May 2, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 913 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Belgian strike. As a rule, a large quantity of coal is being -continually sent to that country, but for the last week or two consumers have been unable to take it. As work is now being resumed there is no doubt that this market will soon be open again. Best bunkerings at the time of writing do not command more than 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d., or *9d. to Is. less than last week. Best ordinaries are 14s. and cargo qualities 13s. 6d. or a little over per ton, but with the total stoppage of all the collieries on May 1, when the annual meetings of the miners were held, the partial stoppages that seem to be inevitable in connection with the non-unionist question, and the three days Whitsuntide holidays, there seems almost certain to be a reaction. . The -difficulty with the coaltrimmers with regard to the non- unionist question is likely to be overcome without much friction. With respect to Monmouthshire coals, the market is not quite so strong. Tonnage is scarce, and there is -consequently a much larger supply of free coal available. This tends in favour of buyers. Black Veins are now obtainable at 19s. 6d. to 19s. 9d., western valleys at 18s. 9d. to 19s., and eastern-valleys at 9d. less, in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. Freights for the moment show a hardening tendency, chartering having fallen off considerably during the past week, but with the holidays close at hand, and therefore a large curtailment of output, the tendency a little later on will, no doubt, be for lower rates. Genoa at present, is somewhere in the neighbourhood of 9s. 3d. for large boats, with 6d. to 9d. less for small boats, for which the supply to the Mediterranean is very limited. There is no change in house coals or in the better class of Rhondda bituminous, which are still quoted at 18s. 6d., but Not 2 Rhondda has receded to 17s. per ton, or 6d. below last week. Shipments of patent fuel for the week were over 30,000 tons, Swansea despatching no less than 20,180 tons, and the 'Crown Company and other Cardiff makers only 9,581 tons, whilst the quantity placed to the credit of Newport was 2,100 tons only. Prices are unaltered, best brands still being quoted at 26s. Owing to the high prices prevailing, the North Spanish Railways, who usually use patent fuel, have gone in for large coals, placing an order for 12,000 tons with Messrs. Morgan, Wakley and Co. for delivery over May and June. The coke trade is very quiet. There is practically no enquiry for furnace qualities, and these are offering at 24s. 6d. to 25s. Special foundry is 31s. to 32s. Pitwood is weaker. Arrivals for the week totalled about 20,000 tons, and not more than 21s. is obtainable for best French fir. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). According to the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, the average declared price per ton of coal exported from the chief Welsh ports in March last was as follows:— • Cardiff. Newport. Port Talbot. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Large steam ... 16 11 . .. 16 0 .. . 16 11 ... 16 4 Through-and-through 14 7 . .. 13 4 .. . 11 6 ... 11 1 Small ... 11 8 . .. 11 11 .. . 10 10 ... 9 9 Large anthracite ... ...24 7 . .. 29 9 .. . 16 11 ... 17 7 Household ... 16 0 . — — In March last year the prices were:- Port Talbot. Cardiff. Newport. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Large steam ... 17 5 . .. 15 6 .. . 15 11 ... 15 5 Through-and-through 12 10 . .. 12 8 .. . 10 7 , ... 10 6 Small ... 11 1 . .. 10 6 .. .80. ... 8 9 Large anthracite ... ... 24 0 . .. 23 9 .. . 22 0 ... 18 2 Household ... 17 7 . — .. . — » ... IRON. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market of this district is characterised by a slightly easier feeling, and a change is noticeable in the steam and bituminous markets. The fact that several of the tinplate works are on stop was bound to cause an easing off in the demand for smalls, and prices are easier. Through coals for bunkers is, however, still keeping firm, and prices are keeping up. This market has had a splendid run, and the colliery people who have had plenty of free coal to offer must have done well. There will not be a big drop just yet as the holidays will make the position some- what firmer. The anthracite market is still moving very slowly, and orders from the inland market are difficult to get. There are signs of an improvement, but no great change is expected for a while. Large is difficult to place, and the machine-made sorts are suffering a big slump. Culm is easier, and prices have been reduced from sixpence to a shilling per ton. Duff is still firm. Prices this week are:— Prices f.o.b. Last week’s Current Steam coals:— prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals 21/6 to 22/ 21/ to 22/ Superior seconds 21/ to 21/3 20/6 to 21/ Ordinary do 20/ 20/ Best bunker smalls....:.... 14/6 to 14/9 15/6 to 15/9 Best ordinaries 14/ 15/ Cargo qualities 13/6 to 13/9 14/3 to 14/6 Inferior smalls 12/9 to 13/ XTJ/tJ W XtK/w 14/ Best dry coals 19/6 to 20/6 19/6 to 20/6 Ordinary drys 17/9 to 18/3 18/ to 19/ Best washed nuts 17/6 XU/ W XV/ 18/ Seconds 16/6 16/9 to 17/ Best washed peas 16/ 16/6 Seconds 15/ 15/6 Dock screenings 15/9 16/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 19/8 to 19/9 19/ to 19/3 Western-valley s 18/9 to 19/ 18/9 Eastern-valleys 18/ to 18/3 18/6 Inferior do 17/6 to 17/9 17/9 to 18/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 19/6 19/6 Second qualities (at pit) 17/6 17/6 JNo. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 18/6 18/6 Through-and-through... 17/6 17/6 Small 16/3 to 16/6 16/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large 17/ 17/6 Through-and-through... 15/6 16/ Small 13/9 to 14/ 14/6 Best patent fuel 26/ 26/ ^Seconds 24/6 to 25/ 24/6 to 25/ ;Special foundry coke 31/ to 32/ 31/ to 32/ •Ordinary do. 29/ to 30/ 29/ Furnace coke 24/6 to 25/ Pit wood (ex-ship) 21/ 25/ 21/6 The hopes of a revival in the tinplate trade have again been dashed to the ground by the hostile attitude of Austria. Everbody seems to be of opinion that some way will be found out of the impasse that at present exists, but the delay in terminating the war is a great hindrance to the resumption of tinplate buying by the disturbed districts, though it is satisfactory to know that limited supplies are once more being sent forward to Roumania, which has always been an important market for tinplate and black- plate. The recent heavy purchases by the American oil canners is beginning to have some effect on stocks, and, for the first time for many weeks, the shipments exceeded the receipts from works by nearly 13,000 boxes. Stocks, however, still amount to over 478,000 boxes, or more than double the normal quantity. Though there is no change in prices, which are still below the cost of production, there are indications of an improved tone in the market, and, provided the present restriction of output is continued, there seems to be a probability of more remunerative prices ruling in the near future. At present the number of mills idle is about 125. Imports of steel are very fluctuating, the receipts for the past week being very little more than 6,000 tons. Though the official quotation of the South Wales Siemens Tin Bar Association still remains at £5 12s. 6d., at least 2s. 6d. less is being accepted by the manufacturers of Bessemer bars. Prices are distinctly in favour of buyers, and in some cases are some shillings below the actual quotatation of sellers. Only a moderate business is being done in galvanised sheets, and prices of 24-gauge corrugateds for export range from ill 12s. 6d. to j611 15b. Welsh pig iron is weaker, being 83s. 6d. to 84s. f.o.t. The iron oie market is easier, and, owing to the stagnation of the tinplate trade, very little business is doing. Best rubio is 20s. 6d. to 21s., secondary qualities, 19s. to 19s. 6d. New steel crop ends are 68s. 6d. to 70s, heavy wrought, 57s. 6d., heavy steel 60s. to 61s., and cast 60s. to 62s. 6d. per ton. Swansea. COAL The returns of the trade of the port last week were again of a very favourable nature. Both the coal and patent fuel trades were active, the shipments amounting to 109,746 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change this morning, but there was very little change in the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large continued weak, and for immediate delivery parcels were obtainable at very low figures. Red Vein large was also easy. There was some little improve- ment in the demand for machine-made nuts and cobbles, but not sufficient to affect prices. Rubbly culm was steady, but this commodity was more easily procurable. Duff maintained its position. In the steam coal market a very firm tone was again in evidence. Smalls were exceptionally strong. 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 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ Secondary do 20/ to 21/ 19/ to 21/ Big Vein large 17/ to 18/ 17/ to 18/ Red Vein do 13/6 to 14/ 13/9 to 14/6 Machine-made cobbles ... 18/6 to 20/ 21/ to 22/ German nuts 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/6 French do 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/6 Paris do 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/6 Machine-made beans 18/6 to 20/6 19/ to 21/ Do peas 11/3 to 13/ 11/6 tc 12/6 Rubbly culm 9/3 to 9/9 9/ to 10/ Duff 6/3 to 7/ 6/3 to 7/ Other sorts:— Large steam coal 18/ to 18/6 18/ to 18/6 Through-and-through ... 15/ to 16/ 15/ to 16/ Small 10/6 to 11/6 11/6 to 12/6 Bituminous small coal ... 13/6 to 14/6 14/6 to 15/ The following table shows the total quantities exported to foreign countries in March as well as in March of last year:— March 1912. Tons. Russia ................ — Sweden................. 8,895 Norway................. 3,786 Germany ............... 9,259 Netherlands............. 5,986 Belgium ............... 13,215 France ................. 160,878 ................. Algeria... 16,567 JFrench Somaliland....... — Portugal ............... 22,254 Spain................... 32,691 •Canary Islands ......... 19,103 Italy ................... 146,264 Italian East Africa....... 10,406 Austria-Hungary ........ — Greece ................. 5,129 Turkey (European) ...... 11,966 Egypt ................. 45,992 Tunis___________................. 8,714 Chili ................... 4,312 Brazil ................. 38,208 Uruguay ................_____ 4,070 Argentine Republic ...... 34,748 Gibraltar ............... 30,892 Malta................... 11,340 British India ........... 5,013 Ceylon ................. 6,255 Hong Kong ............. 5,931 West Africa (French) .... 5,660 „ (Portuguese)... 6,983 „ (British) .... 7,417 March 1913. Tons. 8 895 17,453 6,934 22,622 8,977 70,238 562,836 71,818 10,690 59,245 105.776 54,249 524,748 51,279 13,730 105,002 20,111 38,777 182,010 33,477 242,452 32,191 81,732 13,371 16,714 6,660 14.834 16,759 13,804 Current Last week’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net) 22/ to 24/ 19/ to 20/ 22/ to 24/ 19/ to 20/ X / \ / •••••••••••• Secondary do Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 16/ to 18/ 13/9 to 14/6 16/ to 18/ 13/9 to 14/6 Red Vein large do Machine - made cobbles (net) 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 18/6 to 20/6 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/6 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 18/6 to 20/6 Paris nuts (net) French do. do German do. do Beans (net) Machine-made large peas (net) 11/3 to 13/ 11/3 to 13/ Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) Duff (net) 9/3 to 9/6 6/ to 6/6 | 1 9/9 to 10/3 6/3 to 7/ Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) ... Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. 19/6 to 21/ j 16/3 to 17/ 15/6 to 16/ 13/6 to 15/6 19/6 to 21/ 16/3 to 17/ 15/6 to 16/ 13/6 to 15/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2|p.c.) Through - and - through 19/ to 20/ 19/ to 20/ (less 2| p.c.) 16/6 to 17/6 16/6 to 17/6 Small (less 2| per cent.) 14/9 to 16/ 14/9 to 16/ Patent fuel do. 21/ to 22/6 21/ to 22/6 IRON. THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, May 1. Dublin. Coal merchants continue to be busily engaged, and the falling-off in demand for household qualities is only slight so far, as the weather keeps almost wintry. There is no change in quotations of any class of coal, and there appears to be no immediate prospect of any reductions being made in house fuel. Difficulty is still being experienced in procuring sufficient supplies owing to the pressure at the shipping ports at the other side, although the import trade has improved somewhat during the past week or so. City prices are as follow :—Best Orrell, 27s. per ton; best Arley, 26s.; best Whitehaven, 25s.; best Wigan, 25s.; best kitchen, 24s.; best Orrell slack, 21s.; steam coals from 22s. per ton upwards; best coke, 23s. per ton; house coal, retail, Is. 8d. per sack. Irish coals at Arigna, County Leitrim:—Best coal, 15s. lOd. per ton; nuts, Ils. 8d.; culm, 9s. 2d. per ton at the pit mouth. Some extensive contracts are now issuing from some of the inland districts. The coaling vessels arriving during the past week amounted to 62, as compared with 73 the week previously, chiefly from Ayr, Newcastle- on-Tyne, Garston, Preston, Newport, Troon, Liverpool, Girvan, Workington, Whitehaven. Glasgow, Swansea, West Bank, Burryport, Manchester, Neath Abbey, Partington, and Irvine. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 27,800 tons. Belfast. The demand generally is good, although the household trade is somewhat quieter. Prices of all qualities are firm but unchanged, and there is now a better supply in the port. City prices are as follow .•—Best Arley coal, 27s. 6d. per ton; Hartley, 26s. 6d.; Wigan, 25s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 26s. 6d.; Scotch house, 23s. 6d. ; Orrell slack, 23s. 6d. Current quotations ex-quay:—Arley house coal, 24s. per ton; Scotch household, 20s. 6d.; Scotch steam coal, 17s. to 18s. per ton ; navigation steam, 17s. to 18s.; Welsh steam, 20s.; English steam slack, 17s. per ton delivered. Cargoes arriving during the week were chiefly from Garston, Silloth, Ayr, Maryport, Neath Abbey, Troon, Preston, Glasgow, Point of Aire, Partington, Girvan, Cardiff, Workington, Ardrossan, Irvine,, Swansea, Lydney, Newport and Whitehaven. A quarterly return of the imports and exports of Belfast Harbour shows that the imports of coal for the first three months of this year have increased from 308,287 to 314,713 tons. Owing to a strike of dock labourers here, a collier belonging to one of the local coal merchants has been laid up for a week at Ayr harbour, the men at that side having refused to load the vessel out of sympathy with the strikers at Belfast. The tin-plate trade last week was very depressed. The market is still in a very unsatisfactory condition, ruling prices being barely sufficient to cover the cost of production. There is still a great accumulation of stocks, and proposals are now being formulated for a general stoppage in June or July. There was an average production of pig iron, and continuous activity was experienced in the steel trade, although the demand for bars is easing off owing to the depressed state of the tin-plate trade. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 139,767 boxes, receipts from works 126,936 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 478,476 boxes. ___________________________ THE TIH-PLATE TRADE Liverpool. The tone of the market is certainly better; there is more enquiry, and a fair amount of business is going through. Prices, however, although higher than they were, are still below cost of manufacture, and makers prefer not to sell ahead to any extent unless at an advance on the figures ruling to-day. Current quotations for plates required for early shipment may be called:—Coke tins, I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 1b.), 14s. 3d. to 14a. 6d. per box; IC 28 x 20 (112 sh. 2161b.), 28s. 6d. to 29s. per box; I C 28 x 20 (56 sh. 108 lb.), 14s. 9d. to 15s. per box; I C 14 x 18J (124 sh. 110 lb.), 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. per box; I C 14 x 19| (120 sh. 1101b.), 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. per box; I C 20 x 10 (225 sh. 156 lb.), 20s. 6d. to 20s. 9d. per box; I C squares and odd sizes, 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. basis for approved specifications. Charcoal tins are steady and in fair demand at 17s. basis and upwards according to tinning. Terne plates rule quiet at 24s. 6d. to 25s. for unassorted 28 x 20 I C substance. Coke wasters are in fair demand. Quotations:—C W 14 x 20, 13s. per box ; C W 28 x 20, 26s. to 26s. 3d. per box ; C W 14 x 18| 12s. 9d. per box; C W 20 x 10 18s. 6J. per box—all f.o.b, Wales, less 4 per cent.