1400 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 27, 1913. ________________________________________________________________________________________MW August shipment, but there is now practically nothing offering for July, as makers are well booked. The following table gives the chief exports during May, as well as in the corresponding month of last year:— May 1912. Tons. 71,007 14,982 10,616 30,327 12,933 12,108 Russia .................. Sweden.............................. Norway.................. Germany ................ Netherlands.............. Java .................... Dutch possessions in Indian Seas .................. .................. Belgium ................ France .................. Algeria.............*... French Somaliland........ Madagascar.............. Portugal ................ Madeira ................ Spain.................... Canary Islands .......... Italy.................... Austria-Hungary __........ Greece .................. Roumania................ Turkey (European) ...... „ (Asiatic).......... Egypt .................. Tunis_____.................. Chili .................... Brazil .................. Uruguay ................ Argentine Republic ...... Channel Islands.......... Gibraltar ................ Malta.................... Cape of Good Hope ...... Mauritius .............. Aden................................. British India ............ Ceylon .................. Hong Kong............................ Canada .................. West Africa (French) .... „ (Portuguese)... „ (British) .... Owing to large arrivals and wagon shortage, been rather irregular and unsteady, but at writing the prospects were rather better and the quotation of 22s. 3d. per ton was being firmly maintained. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). 5,404 20,805 529,101 42,626 5,602 72,509 7,491 99,532 53,174 475,136 5,941 32,610 30,732 6,376 14,883 170,903 9,574 122,096 158,704 65,722 306,388 6,789 26,433 25,893 6,128 5,209 10,451 11,121 11,347 6,108 4,354 27,885 5,541 May 1913. Tons. 55,370 18,869 1,650 24,960 7,797 6,107 7,012 38,452 560,829 56,658 5,728 59,646 13,430 97,197 61,256 394,303 11,396 21,518 19,719 4,686 5,897 125,367 • 14,825 64,982 105,647 40,630 212,485 4,223 16,867 21,020 18,121 12,196 26,155 7,004 12,764 10,181 7,662 pitwood 1 the time has > of 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) ........ held locally is that the machinery of the local works should be thoroughly modernised, and then the competition of the world may be faced without fear. Present prices are rather lower than last week, 14 x 20 cokes being quoted at 13s. 9d., and oil sizes 14s. l|d. per box. In tin bars the official price is £5 5s. for Siemens, and £5 2s. 6d. for Bessemers, but there is reason to believe that considerably below these figures is being accepted outside the area controlled by the association. Welsh pig iron is offering at 79s. to 80s., or 6d. less than last week. There has been a further decline in the price of scrap metals, the present prices being as follow :—New steel crop ends 65s., a drop of Is. 3d. as compared with last week, heavy wrought 52s. to 54s., heavy steel and cast 57s. 6d„ old steel rails 55s., light wrought 35s. to 37s. 6d. In the iron ore market there is little business doing, but prices quoted are 19s. 6d. to 20s. for best rubio, 18s. to 18s. 6d. for second qualities, and 19s. for Almeria ore. Swansea. GOAL The returns of the trade of the port were, on the whole, fairly satisfactory during the week. The coal trade was active but the patent fuel trade was not very brisk. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 91,151 tons. There was an average attendance on ’Change this morning but there was no appreciable improvement in the general condition of the anthracite coal market. Tonnage supplies were a little better and consequently Swansea Valley large prices were harder for immediate delivery. Red Vein large, however, was a very weak market. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were barely holding their own. Rubbly culm was weak, but duff for immediate loading was firmer. In the steam coal market there was a fairly good demand, and prices in this department remain unaltered, Prices f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Current prices. Last week’s prices. 20/ to 21/ 20/6 to 21/ 18/ to 19/ 19/6 16/9 to 17/6 18/ to 18/6 10/ to 10/6 10/9 to 11/ 9/6 to 10/ 9/6 8/ to 8/6 8/ to 8/3 7/ to 8/ 7/ to 7/6 18/6 to 19/ 19/6 to 20/ 15/ to 16/ 15/9 to 16/3 15/6 15/6 14/6 14/6 13/6 14/ 12/6 to 13/ 13/ 9/6 11/ 17/ to 17/6 17/9 16/9 to 17/ 17/3 to 17/6 16/ to 16/6 17/ to 17/3 15/6 to 16/ 16/6 20/ 20/ 17/6 to 18/ 18/ 17/ to 17/6 17/6 15/ to 15/6 15/6 12/ to 12/6 13/ 14/ 14/ to 14/6 11/6 12/6 7/6 to 8/ 8/ to 8/6 23/ 24/ 21/ 22/ 30/ 31/ 28/ 28/ to 29/ 24/ 24/ to 25/ 22/3 22/ Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) (net) ........ Secondary do........... Big Vein large (less 2J per cent.) _____......... Red Vein large do...... Machine - made cobbles (net) ................ Paris nuts (net) __..... French do. do.......... German do. do.......... Beans (net) ___.......... Machine-made large peas (net) ................ Do. fine peas (net) Rubbly culm (less 2j p.c.) Duff (net)............ Steam coals:— Best large (less 2| p.c.) Seconds do. Bunkers do. Small do. Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large (less 2|p.c.)____ Through - and - through (less 2| p.c.)________ Small (less 2| per cent.) Patent fuel do. Current prices. Last week’s prices. 22/ to 24/ 18/6 to 20/ 22/ to 24/ 18/6 to 20/ 16/ to 17/6 12/ to 13/ 16/ to 17/6 12/ to 13/ 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 16/6 to 19/ 22/ to 23/6 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 23/ to 24/ 16/6 to 19/ 11/6 to 13/6 11/6 to 13/6 7/6 to 8/ 5/3 to 5/6 7/6 to 8/ 5/3 to 5/6 19/6 to 21/ 16/ to 17/ 11/6 to 12/6 8/ to 9/6 19/6 to 21/ 16/ to 17/ 13/6 to 14/6 8/ to 9/6 17/ to 18/6 17/ to 18/6 15/ to 16/ 13/ to 14/ 20/ to 21/ 15/ to 16/6 13/9 to 15/ 20/ to 21/ IRON. Employment at the blast furnaces of Messrs. Baldwin and Co., Landore, was brisk during the past week, and the steel trade was much brighter, and in all departments renewed activity prevailed. The tinplate trade was fairly good. Four additional new mills have been added to the Glanamman tinplate works, near Pontardawe. The Upper Forest and Duffryn works, Morriston, were doing well, and several new mills at the latter works were started. The mills at the Worcester works were fully operating with the exception of two, which were idle for a few days for renewals. Trade continued satisfactory at the engineering and fitting shops. The shipments of tinplates last week were 76,747 boxes, receipts from works 125,183 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 419,052 boxes. Llanelly. THE SCOTCH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, June 26. Scotland.—Western District. GOAL. There has been a large decline in coal shipments at the* Scotch ports. The aggregate clearances in the past week amounted to 313,260 tons, which showed a decrease of 44,785 tons compared with those of the preceding week, and were 67,094 tons less than in the corresponding week of 1912. The principal falling away was at Clyde ports. At Glasgow 24,277 tons were shipped abroad, and 39,832 coastwise, the total of 64,109 tons comparing with 96,880 in the preceding week, and 84,495 in the corresponding week of last year. The decrease at the lower Clyde ports amounted to about 5,000 tons. There was despatched from Bowling 158 tons, Greenock 2,371. Ardrossan 2,714, Troon 6,767, Irvine 1,489, and Ayr 16,823—total 33,555 tons,, comparing with 38,692 in the preceding week, and 36,833 in the corresponding week of 1912. The Clyde shipments amounted altogether to 97,654 tons, compared with 133,572 in the preceding week and 121,328 in the corresponding; week of last year. The demand for coal has been quieter all round. Output has been large, and now that a slackening has occurred in the consumption, supplies are considerably larger than is required at the momenta There has accordingly been an easier tendency in prices. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal Ell......... Splint........ Treble nuts Double do. Single do. Current prices. 12/9 to 13/3 12/6 to 13/ 14/ to 14/6 12/6 to 13/ 12/6 to 13/ 12/ to 12/6 Last week's prices. 13/ to 13/6 13/ to 13/6 14f to 14/6 > 12/9 to 13/ 12/9 to 13/ 12/3 to 12/9 Steam coal is thus 3d. to 6d. per ton cheaper than recent figures* There is comparatively little change in splint coal. House coal for shipment has receded 6d. per ton, but there is less alteration in the charge to the domestic consumer. In fact, the retail prices in the larger centres of population have scarcely altered; but there is some talk of making a reduction at the beginning of the month. Nuts are generally 3d. per ton lower. Labour disputes have led to a . considerable diminution in the quantity of coal required for manufacturing purposes, and the extra quantity thrown on the market by the smaller quantity now required for household use ■ has tended to produce a heavy condition of . the market. Coal and patent fuel quotations are for net cash m 30 days. 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. There is no improvement in the tin-plate trade, although prospects are supposed to be brighter. Old orders ar? now being worked out, and there is very little remunerative business at present prices. The shipments last week amounted to 76,747 boxes, as against receipts from works 125,183 boxes, which brought stocks up again to 419,052 boxes, compared with 370,616 boxes the previous week, and 509,856 boxes at the corresponding date last year. Enquiries, however, are pretty brisk, but buyers are holding off in the expectation of lower prices. It is stated that these are1 already on an unremunerative level, and rather than con- cede the demands asked by buyers, several works are closing down. Since last week, the old Castle Works at Llanelly have suspended operations, thus rendering 28 mills idle, and other works at Pontardulais and Neath have ceased work, thus throwing many hundreds of men out of employment. It is estimated that at present 82 mills are idle, and that 3,000 men are without work. The cause of the depression is much discussed. It is admitted that the Balkan war has had a great deal to do with the present depression, but the greater cause is the extreme competi- tion of the mills in the United States, which to a great extent have captured the Canadian trade. This fact has been recognised by both masters and men, and a deputation of the latter has been despatched to the Continent with the object of learning the latest developments in machinery. The opinion GOAL. The coal market of the district is considerably weaker than last week, and prices have dropped considerably for all kinds of steam and bituminous qualities. A falling off was expected shortly, but not to the extent of the present slump. Some colliery people appear to be in a panic, and to keep pits going are offering coals at many shillings per ton lower than they quoted a few weeks back. It is really difficult to give a reason for the weakness, unless it is due to lack of tonnage and the large number of tinplate works which have shut down. Many of the manufacturing works who have contracts expiring at the end of the month are refusing to renew in the hope that prices will come still lower. Bunkers are down considerably, and are quite 4s. to 5s. per ton lower than they were some weeks back. There is no improvement to report in the anthracite market, and stocks of nearly all kinds are exceedingly heavy. Collieries are only working part time and the immediate prospects are not at all cheerful. Prices this week are.-— Prices f.o.b. IRON. The iron market has continued weak and irregular since last report, Cleveland warrants have been depressed, and there has been a large amount of iron offered for sale. Consumers have thus been supplying their wants mora freely than usual, with the result that large withdrawals have been made from stores. Business has been done since • last report in Cleveland warrants at 54s. 4|d. to 54s. cash, 55s. 7£d. one month, 55s. 6d. to 54s. 10|d. three months, and. 53s. lid. seven days. The reduced prices have had the effect of increasing the imports of Cleveland iron into Scotland. The arrivals at Grangemouth from Middlesbrough and district in the past week amounted to 11,926 tons, being 3,197 tons more than in the corresponding week of last year. Four of the Scotch furnaces have gone out of blast, and there are now 48 furnaces producing hsematite, 32 special ■ and ordinary brands, and five basic pig iron. The demand, for Scotch pig iron has been decidedly quiet, and prices are again 6d. to Is. lower. Govan and Monkland are quoted* f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 70s. 6d., Nos. 3, 69s.; Carnbroe, No. 1, 75s., No. 3, 71s.; Clyde. No. 1, 76s.. No. 3, 72s.; Gartsherrie, Summerlee, Calder and Shotts, Nos. 1, 76s. 6d., Nos. 3, 71s. 6d.; Langloan, No. 1, 77s. 6d., No. 3, 72s. 6d. p. Coltness, No. 1, 98s., No. 3, 80s.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, No. 1, 71s., No. 3, 70s.; Glengarnock at Ardrossan, No. 1, 76s. 6d., No. 3, 71s. 6d.; Dalmellington, at Ayr, No. 1, 72s., No. 3, 70s.; Carron, at Grangemouth, No. 1,77s., No. 3, 73s. per ton. Scotch haematite is now quoted 79s. for delivery at west of Scotland steelworks and Cumberland, haematite 73s. f.o.b. at Cumberland ports. The shipments of Scotch pig iron amounted to 4,438 tons (of which 2,473 tons went abroad and 1,965 coastwise), compared with 5,210 in the corresponding week of last year. It is reported that efforts are being made to prevent competition that might- have the effect of reducing prices between British and foreign producers of steel. Business is fairly active at the moment, but it is feared that a slacker time is approaching when prices might be cut without the possibility of a corresponding modification in the costs of production. There has been a little more enquiry in the case of manufactured iron, but specifications are still comparatively difficult toj obtain. Anthracite:— Best malting large.... Secondary do.......... Big Vein large........ Red Vein do........... Machine-made cobbles ... German nuts .......... French do............. Paris do.............. Machine-made beans ... Do peas........... Rubbly culm .......... Duff ................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... Through-and-through ... Small................. Bituminous small coal ... Current prices. 20/ to 22/ 18/ to 20/ 16/6 to 17/6 12/6 to 13/6 18/6 to 20/ 19/6 to 21/6 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ 19/ to 21/ 11/6 tc 13/ 7/ to 7/6 5/3 to 5/6 17/ to 18/ 11/ to 12/ 10/ toll/ 10/6 to 12/ Last week’s prices. 21/ to 23/ 19/ to 20/6 16/6 to 17/6 12/6 to 13/6 18/6 to 20/6 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ 22/ to 23/ 19/ to21/ 11/6 to 13/ 7/6 to 8/ 5/ — to 6/6 n/ 14/ 10/ 11/6 to 12/6 to 18/ to 15/ toll/ ________________ Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. There has been a scarcity of tonnage at some of the Firth of Forth ports, but a good clearance has nevertheless taken place. Coastwise business has been active, both for the north and the Thames. Shipments were at Granton 9,673 tons, Bo’ness 20.700, Grangemouth 35,519, and Leith 36,950 —total 102,842 tons, compared with 108,372 in the preceding" week, and 144,184 in the corresponding week of last year. The slackness in the inland departments of the trade has been telling on prices. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Best screened steam coal Secondary qualities Current prices. 13/3 to 13/9 11/9 to 12/3 Last week’s prices. 13/6 to 14/ 12/ to 12/6 Treble nuts 12/9 to 13/ 12/9 to 13/ Double do 12/3 to 12/6 12/3 to 12/6 Single do 11/9 to 12/3 12/ to 12/3 The figures are generally from 3d. to 6d. per ton lower than those recently current, with the exception of treble nuts,, . which have been in good demand at comparatively steady prices.