May 22, 1914. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 1135 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, May 21. Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c, Newport. COAL. A continued dearth of tonnage has considerably hampered business in the steam coal market for the past week. Ton- nage arrivals have been far from satisfactory, and while enquiries in the freight market are fairly numerous, and show plenty of promise for future business, chartering has been undoubtedly slow, shipowners firmly holding out for their freights, being strengthened by the unabated Spanish strike. Even the impending holidays have not forced buyers upon the market, and at present they show little inclination to book at current figures. For early June loading sellers profess to be quite firm, but in reality there is little business passing. Smalls and large show on the week a rather easier tone for all but the very best qualities, which remain unchanged. The patent fuel trade is busy, but house coals meet with a much easier demand, while coke, too, is a very dragging market. Pitwood is in good request, supplies are rather short, and values have improved to about 22s. for good French fir ex. ship. Some considerable accretion of business will have to come on the market before any pro- nounced stiffening in values will be seen, and this can hardly be expected before the Whitsuntide recess. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days, less 2i per cent. tonnage question has been overcome, there is no question that a number of orders which are now being withheld, will be forthcoming. There is no new contract business on the market, and the tenders still outstanding have yet to be decided. Shipments from Cardiff last week amounted to 388,705 tons, compared with 230,839 tons in the correspond- ing period of last year, or an increase of 157,866 tons. At Newport there was an increase of 41,691 tons; at Swansea an increase of 18,307 tons, while at Port Talbot the exports showed a decrease of 14,290 tons. The customs returns for the month of April, which are just to hand, show that the shipments from Cardiff during April amounted to 1,524,846 tons compared with 1,759,274 tons in the corresponding month of last year, or a decrease of nearly a quarter of a million tons. There were also large decreases at the other Welsh ports, the shipments from Newport being 361,758 tons, as against 434,092 tons; from Swansea 203,284 tons, com- pared with 295,037 tons, and from Port Talbot 140,813 tons, against 202,489 tons in April, 1913. The following table shows quantities of coal exported from the principal ports of the Bristol Channel to the chief foreign countries and British possessions during the month of April compared with the corresponding month of last year. Steam coals:— Best Black Vein large... Western-valleys, ordin’y 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 ......... IL’st week’s Last year’s prices. 17/3-17/6 16/9-17/ i 16/ -16/6 15/ -15/6 : 8/6- 9/ l 8/ - 8/9 ‘ 7/6- 7/9 8/9 Current prices. 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/3 15/ -15/6 8/3- 8/6 8/ - 8/3 7/6- 7/9 8/6 12/3-12/9 i 12/6-12/9 13/ -13/3 j 13/ -13/6 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/6-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/' 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ prices. 19/6-19/9 19/ -19/3 18/ -18/3 17/ -17/6 13/9-14/ 12/6-13/ 12/ -12/3 14/ 16/ -16/3 15/3-15/9 18/9-19/ 17/6-18/ 21/ -23/ 27/ -28/ 29/ -31/ Cardiff. COAL. It is difficult to describe the position of the coal trade in this district. The whole situation hangs on the tonnage question. At present the Italian and Spanish strikes are being felt severely. The consequence is that tonnage has become very scarce, and rates have advanced considerably. In addition to this, owners are showing a disinclination to charter for Spanish ports. These difficulties have had a material effect on freights, and within the last few days a boat chartered to Barcelona showed an advance of 2s. com- pared with the rates which were ruling a few days ago. In consequence of the shortage of tonnage, collieries are becoming very anxious for the future, especially as the amount of chartering during the last few weeks has been very considerably under the average. Last week the fixtures reported were only 298,230 tons, compared with 219,270 tons in the previous six days, and this is considered to be a long w’ay below the normal requirements of the trade. In fact, it is believed that unless there is a marked improvement in the near future, there will be a number of stoppages on account of shortage of wagons. Stocks are increasing rapidly. The result is that even at the present time merchants who have ready boats are in a position to obtain concessions from the prices quoted. On the other hand, although there is a great stringency with regard to prompt loading, colliery salesmen regard the present position as only of a temporary character, and they are quoting more firmly for forward business. Once the difficulty with regard to the 1 Bussia April 1914. Tons. 17,997 . April 1913. Tons. 32,057 Sweden 8,886 .. .. 17,800 Norway 8,283 .. 12,643 Germany 38,785 .. 41,924 Netherlands 2,795 .. >. 5,717 Other Dutch possessions in the Indian Seas 5,895 .. Belgium 27,046 .. .. 45,987 France 545,562 .. 628,706 Algeria 35,746 .. .. 64,750 French Somaliland — 5,885 Portugal 58,999 ,. 66,907 Madeira 14,320 .. ,. 14,168 Spain 99,410 .. 111,843 Canary Islands , 52,113 .. .. 73,237 Italy 402,270 >. 423,303 Austria-Hungary 17,229 .. ,. 26,296 Greece 35,627 37,024 Bulgaria 9,489 .. — Boumania 29,348 .. .. 16,644 Turkey (European) 13,485 ., 6,977 „ (Asiatic) 13,871 .. 1,077 Egypt 180,705 ., .. 233,178 Tunis 14,764 .. 19,350 Chile 28,991 . .. 58,394 Brazil 77,915 .. 211,644 Uruguay 44,925 . .. 60,978 Argentine Bepublic 281,473 . .. 291,198 Channel Islands 7,149 . 6,026 Gibraltar 37,912 . .. 24,271 Malta and Gozo 20,015 . 54,836 Cape of Good Hope 4,298 . 5,081 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 7,292 . — Aden and Dependencies 10,761 . 9,461 British India 13,292 . 5,698 Straits Settlements and Dependencies (including Labuan) , 5,065 .. 751 Ceylon and Dependencies... 32,501 .. 11,259 Hong Kong 5,893 . 7,361 Falkland Islands — 5,105 West Africa (French) 7,115 .. 15,663 „ (Portuguese)... 8,313 . .. 33,708 „ (British) 10,651 . .. 12,449 in the previous week, and 430,269 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Although the price of block tin has receded to a fraction under £150 per ton, the figures realised for the finished product are by no means satisfactory. Bessemer standard cokes are offering at 12s. 6d. to 12s. 9d., and oil sizes at 13s. and 18s. 3d. respectively. In the galvanised sheet trade there is still a great dearth of new business, and pro- spects are anything but promising; 24 gauge corrugateds are selling on the basis of £10 15s. to £11 per ton, and even at these prices foreign buyers are holding off the market. In addition to the steel works at Ebbw Vale, which we reported as having been closed down last week, the galvanising mills have also ceased operations, and an additional 500 men have been thrown out of employment. Welsh pig iron is down to 63s. to 63s. 6d. f.o.t., and there is very little business even at this figure. The association for tin plate bars is still maintained. There is no alteration in the steel rail industry. Iron ore is still a weak market, best Bubio being 17s. to 17s. 3d., second quality 16s., and Almeria 16s. to 16s. 6d. In scrap metals there has been something in the nature of a slump, and there is practically no business doing. Heavy wrought is 49s., cast 52s. 6d., steel scrap 49s., double-headed steel rails 55s.; iron ditto, 62s. 6d., mixed sections 50s., and new steel crop ends 54s. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port was active during the past w'eek. The coal trade continued to display improvement, but the patent fuel exports were much under the usual quantity. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 95,650 tons. A good attendance assembled on ’Change, but. there was no improvement to report in the general condition of the anthracite coal market. There was a good demand for Swansea Valley large, but Bed Vein large was plentiful at easy figures. The recent dulness in machine-made nuts and cobbles was again in evidence. Bubbly culm maintained its firm position. Duff was not quite so strong. In the steam coal market smalls moved off strongly, but other varieties were without movement. Prices of coal f.o.b. Swansea (cash in 30 days). Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ‘ Current prices. 19/3-19/6 18/9-19/ 17/6-17/9 11/ 10/6-10/9 8/6- 8/9 7/ - 8/ 17/6-18/6 15/9-16/6 16/ 15/ 14/ -14/3 13/ -13/3 11/6-11/9 17/3 16/9 16/ -16/3 15/6-16/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 -18/ 15/6 12/ -12/6 13/9-14/ 11/6-11/9 9/9 ‘ 21/ 19/6-20/ 28'/ -29/ 22/ -25/ 19/ 21/6 L’st week’s prices. 19/3-19/9 18/9-19/ 17/9-17/lOJ 10/9-11/ 10/6 9/ - 9/3 7/ - 8/ 17/6-18/6 16/-16/9 16/ 15/ 14/9-15/ 13/9-14/ 11/6-11/9 17/6-17/9 '17/3 16/9 15/ -16/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6-18/ 15/3-15/6 12/ -12/6 14/ 12/ 9/6-10/ 21/ 19/ -19/6 27/ -29/ 22/ -25/ 18/ -20/ 19/R-20/ Last year’s prices. 22/6-23/ 22/ 20/6 14/9-15/ 14/6 13/9-14/ 13/ -13/6 21/6-22/ 19/ -19/6 17/6 16/6 16/ 15/ 15/6 20/ -20/3 19/6-19/9 18/9-19/ 17/9-18/ 19/6 .17/6 18/6 17/3 16/ 17/3-17/6 15/9 13/6-13/9 26/ 23/ -25/ 32/ 29/ -30/ 25/ 91 1 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 Bhondda— Bituminous large Through-and-through Small No. 2 Bhondda— Large Through-and-through Small Best patent fuel Seconds Special foundry coke Ordinary do. Furnace coke Pitwood (ex-ship) 1 1 1 1 Coal and patent fuel quotations are for cash in 30 days, less 2J per cent. Bhondda bituminous coals at pithead are roughly Is. 3d. per ton less. All pithead prices are usually net. Coke is net f.o.b. With regard to current prices of best Admiralties it may be said that 19s. 3d. to 19s. 6d. represents the true state of the market, although in several instances 19s. 9d. was being demanded and being obtained. Superior seconds realise 18s. 9d. to 19s., and ordinary qualities are 17s. 6d. to 17sl 9d., although business has been reported as low as 17s. 3d. There has also been considerable relaxation in the stringency of the market with regard to Monmouthshire coals, and, now that the Ebbw Vale strike has been settled, there has been a greater output and prices have shown an easier tendency, and best Black Veins are 17s. 3d., Western Valleys 16s. 9d., and the best of the Easterns 16s. to 16s. 3d., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. It is reported that, in some instances, collieries are short of orders. There has been a diminished demand for small coals, and prices are distinctly easier than they were a fortnight ago. Best bunkers are offering at Ils., ordinary qualities at 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d., and cargo sorts 8s. 6d. to 8s. 9d. In Bhondda bituminous coals there is practically no change, No. 3 large still commanding 17s. 6d. to 18s.,through qualities 15s. 6d., and small 12s. to 12s. 6d. No. 2 varieties are a shade easier, large realising 13s. 9d. to 14s., through 11s. 6d. to Ils. 9d., and small 9s. 9d. Shipments of patent fuel last week amounted to 37,678 tons, of which the Crown Company despatched 18,756, other local makers 3,500 tons, and Swansea 15,422 tons. Best brands still command 21s. for shipment throughout the year, and second grades are firmly quoted at 19s. 6d. to 20s. The coke market is practically unchanged, and it is reported that supplies are scarce. Prices show little variation, special foundry coke being 28s. to 29s., ordinary 22s. to 25s., and furnace 19s. Owing to the. shortage of supplies, pitwood has advanced about 2s. per ton, and is now firmly held at 21s. 6d. The Cardiff Journal of Commerce publishes a table showing the average declared price of coal shipped during the month of March, from which we extract the following particulars :— Anthracite:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 21/ -23/ 21/ -23/! 18/9-20/ 22/ -24/ Secondary do. 17/ -18/ 19/ -20/ Big Vein large (less 21 16/6-17/ per cent.) 16/ -17/ 17/ -19/ 12/6-14/6 Bed Vein large do. ... ! 13/ -14/ 13/ -14/ Machine-made cobbles (net) i21/ -23/ 21/ -23/ 22/ -23/6 Paris nuts (net) I ;22/ -24/ 23/ -24/ French do. do 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 23/ -24/ German do. do 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 23/ -24/ Beans (net) 16/ -17/6 16/ -17/6 16/6-19/6 Machine - made large peas (net) 11/ -12/ U/ -12/ 11/3-13/ Do. fine peas (net) Bubbly culm(less p.c.) — — — ; 6/-6/6 6/ - 6/6 9/6- 9/9 Duff (net) i 4/6- 4/9 4/6- 4/9 6/ - 6/6 Steam coals:— 19/6-21/ Best large (less 2.1 p.c.) 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ Seconds do. : 13/6-15/6 13/6-15/6 16/3-17/ Bunkers do. 11/ -12/6 11/ -12/6 15/6-16/ Small do. 8/ -9/ 8/ - 9/ 13/6-15/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Bhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 18/ -18/6 18/ -18/6 19/ -20/ Through-and-through (less 21 p.c.) -— — 16/6-17/6 Small (less 21 p.c.) ... ; 11/ -12/ n/ -12J, 14/9-16/ Patent fuel do ‘ 17/ -17/6 117/ -17/6 21/ -22/6 Cardiff. Newport. Port Talbot. Swansea. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Large steam 17 9 . .. 16 9 .. . 16 7 . ...15 7 Through-and-through 13 10 . .. 13 1 .. . 11 6 ... 11 0 Small 9 6 . .. 10 9 .. . 8 5 . ... 10 6 Large anthracite 26 10 . .. 22 1 .. . 15 5 . ... 18 8 Household 16 5 . — . 13 0 . — In March last year the figures were :— Cardiff. Newport, Swansea. ± cLIDOl. 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 .. IRON. The output of tin plates last week once again exceeded the shipments, the quantity exported being 97,972 boxes, com- pared with 118,291 boxes received from works, and thus leaving 268,161 boxes in stock, compared with 247,842 boxes IRON. Local trade conditions were unchanged last week. There was an increase in the production of tin-plates compared with the previous week, and practically all the works in the district were operating, but it was feared that unless the market showed speedy improvement, some would shortly have to close down. There was an improvement in the steel producing departments. Employment was regular in the weldless tube trade, and the iron foundries generally were doing quite as well as for some time past. The shipments of tin-plates last week were 97,972 boxes, receipts from works 118,291 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 268,161 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The depression in the coal trade of this district at the moment show no sign of improvement, and for nearly all classes the demand is worse than it has been for a consider- able time. The slump is not only confined to qualities which are being used in the immediate district, but coals which usually are being sent to all parts of the country have shown a big falling off in demand. Prices are most unsatisfactory, and are down as low as they can very well come. It was not thought some time ago, when the colliery people were concerned at the higher working costs caused by new legislation, that such prices would be possible again, but the question now being asked is whether they will get back to the old position again. The anthracite market has fallen off badly, and the only kinds with any firmness are culm and duff. Machine-made kinds show no improvement at all. The manufacturing coals are going none too well, but the coming holidays will tend to improve matters for the next week or two. Prices this week are :— Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big’ Vein large...... Bed Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.......... French do............ Paris do............. Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff ................ Other sorts:— Current prices. {20/ -22/ 18/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 13/ -13/6 19/ -21/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 11/ -12/ 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 16/ -17/ 13/ -13/6 19/ -21/6 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 11/6-12/6 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ prices. 22/ -23/ 20/ -21/ 17/ -18/ 13/6-14/ 18/6-20/ 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 22/ -24/6 19/ -21/ 11/3-13/ 9/ - 9/6 6/ — 6/6 Large steam coal..... 16/ -17/ Through-and-thr ough... 11 /6-121 Small ............... 9/ -10/ Bituminous small coal... 11/ -11/6 16/ -17/ 11/6-12/ 9/ -10/ 11/ -11/6 18/ -18/6 15/ -16/ 10/6-11/6 13/6-14/6