1206 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 6, 1913. THE COAL AID IRQ! TRADES. Thursday, June 5. ■orthumberland. Durham and Cleveland. levcastle-upon-Tyne. COAL. During last week 136,461 tons of coal and 1,091 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 12,087 tons of coal and a decrease of 510 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 57,040 tons of coal and 5,531 tons of coke, an increase of 4,702 tons of coal and 3,343 tons of coke. The Blyth shipments amounted to 98,534 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 13,458 tons. Quickly following on the abrogation of the Russian import duty on coal for railways and manufac- turing purposes comes an enquiry from the Russian State Railways for 80,000 tons of steams for delivery over the present season. Tenders are wanted immediately. Offers of 120,000 tons of Durham gas coals for delivery over 12 months to the Brussels gasworks have been forwarded. It would appear that the French State Railways' supple- mentary requirements of coking coal are to be drawn from Germany and South Wales. There is no news of any local allotment. The Norwegian State Railways’ enquiry, referred to last week, is for 70,000 tons of steams for July-December shipment to stipulated ports. The coal enquired for includes Shireoaks, Sherwood, Langwith, Kiveton Park, Lambton and Hetton. With a few exceptions it is to be delivered free on truck at ship’s side. Tenders have now been forwarded. The contract to supply the St. Gilles gasworks, Brussels, with 20,000 tons of Durham gas coals has been allotted to Newcastle merchants at about 17s. per ton c.i.f., delivery over 12 months. A direct sale of 30,000 tons of Blyth best steams has been made at 15s. 3d. f.o.b., shipment from June to end of September. Some 25,000 tons of good Durham unscreened bunkers have been sold for delivery over 1914 at 13s. 6d. f.o.b.; 15,000 tons of similar fuel for June-October delivery this year have been sold at 13s. 6d. also. A further quantity for delivery over the next half-year is said to have changed owners at the same price. The Kellner Ironworks, Christiania, are stated to have contracted for 20,000 tons of best Blyth steam smalls for July-August delivery at 8s. 3d. f.o.b. This is a second-hand sale. Forty thousand tons of Durham gas seconds for delivery over 12 months, commencing July, have been sold at 13s. f.o.b. There is reported to be an enquiry for screened coal from one of the French railways. The prompt coal market is deadly dull, there being practically nothing doing. Tonnage shortage and backward vessels are aggravating the situation, although collieries still report their ability to hold out fairly well. Most descrip- tions of fuel are considerably weaker. There may be some little spurt put on during the next two weeks in order to get necessary shipments made before the Newcastle race week causes another suspension of industry. F.o.b. quota- tions for prompt shipment have varied as follow during the week:—Best steams, Bly ths, are 3d. reduced; Tynes, 3d. lower; seconds, Bly ths, 3d. down; Tynes, 6d. cheaper; unscreened, ditto; smalls, Bly ths, Is. fallen; Tynes, Is. 6d. down; smithies, easier; gas, bests, 3d. to 6d. lass; seconds, Is. decreased; specials, 3d. down; unscreened bunkers, Durhams, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. lower; Northumbrians, 6d. to 9d. less; coking coal, Is. 3d. reduced; smalls, Is. to Is. 6d. cheaper. Other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. Later.—The Brussels gasworks are stated to have ordered 17,000 tons of Durham gas coals from a Newcastle firm at 17s. per ton c.i.f. News as to the balance of the contract is still awaited. Some 15,000 tons of best Blyth steams have been sold at 15s. per ton f.o.b., delivery this month. The Padua gasworks have contracted for 20,000 tons of Durham gas bests for June-February shipment. The price has not been divulged. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current Last week’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. Beat, Blyths (D.C.B.) 15/ 15/3 Do. Tynes (Bowers, &c.) 15/8 15/3 to 15/6 Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings 13/6 13/9 or West Hartleys) 13/6 14/ Unscreened 12/6 13/ Small, Blyths .. 9/ 1°/ Do. Tynes 8/ 9/6 Do. specials Other sorts:— 10/ 10/ Smithies Best gas coals (New 14/6 to 15/ 15/ Pelton or Holmside) ... Secondary gas coals 15/ to 15/3 15/6 (Pelaw Main or similar) 13/9 14/9 Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, 15/3 15/6 > Durhams Do. do. 13/6 to 14/ 14/9 to 15/6 Northumbrians 12/6 to 12/9 13/ to 13/6 Coking coals 14/ to 14/6 15/ to 15/6 Do. smalls 13/6 to 14/ 15/ House coals 16/‘to 17/ 16/ to 17/ Coke, foundry 27/ 27/ Do. blast-furnace 24/ 24/ Do. gas 18/ to 18/6 18/ to 18/6 Sunderland. GOAL. The exports from Sunderland last week amounted to 100,385 tons of coal, and 310 tons of coke, as compared with 84,770 tons of coal and 355 tons of coke for the correspond- ing period of last year, being an increase of 15,615 tons of coal, and a decrease of 45 tons of coke. The coal market is weak, and values for all descriptions of fuel are easier. There is a restricted demand, with ample supplies, and terms generally easier; business is difficult to effect, buyers holding off, especially for June shipment, in the hopes of getting on still cheaper. The St. Gilles (Brussels) gas works are stated to have concluded contracts for 20,000 tons of Durham seconds on the basis of 17s. c.i.f. A contract has been placed for 25,000 tons of ordinary Durham bunkers delivery over next year at 13s. 6d., also one for 15,000 tons of similar quality at 13s. 6d. delivery June to October this year. Tenders for supplying the Brussels gas works with 120,000 tons have been sent in, a contract for 40,000 tons second Durham gas at 13s. f.o.b. delivery over 12 months from July is reported, and the Prussian State Railways are inviting offers of 80,000 tons of steams for shipment during the season. Quotations are approxi- mately as follows:— Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. Current Last week’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals ... 15/9 15/9 Secondary do. 14/3 14/9 House coals:— Best house coals 17/6 to 18/ 18/ Ordinary do 16/6 to 17/ 17/ Other sorts:— Lambton screened 15/6 16/ South Hetton do 15/3 14/3 15/9 Lambton unscreened 15/ South Hetton do 14/3 16/ Do. treble nuts 16/6 16/9 Coking coals unscreened... 14/9 15/3 D>. smalls 14/6 15/ Smithies 14/6 14/9 Peas and nuts 17/6 18/ Best bunkers 14/6 15/6 Ordinary bunkers 14/3 14/6 to 14/9 Coke:— Foundry coke 26/6 28/ Blast-furnace coke (dlvrd. Teesside furnaces) 25/ 25/ Gas coke 17/6 17/6 There is a shortage of tonnage offering outwards, with the result that the freight market is firm all round. Recent fixtures include:—Coasting : London 3s. 6d., Rotterdam 3s. 4|d., Rouen 4s. 10|d., Hamburg 3s. 6d. Bay: Bordeaux 5s. 9d., Bilbao 7s. 6d., Lisbon 7s. 10|d. Baltic: Cronstadt 5s. 6d., Stockholm 4s. 10|d., Norrkoping 5s., Riga 5s., Swinemunde 5s., Pillau 4s. 10|d. Mediterranean: Genoa 9s. 9d., Algiers 9s., Marseilles 9s. 3d., Torto Ferrajo 9s. 6d., Piraeus 10s. 6d., large boat, small Ils. 3d., Trieste 10s. 6d., and Las Palmas 9s. 3d. Middleibrough-on-Teea. COAL. Fuel prices show a downward movement, but buyers are not eager to operate, and collieries, being for the most part well placed (so far as contracts are concerned), are not pressing sales. Best Durham gas coal is quoted 15s. 6d. and second kinds 14s. 6d. to 14s. 9d. Demand for bunker coal is met by a very full supply, and ordinary Durhams range from 13s. 9d. f.o.b. to 14s. 3d. Bests stand at 15s. and special sorts at 16s. Sellers of household coal show reluctance to give way, notwithstanding the quiet season of the year, and they quote 16s. 6d. to 17s. Coking coal is easier. About 14s. 9d. is the figure for both unscreened and smalls. The expected fall in coke has set in. Sellers now offer medium blastfurnace qualities at 21s. 6d. to 22s. 6d. delivered at Tees- side works, and at least one sale has been made at as low as 21s. Foundry coke for shipment is about 26s. 6d. f.o.b. Gashouse coke is on sale at 17s. 6d. IRON. Shipments from the Tees for the month of May were rather disappointing. Those of pig totalled 96,874 tons, as compared with 104,213 tons for the previous month and 112,723 tons for May of last year. Of the pig shipped last month 59,788 tons went abroad and 27,086 tons coastwise, Scotland, as usual, being the largest receiver, taking 28,300 tons, whilst France received 11,158 tons, Sweden 8,438 tons, Germany 8,272 tons, Belgium 6,508 tons, Italy 5,904 tons, the United States 4,535 tons, Japan 4,123 tons, Wales 4,072 tons, and Norway 3,440 tons. Clearances of manufac- tured iron last month were returned at 16,814 tons and the shipments of steel at 56,405 tons. Once more India was the largest purchaser of both manufactured iron and steel, importing 4,994 tons of the former and 16,099 tons of the latter. Other principal importers of steel were the Argen- tine 8,514 tons, Canada 6,055 tons, Victoria 4,326 tons, and Portuguese East Africa 3,774 tons. A rapid fall in values of Cleveland pig has followed the end of the “ squeeze” in warrants; so much so that market rates are now below cost of production. Cost of make, however, is also being reduced. No. 3 g.m.b. Cleveland pig is 60s. f.o.b, No. 1 is 62s. 6d., No. 4 foundry 59s. 6d., No. 4 forge 59s., and mottled and white iron each 62s. 6d.—all for early delivery. There is very little passing in east coast haematite, pig and Nos. 1, 2 and 3 stand at 79s. for both early and forward delivery. Foreign ore is steady on the basis of 20s. ex-ship Tees for best rubio. There is little new to report concerning manufactured iron and steel. Orders are scarce, but producers are kept well employed on running contracts. Prices are easy, but the only quotable change is a fall of 5s. in iron ship plates, the quotation for which now stands at £7 15s. South-West Lancashire. COAL. The summer weather is quietening down the household trade, but as it would appear that most of the country wharves are devoid of stock, there will be a fair amount of delivery during the summer for the purpose of replenishing this. There is not much change to report as regards shipping, though the steam coal market, if anything, is slightly easier. Bunkering requirements, both on contract and open sale account, are well up to the average of recent weeks, but supplies are now rather more readily available, partly owing to the lessening household demand which sets free more of the qualities used for both steam and house purposes. At the same time there is not much surplus fuel, and prices for ordinary qualities of screened Lanca- shire steam coals average about 13s. 9d. to 14s., f.o.b., and the best grades 14s. 3d. to 14s. 6d., f.o.b. In the coastwise and cross channel household trade a fair number of ship- ments continue to be made. Prices, generally, are firmly held to. With full time still being worked at all the pits, and the mills only upon their summer consumption, slack is rather more easily obtained. Otherwise there is no change in the situation. The gas market is rapidly approaching completion, enquiries having been asked for and adjudicated upon unusually early this season, and tenders which have- been uniformly at Is. per ton upwards are being freely accepted. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s House coal:— prices. prices. Best ... 16/3 16/3 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 16/9 to 17/ 16/9 to 17/ Medium 14/6 14/6 Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) 15/3 to 15/6 15/3 to 15/6 Kitchen 12/3 12/3 Common (f.o.b. Garston, net) 13/9 to 14/6 13/9 to 14/6; Screened forge coal Best screened steam coal 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ (f.o.b.) 13/9 to 14/6 14/ to 14/6 Best slack 10/6 10/6 Secondary slack 9/9 9/9 Common do 9/3 9/3 South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. The attendance on Tuesday on the Manchester Coal Exchange was good. The demand for house coal is at summer level, but prices are very firm. Furnace coal is brisk, as well as shipping coal, and prices are steady. The demand for slack is somewhat affected locally in the Oldham, district by a partial stoppage, and generally in consequence- of steaming in the mills not now being necessary. Prices, remain unchanged. Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). Current Last week’s- House coal:— prices. prices. Best 16/6 to 17/ 16/6 to 17/ Medium 15/3 to 16/ 15/3 to 16/ Common 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ Furnace coal 12/6 12/6 Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) 14/ 14/ Best slack 10/ to 10/6 10/ to 10/6 Common slack 9/ to 9/6 9/ to 9/6 IRON. The squeeze in warrants being now off, business in pig iron may once more be resumed. There was a good attendance in Manchester on Tuesday, and rather more- enquiry. Prices of finished material are without alteration,, and makers are all fairly busy. Steelworks are well employed on billets and bars, but prices are suffering from. Continental billets and bars which are being offered at low rates. Wagon builders are full of work. Engineers, both heavy and textile, are working full time. Foundries are also well employed. Yorkshire and Derbyshire^ Leeds. COAL. The attendance at the Yorkshire Coal Exchange onr Tuesday was about an average one, although there was a. larger assembly than usual of exporters from Hull and Grimsby. Business on the whole was on the quiet side, especially in house coal. It was stated that the pits had not worked quite full time this week, and that stocks of house coal in colliery sidings had begun to accumulate. Empty wagons are very plentiful, and the movement of traffic is satisfactory. House Coal.—There is scarcely anything doing as regards the current demand for house coal, but forward contracts- continue to be booked in fairly large numbers at the advance of Is. per ton. Very little beyond contract quantities is being taken by the London and south coast merchants, although one or two stocking orders have been placed this week for delivery during June, July and August. There is a fair enquiry for the firmer samples of Silkstone house coal for stocking at the depots, and it is stated that a big parcel has been sold this week at 13s. per ton at the pit. In the coastwise trade the demand is almost entirely on the cheaper grades, and a fair quantity of Hartleys ie being shipped for the south coast and Thames wharves. Freights are about as last week. In the West Riding industrial centres merchants are very quiet. Pit prices are officially unchanged, but concessions equal to wagon hire are frequently met with. Pit prices :—Haigh Moor selected, 18s. to 19s., Wallsend and London best, 17s. to 18s.; Silkstone best, 16s. to 17s.; Silkstone house, 15s. to 16s. other sorts, 13s. to 14s. 6d. House coal:— Prices at pit (London) : Haigh Moor selected ... Wallsend& London best Silkstone best ........ Do. house ........ House nuts .......... Prices f.o.b. Hull : Haigh Moor best...... Silk stone best ..... Do. house ........ Other qualities...... Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal ... Gas nuts ............ Unscreened gas coal ... Other sorts :— Prices at pit: Washed nuts ......... Large double-screened engine nuts ......... Small nuts .......... Rough unscreened engine coal ......... Best rough slacks ... Small do. ........... Coking smalls ....... Coke:— Price at ovens: Furnace coke ........ Current Last week’s prices. prices. 14/ 14/ 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 11/ to 11/9 11/3 to 11/9 16/6 to 17/3 16/9 to 17/3 16/ to 16/9 16/3 to 16/9 15/ to 16/ 15/ to 16/ 13/6 to 14/6 13/6 to 14/6 12/3 to 12/9 12/3 to 1^/9 11/6 to 12/6 11/6 to 12/6 10/9 to 11/3 10/9 to 11/3 12/ to 12/6 12/ to 12/6 11/ to 11/9 11/ to 11/9 11/ toll/6 11/ toll/6 11/ toll/6 11/ toll/6 9/3 to 9/9 9/3 to 9/9 8/3 to 8/9 8/3 to 8/9 8/6 to 9/ 8/6 to 9/ 16/to 16/6 16/6 to 17/