast house coal Current prices. 15/6 to 17/6 14/6 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/6 12/ to 13/6 12/ to 13/6 11/ to 12/ 6/6 to 9/6 16/8 to 18/4 18/4 to 20/ 17/6 to 18/4 10/ to 11/8 Last week’s prices. 15/6 to 17/6 14/6 to 16/ 12/6 to 13/6 12/ to 13/6 12/ to 13/6 11/ to 12/ 6/6 to 9/6 16/8 to 18/4 18/4 to 20/ 17/6 to 18/4 10/ to 11/8 Secondary do Steam coal Gas coal Bunkers Nuts Slack Gas coke (at works) Prices landsale:— Best house coal Seconds Slack Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The firmness which developed last week in the market for large steams has not been sustained, mainly owing to a continued deficiency of steamers for loading. At the docks now there is no pressure for delivery of coal, but rather a -congestion of stocks, although there is plenty of tonnage stemmed to keep the hoists busy for the next month. With the greater supply of coal on the hands of sellers, their quotations are easier than for a month past, although but little; but it must be noted that for smalls the reverse is the case, values of these being distinctly firmer. Through coals and house qualities maintain their position fully, likewise patent fuel, which remains quite firm. Nuts are gone off a shade. Pit wood continues steady around 21s., according to sellers’ position, there being no particular scarcity of decent wood. In the freight market, the resumption of hostilities in the Orient has induced a much firmer tone for all ports in the eastern Mediterranean, while freights for Spanish-America continue at steady rates, with not too much tonnage offering. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2| per cent. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large ... Western-valleys, ordinary Best Eastern-valleys Secondary do. Best small coals Secondary do Inferior do Screenings Through coals Best washed nuts Other sorts:— Best house coal Secondary do Patent fuel Furnace coke Foundry coke Current prices. 17/6 to 17/9 17/ to 17/3 16/6 to 16/9 16/ to 16/3 14/ to 14/6 12/9 to 13/3 12/3 to 12/6 13/ to 13/3 14/9 to 15/ 14/3 to 14/6 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/6 22/ to 23/ 24/ to 25/ 27/6 to 30/ Last week's prices. 17/6 to 18/ 17/3 to 17/6 16/9 to 17/ 16/ to 16/6 13/9 to 14/3 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/3 14/ to 14/3 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 to 14/9 18/6 to 19/ 17/6 to 18/6 22/ to 23/ 24/ to 25/ 27/6 to 30/ IRON. The past week shows very little alteration in the local conditions'of the iron and steel trades. In all departments fresh business continues very quiet, and there is hardly as much enquiry for future delivery as buyers could wish for. There is no easing of pressure at producing works, where the general tone is satisfactory, and considerable arrears of deliveries have yet to be worked off. There is now rather a better tone apparent in tin-plate bars and sheet bars, there being a somewhat better enquiry, and a tendency towards stronger values, although quotations remain nominally the same. Imports of foreign bits have again been heavy, exceeding 10,000 tons for the week. Continental values too show a tendency towards higher values. The rail department shows no change, mills being fully engaged and quotations unaltered. Heavy outputs are again recorded at blast furnaces, and for prompt delivery of small lots sellers can still get their own prices, while for forward delivery values are fully maintained. The conditions of the tin-plate market are again depressing, but it is hoped that the stop week now being arranged for will ease the situation for a time. Officially quotations remain unaltered, but holders are making concessions to ensure prompt clearance. Cardiff. GOAL. The bad weather experienced for several days has con- siderably disorganised tonnage, with the result that although the docks are still working at high pressure, a number of stems at the collieries are rather weak as regards shipments in the immediate future. The exports from Cardiff for the week were fairly satisfactory, amounting to about 376,000 tons, but chartering transactions have been anything but good, the total quantity of tonnage taken up in the past six days not being more than 261,000, or a decrease of nearly 140,000 tons as compared with the previous week. The lull in the market is, however, con- sidered to be of a temporary character, as with the renewal of hostilities between the Balkan League and Turkey it is anticipated that there will be a large demand for steam coals in the near future. In fact, already the Greek {government have been making enquiries for the supply of 40,000 tons of best coals for the bunkering of their navy over February and March, and it is expected that tenders will be adjudicated upon before the commencement of another week. The Turkish Government is also badly in need of coal, but unfortunately no shipowner will run the risk of sending his vessel through the Dardanelles. In consequence of certain coal cargoes consigned to Blick Sea ports having been discharged at Constantinople, or having been transhipped and returned there, the Greek Govern- ment have notified that in future any cargoes proceeding through the Dardanelles will be seized unless the diplomatic representative at Athens of the country of destination certifies that the coal is intended for internal consumption. Best steam coals for prompt shipment are quoted at from 18s. 6d. to 19s. 3d., but in order to secure empties one or two collieries have made substantial concessions to buyers who are in a position to tip immediately. The greatest sinners in this respect, however, are middlemen, and an instance is reported of one exporter having sold best steams at 18s. to a buyer who had a boat already beneath a tip. But such cases as this are no real indication of the state of the market. There are not a few middlemen who some few months ago were able to make contracts at 17s. per ton, and of course when they are notified that the monthly supplies agreed upon must be taken or the coal will not be held, it is not surprising that they should be willing to sell to a buyer with a boat ready for loading at 18s. per ton rather than lose the chance of making a profit of Is., which even at this price is at their command. Superior second Admiralties are 18s. 3d., with 3d. to 6d. less for other qualities. At the time this report was being written a steamer was taking on board 3,000 tons of best steam coals for use on the German Emperor’s yacht at the forthcoming naval manoeuvres. On previous occasions best Welsh coals have been bought for this purpose. Although the Kaiser never misses an opportunity of fostering the trade of his country, he apparently will not allow his patriotism to interfere with his own comfort when cruising about in his own yacht. As bearing on this question of quality between German and Welsh coal, it is significant that for the trial trips of the new German steamer “Imperator,” which is about to be launched at Stettin, it has been decided to use Ferndale coal. The demand for Welsh small coal still continues to be as strong as ever, and stoppages at certain collieries against the employment of non- unionists accentuates the position by cutting off considerable supplies. Best bunkerings are quoted at 15s. 3d. to 15s. 6d., but it is no secret that several sales have been made at 15s. Cargo qualities are 14s., and in one or two instances even a higher figure than this has been realised. There is a good demand for Monmouthshire coals. It is reported that the Italian States Railways have made a contract for a very large quantity with the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company, and although the price has not been disclosed there is reason to believe that it is a very satisfactory one. Owing to the non-arrival of tonnage a larger quantity of free coal has been on the market than usual, and prices have considerably weakened. The Russian Government some time ago sanctioned large purchases of coal, but after contracting for the supply of about 300,000 tons for delivery over the first three months of this year, negotiations were broken off on account of the high prices quoted. Since the failure of the armistice in the East they have been making enquiries for the shipment of about half a-million additional tons for delivery from March to the end of the year. Most of these orders it is expected will go to the north, although the difference in price between the Tyne and Welsh coals is at present very.little more than the normal. There is but little change in bituminous coals. The shipments of patent fuel for the week constituted almost a record, the Crown company exporting 12,915 tons, other local makers 8,950 tons, Swansea 21,300 tons, and Newport 2,200 tons, a total altogether of 45,365 tons. Best brands are firmly held for 24s. Although the boisterous weather has kept back arrivals of pitwood, it is known that a tremendous quantity has to come forward, and this has affected the market, best French fir not realising more than 20s. 6d. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Superior seconds Ordinary do Best bunker smalls Best ordinaries Cargo qualities Inferior smalls Best dry coals Ordinary drys Best washed nuts Seconds Best washed peas Seconds Dock screenings Monmouthshire— Black Veins Western-valleys Eastern-valleys Inferior do Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through... Small No. 2 Rhondda— Large Through-and-through... Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) Current prices. 18/6 to 19/ 18/3 17/9 to 18/ 15/3 to 15/6 15/ 14/ 13/3 to 13/6 18/ to 18/6 16/6 to 17/ 16/3 to 16/6 14/9 to 15/6 15/ to 15/6 14/6 to 15/ 15/3 to 15/6 17/6 to 17/9 17/3 to 17/6 17/ 16/9 19/6 18/ 17/6 16/3 15/6 16/ 15/ 14/ 24/ 23/ 32/ to 33/ 30/ 28/ 20/6 Last week’s prices. 19/3 to 19/6 18/6 to 18/9 17/9 to 18/ 15/3 to 15/6 15/ 14/ 13/6 18/3 to 18/6 16/9 to 17/6 16/ 14/6 to 15/ 14/6 13/ to 14/ 14/9 to 15/3 17/9 to 18/ 17/6 to 17/9 17/ to 17/3 16/6 to 16/9 19/6 17/6 17/6 16/ 15/ 15/9 to 16/ 14/6 13/ to 13/3 24/ 22/6 33/ 31/ 28/ to 29/ 21/ Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days less 2| per cent. Rhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. IRON. Although shipments and receipts from work last week were pretty well evenly balanced, stocks show a slight increase, being now 445,000 boxes. On all sides it is recog- nised that the production exceeds the demand, and at a meeting of tinplate makers at S wansea on Tuesday, at which 430 mills were represented, a committee was appointed to, draw up a scheme for reducing the output. At Llanelly the feeling is in favour of a week’s stoppage of work throughout the trade, but whether this course will be adopted remains to be seen. An enquiry has come into the market for 40,000 boxes of oil sizes for Japan. There is a difference of 3d. to 6d. per box in the prices asked by makers, some of whom are badly in need of specifications. There is no change in steel. Imports from abroad are much less than usual, but Siemens tin bars are still offering at £6 for prompt and £5 17s. 6d. for forward delivery, with the usual deduction for Bessemer bars. The galvanised sheet trade continues very dull. Most works quote <£12 2s. 6d. to .£12 5s. for 24-gauge corrugateds, but some of the coast works have accepted .£12. The Dowlais Works are very busy with rails, sleepers, etc., and in the Swansea district the trade done is believed to be of greater bulk than for the corresponding period for the last three months. Big sheets for galvanising (30-gauge) are offering at £9 per ton, and the same price is quoted for C.A. roofing sheets. There is no change in Welsh pig iron. Iron ore is a little firmer, best rubio being 21s. 6d. to 22s., second qualities Is. 6d. less and Almeria 21s. Swansea. GOAL. The returns of the trade of the port were again very satisfactory last week, especially considering the continued bad weather. The coal trade was not so brisk, but the patent fuel industry was unusually active; the shipments together totalled 101,221 tons. There was a capital atten- dance on ’Change this morning, and very quiet conditions prevailed on the anthracite coal market. Enquiries, particularly for prompt loading, were slow, and sellers were prepared to accept lower prices for immediate delivery in order to secure empties to keep their pits working. Red Vein large was a weaker market. Machine-made nuts and cobbles held their own. Rubbly culm was firm, whilst duff was very strong, and prices were moving in an upward direction. In the steam coal market smalls were very firm, and large was slightly easier. The following were approximately the closing quotations:— Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current Last week’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net) 22/6 to 24/6 22/6 to 24/6 Secondary do 20/6 to 21/6 20/6 to 21/6 Big Vein large (less 2£ per cent.) 17/ to 19/ 19/ to 21/ Red Vein large do 15/9 to 16/6 15/9 to 16/6 Machine - made cobbles (net) 21/9 to 23/9 21/9 to 23/9 Paris nuts (net) 23/6 to 26/6 23/6 to 26/6 French do. do 24/ to 27/ 24/ to 27/ German do. do 24/ to 27/ 24/ to 27/ Beans (net) 18/6 to 21/6 19/ to 21/6 Machine-made large peas (net) 11/3 to 13/ 12/ to 14/ Do. fine peas (net) — — Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 7/9 to 8/3 7/9 to 8/3 Duff (net) 5/3 to 5/9 4/9 to 5/6 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) ... 17/9 to 19/ 17/6 to 19/ Seconds do. 15/6 to 17/ 15/ to 17/ Bunkers do. 13/6 to 16/ 13/6 to 16/ Small do. 12/6 to 14/6 11/6 to 14/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2j p.c.) 18/3 to 19/6 17/9 to 19/ Through - and - through (less 2| p.c.) 15/ to 16/ 15/ to 16/ Small (less 2| per cent.) 14/ to 16/ 13/6 to 15/ Patent fuel do 20/ to 20/6 18/9 to 19/ IRON. During the past week briskness characterised the steel industry, and the aggregate output of bars was in excess of any similar period this year. Bar mills were fully engaged, still the output just about met the demands of the tin-plate and sheet mills. Tin-plate mills were operating as usual, and the shipments were 105,978 boxes. The receipts from works were 110,297 boxes, whilst stocks in the dock ware- houses and vans were 445,361 boxes. Llanelly. GOAL. The anthracite collieries are having bad times at the moment, and find it a very difficult matter to keep working for want of empty wagons. The slump has come rapidly, and there seems to be a dearth of orders for all kinds except culm and duff. Some of the pits have only sufficient wagons to last them another few days, when they will be compelled to close down. Prices are also a lot easier, and spot lots can be bought up at good reductions. Steam and bituminous kinds, on the other hand, have never been better, and prices are very satisfactory. The manufacturing works are having a bad time, and cannot get anything like their contract quantities. Works have been compelled to pay advances of quite 3s. per ton for contracts over last figures. Smalls are almost certain to keep firm for months to come. House coals are also scarce, and prices have advanced another 2s. recently. Prices this week are:— Prices f.o.b. Current Last week’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. Best malting large 23/ to 24/ 24/ to 24/6 Secondary do 21/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ Big Vein large 19/ to 20/ 19/ to 20/6 Red Vein do 14/6 to 15/ 15/ to 15/6 Machine-made cobble s ... 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ German nuts 23/ to 25/ 23/ to 25/ French do 23/ to 25/ 23/ to 25/ Paris do 24/ to 26/ 24/ to 26/ Machine-made beans 20/ to 22/ 21/ to 22/ Do peas 12/6 to 13/6 12/6 to 13/6 Rubbly culm 8/ to 9/ 8/ to 9/ Duff ‘ 4/6 to 5/ 5/ to 6/ Other sorts:— Large steam coal 17/ to 18/ 17/ to 18/ Through-and-through ... 14/ to-15/ 14/ to 15/6 Small 11/ to 12/ 11/ to 12/ Bituminous small coal ... 12/6 to 13/6 12/6 to 14/