■. i . : ' ’ ' ' ' ■ V ( • ■ ■ . ' ■ ' - ■ ' • ■ . ' ■ •• I ! ' • ■ -r ■ ‘ ' /• ■ ' ■■■ ' ' . • • " :• ' ■ ' ■ / THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN |F AND JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Vol. CIX. FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1915. 4 No. 2818. The Coal Trade of 1914. NORTHUMBERLAND. The coal trade of Northumberland has had its full share of trial and tribulation during the year that has 7 7 gone, and it says .much for the inherent vitality of the / industry and the plucky way in which difficulties created by the war has been tackled by coalowners, miners, and shippers alike, that there is any coal trade left to write about. The first seven months of the year were “ not so bad.” It was manifest to all, of course, that all traces of the “ boom ” had disappeared, and that the year would be, comparatively tb its immediate predecessors, a lean one. Nevertheless, but for the European conflict, the pilots of the industry would have “ weathered the storm ” in a very creditable fashion. The year opened with the market in a fairly satis- factory position. Colliery stems were strong, and were waxing stronger, and the first month was marked by a good deal of contracting at what were regarded as reasonably profitable figures. It was, however, early evident that Westphalia and Silesia were going to be very keen competitors for business. In February, it was announced that the Metropolitan gas companies had arranged for 250,000 tons of Westphalian coals ; in March, Westphalia wedged its way into the Swedish State Railways contracts to the tune of 144,000 tons, as against only 5,000 tons for the previous year, whilst the order for 30,000 tons of steams for the Libau Steelworks went in the same direction. That same month, the Amsterdam Gasworks contract was annexed by' the Germans, as was also the order for 130,000 tons of gas coal for the Rotterdam Gasworks, 20,000 tons of gas seconds for a small inland Dutch gasworks, and 80,000 tons of steams for the mechanical department of the compared with those for the seven months January-July. (It is not possible, at the time of writing, to give the figures for the completed year.) During the seven months ended July 31, the total shipments of coal from the Tyne amounted to 11,963,938 tons, an increase of 502,938 tons when compared with the shipments for the corresponding seven months of 1913 ; those for the 11 months ended November 30 amounted to 16,125,616 tons, a decrease of 2,157,735 tons when compared with the corresponding period of 1913. Therefore, whilst everything up to the end of July indicated that the year’s business would show at all events some sub- stantial improvement in volume of shipments, as compared with those of the previous year, it was manifest, by the end of November, that there would be a very considerable deficit. The explanation of this fact is very simple. Continental countries were our best customers for fuel. Business with many of these was absolutely barred by hostilities. There have been, for instance,no more shipments to Germany or Austria, and comparatively little to Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sw« den and Russia. As will be seen from the list of prices which follows, there has been no compensation to the coalowner, in the shape of higher prices for his commodities, for the reduced amount of trading which has been done by him. He has been, in fact, exceedingly hard hit, as, of course, have all those whose prosperity depends upon the regular working of the pits. It would not be wise to prophesy as to the course of the coal trade during 1915. All that can be said with safety is that the final month of the past year showed a degree of activity in forward business which had earlier been lacking. That activity portends greater regularity elsewhere throughout this review, save where otherwise specified):— January.—15,000 tons best Blyths, shipment oyer the Baltic season, at 13s. 6d. ; 70,000 tons ditto, shipment over Baltic season to Russian Marine, at 13s. 6d.; quantity Tyne primes for end February-early March loading at 14s.; 6,000 tons best Blyth smalls at Ils. 10d., c.i.f., and 10,000 tons Tyne special smalls, at 12s. 6d., c.i.f., together with 29,000 tons of Scottish nuts at 14s. Id., c.i.f., shipment over season to Stockholm Electric Works; 20,000 tons best Blyths for February delivery at 13s. 6d. February.—20,000 tons best Blyths, shipment over year, at 13s., second-hand sale; 30,000 tons, February- April delivery to Russian Baltic railways, contract placed with Russian merchants ; 13,500 tons best Blyths, April-December shipment, at 13s.; considerable quantity Broomhill bests, similar shipment, same price; quantity best Blyths, mid-March shipment, at 13s. 6d., second-hand sale. March.—182,500 tons Northumberland and Durham coals, delivery to Swedish State railways up to end of year, at 17s. 2d. per ton, c.i.f. Stockholm, for Lambtons, and proportionate prices for other qualities; 12,000 tons Blyth smalls, shipment over year, at 7s.3d.; 10,000 ton^ ditto, similar delivery, at 7s.; a quantity of Tyne best smalls for shipment to end September at 7s. 6d.; quantities of best Blyths for delivery over Baltic season at 13s. 3d., with smalls for delivery to end of year at 7s.; 30,000 tons Blyth smalls, delivery to Hamburg Cement Works over the year, at 9s. 4^d., c.i.f. ; 60,000 tons Tyne seconds for Woolwich Arsenal and Enfield Small Arms Factory over the year, price not stated; con- siderable direct sales of best Blyths for shipment over the Baltic season at 13s. 3d., and for delivery up to the end of the,year at 13s.; similar coal for April-May-June shipment at 13s. 3d., and for MayrSeptember shipment at 13s. 3d. for large, and 7s. 3d. for smalls ; 5,000 tons Broomhill West Hartleys, delivery to Norwegian State Table A. Jan. Feb, March. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Best steams, Blyths (DiC.B.) 13/6—14/6 13/3—14' 13/3-15/ 13/6—15/ 13/9—15/ 14/ —14/6 14/9—15/6 13/ —15.3 13/ —13/6 13/ —13/3 13/ 13/ —13/3 ,, ,, Tynes (Bowers, &c.) 14/ —14/6 13/ —14/ 13/ -15/ 13/9—15/ 13/6—14,3 13/6—13/9 13/9—15/ 13/6—15/ 11/ -12/ 12,6—13/6 11/ —11/6 12/6 12/ —12/6 10/9-11/ 12' ——12 6 Second steams, Blyths 11/9—12/6 11/6-12/ 11/ —14/ 12/ -14/ 12/ . 12/ 12/ H/ 10/9—11/ ,, „ Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) 12/ —12/6 11/6—12/ 11/ -14/ 12/ —14/ 12/ -12/6 12/ —12'6 12/ —12/6 11/ —12/ 11/ —11/6 11/ -11/6 11/ —11/3 11 —11/6 U nscreened steams 11/ -12/ 10/6—12/ 10/ -10/9 11/ —11/9 11/ —11/6 10/6—11/6 10/6—11.6 10/6—12/ 10/6-12/ 10/6—11/6 10/ —11/ 10/ —10/6 Steam smalls, Blyths 6/9— 7/ 6/9- 7/ ' 6/9—10/ 7/6-10/ 8/ — 8'9 7/ — 7/9 8/ — 8/6 8/3— 9/ 8'6— 9/6 9/ -10/ 8/ 9/ 8/3— 8/6 8/ — 8/6 7 9— 8/3 }J Tynes 6/ — 6/5 63 6/3— 7/6 6 6- 7,6 8/ —10/ 7/3— 8/ ' 8/ 8/ —10/ 8/ — 8/6 7/6— 8/ 7/6 7/ — 7/6 9/ — 9 6 ,, „ specials 7/ — 8/ . 7/6—7,9 7 6—10/ 8/6— 9/ 8.6— 9/6 9/ —11/ 9/ —11/ 9/ — 9/6 9/6 Smithies 12 6—14/ 12/ —13/ 13/3—13/9 12 —14/ 13/ —14/ 12/6—13/ 13/3—13/9 12/6—13/ 12/6 12/ -13/ 11/3—12/ 11/ —11 6 10/6—10/9 10/ —10/6 Gas bests (New Pelton or Holmside) 13/3—15/ 13/3—14/6 13/9—14'6 13/ —13/4J 13 —18/3 11/6—13/3 12/6—13/ 12/3—12/6 12/6 ,12/6 ,, seconds (Pelaw Main or similar) 12 6—13/6 11/9—12/6 11/9—14/ 12/6—14/ ■ 12 3—13/ 12/ —12/6 11/9—12/3 11/ -12/ 11/ —11/6 11/ —11,6 10/9—11/3 10 9 11/ ,, specials 13/6—15/6 13/6—14/ 11/71-13/ 13/6—16/ 12/ —14/6 14/ —15/ 13/6—14/ 13/6—14/ 13/6—13/9 12/ —13/9 12/6—13/ 12/6—13/ 13 12/9—13/ Unscreened bunkers, Durhams 11/9—14/ 10/ —12/ 11/6—15/ 11/6—13/3 11/3—13/ 11/6—12/9 10,9—12/9 10/9—12/6 10/6-12/ .10/4^-12/ 10/4^-11/6 „ . „ Northumbrians ... 10/ —11/ 10/ —12/ 11/ —13/ 11/3—11/9 10 9—11/9 ' 10/9—11/9 10/9—11/9 11/ —11/6 10/9—11 3 10/ —11/3 10/ —10/6 Coking coals 12/ —14/ 11/9—12/6 11/9—14/ 13/ —14' 12/ -13/ 12/ —12/6 12/ 11/3—12/ 11/ —11/6 10/6-11/6 10/ —11/ 10/ —10/6 ,, smalls 12/ —13/ 11/3—12/ 11/6—13/6 12/6—13/6 12/ —12/6 11/6—12/ 11/6—12/ 11/ —12/ 10/6—11/ 10/ —10/9 9/ —10/6 9/ — 9/6 Households • 15/ —16/ 15/ —16/ 15/ -16 15/ -16/ 15/ —16/ 15/ —16/ 15/ —16/ 15/ —16/ 15/ —16/ 15/ —16/ 14/ —16/ 14/ —15/ Coke, foundry 20/ —23/ 19/ -22/ 19/ —21/ 19/ —21/ 19/ —21/ 19/ —21/ 19/ —21/ 18/ -21/ 19/ —22/ 19/ —21/ 19/ —20/ 19/ —20/ ,, blastfurnace gas 18/ —20/ 13/ -14/9 18/ 19/ 13/ —13/6 18/ 12/ -13/6 18/ 11/6—13/9 18/ 13/ —13/9 18/ 12/6—13/9 18/ 12/ —14/ 18/ 12/ -13/ 18/ 11/6—13/ 18/ 11/6-13/ 18/ 11/ -12/ 18/ -. 10/6—12/ — Danish State Railways. In April, 50,000 tons of West- phalian steams were ordered for the Finnish railways, and 10,000 tons for one of the smaller Swedish lines, pi May, it was mentioned that a large coal merchant who had sold Durham coal to Berlin on an exten- sive scale, had secured the option of supplying Westphalian fuel, and had taken considerable advantage of that alternative, because of the relatively high price of the home product. In June, the Paris, Lyons and Marseilles railways and the Paris-Orleans railways were stated to have concluded purchases of very considerable quantities of Westphalian coals* at low prices for delivery over the ensuing year., In the same month, it was reported that the Vladikavkaz rail- ways of Russia, who, earlier, had bought a large quantity of British steams, had concluded purchases of Russian coals for delivery over the next three years, in view of which sales it was unlikely they would re-enter this market for coal for a considerable time to come. The* aforegoing recital of business lost to foreign coalfields is useful as indicating the trend of trade had the war not occurred. It must not be supposed, how- ever, that, all this time, our own coal producers were not getting a very large share of the world’s business. All that is desired is that it should be noted that our Teutonic competitors in particular were doing exceedingly well before the war, at our expense. The effect of the war on the industry is graphically illustrated by the comparative falling-off in coal ship- ments for the four months August-November, as of working of the collieries after the turn of the year, and should tonnage difficulties loom less large it may be that, even although the war should be prolonged, the coal trade will take less hurt than it has done during the five months just ended. Following the triumph of the Allies—which we believe to be inevitable—there should come a great increase in business, due to the demands from all over the battle-scarred districts of Europe for fuel supplies wherewith to assist in remedying, as far as is humanly possible, the ravages of war. Europe will need much reconstruction when the present work of demolition has been completed, and for that purpose, on the industrial side, the motive power provided by coal will be a great asset. Highest and Lowest Prices. Table A gives the highest and lowest prices which ruled during each month of last year for each of the various descriptions of fuel dealt with on Newcastle coal market. The quotations are per ton and free on board for prompt shipment. Many of the contracts entered into during the year have now but an academic and historical interest, inasmuch as the outbreak of war rendered their fulfil- ment impossible. As, however, they do possess some interest, as showing the trend of: the market, it would be unwise to omit them. Steam Coal Contracts. Steam coal contracts ratified during the course of 1914 included the following (f.o.b. prices being given, as Railways, April-September, at about 17s. 2d., c.i.f. Christiania ; a quantity of Blyth unscreened, shipment to Hamburg, over the year, at about 10s. 9d. April.—Small quantity' best Blyths, shipment over 12 months on Government account, at 13s.; considerable quantities Blyths, delivery to end of year, at 13s. for large, and 7s. 3d. for smalls. May.—Large quantity best Blyths, shipment to end of year, at from 13s. to 13s. 3d. for large, and 7s. 3d. for smalls, one colliery being stated to have disposed of 100,000 tons in this way; 75,000 tons best Blyths, ship- ment up to November on behalf of Russian naval authorities at from 13s. 3d. to 13s. 6d. June.—Quantity of best Blyths, July-October ship- ment, at 13s. 6d.; quantity for November shipment at 13s. 3d.; 10,000 tons best Blyths for July-December shipment at 13s. 6d.; extensive sales of similar fuel for like delivery at 13s. 6d. July.—Quantities of best Blyths, shipment from August to end of year at from 13s. lOJd. to 14s.; 240,000 tons Newcastle, Yorkshire and or Derbyshire coal, delivery over Baltic seasons of 1915 and 1916 to Russian State Railways, order placed through Russian merchants at about 17s. c.i.f. Petrograd; considerable quantity best Blyths sold through merchants for delivery to end of December at about 14s.; 10,000 tons best Blyths, October-December delivery at 13s. 9d., and a similar quantity for January-March shipment at 13s. 6d.; 15,000 tons seconds for July-September shipment at 12s.; best Blyths for delivery over 1915 at 13s., and 20,000 tons