April 30, 1915. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 921 THE WELSH COAL AMD IRON TRADES. Thursday, April 29. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The general state of the coal trade of this locality during the past week has been of a normal character, and, apparently, all the pits are kept busily employed and have no difficulty in disposing of all the fuel they can raise. The empty wagons appear to be coming to hand fairly regularly. The house coal trade, as may be expected, is continuing to slacken, and this will be the order of things for some little time to come. Prices, however, remain steady, and there is little being done in the way of contracts for future supplies. As regards gas coal, there is little fresh to report. Gas companies continue to press for arrears to be made up, and colliery owners are meeting the demand as far as is practicable. The work of making new contracts is going along steadily, and while buyers are demurring considerably at the advances which are being asked, they have to submit to the inevitable, make their contracts at the current quoted prices, and take it out of their consumers by immediately advertising an advance in the price of gas to all consumers, as well as in coke and other residuals. Probably the steam coal department is the busiest at the present time. Railway companies press for deliveries, send in their large wagons, and are thus responsible for a goodly part of the tonnage sold from the local collieries. There is a slight improvement, too, in the demand for coal for manufacturing purposes, especially for works which are directly or indirectly engaged on Government work. There is, too, a goodly demand for coal for shipment ex the Mersey ports, where work is now proceeding more regularly as regards the unloading and reloading of vessels, but there is a large number of boats still waiting in the river to get a berth. There is a vast improvement, however, on the state which existed a weeks ago. In regard to nuts there are few on the market for sale outside of contracts, and gas-making, and what is sold for the ordinary merchants" business, fetch a good price. The price at which slack is now sold is also satisfactory, and there are no new stocks accumulating at the present time; in fact some collieries appear to be reducing their previous stocks. At the time of writing, current prices for the ordinary trade were as follow :— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit f.o.r.: — prices. prices. prices. Best house coal 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 15/ -16/ Secondary do 17/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 14/ -15/ Steam coal 16/ -18/ 16/ -18/ 12/9-13/6 Gas coal 16/6-18/6 16/6-18/ 13/ —13/9 Bunkers 15/6-16/6 15/9-16/9 12/3-12/9 Nuts 14/6-17/ 12/ -15/ 11/ -12/ Slack 7/6- 9/6 7/6- 9/6 7/ - 8/6 Gas coke (at works) 13/4-16/8 13/4-16/8 13/4-15/ Prices landsale: — Best house coal 23/4-27/6 23/4-26/8 19/2-20/ Seconds 20/ -23/4 20/ -22/6 17/6-18/4 Slack 11/8-13/4 10/10-13/4 6/9- 8/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. After the uncertainties of last week, the steam coal trade has settled down to a much steadier position. Foreign enquiry has been good, the leading customer being the French State Railways, who are seeking to place orders for 30,000 tons of semi-bituminous Monmouthshire coals for locomotive purposes. The high freights offering recently had the expected effect of attracting tonnage, and stems are now filling up so well for May that more fixtures are now difficult to fit in; still none are yet full. With the accretion of free tonnage and growing trouble of arranging fixtures, freights quickly receded, although still at comparatively a high level. Genoa has been done at 29s., while 20s. has been paid for Gibraltar. For very prompt shipment it may be still possible to secure better terms from middlemen than from collieries, but these opportunities are quickly passing. Smalls maintain their position well, also throughs, nuts and other varieties. House coals continue in good demand, stocks being low with no sign as yet of accumulating. The pitwood trade is hampered by the extreme difficulty of getting supplies, so much so that efforts are being made in places most suitable to use iron substitutes. At the Lower Deep Colliery, Blaina, hollow iron standards are being used in some districts instead of timber, and, it is understood, with satisfactory results. Present values of good French wood may be taken as 34s. ex ship for useful sizes. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. 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 .......... Current prices. 33/ -34/ 32/ -32/6 31/6-32/ 28/ -30/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ 18/6 22/ -24/ 23/ —24/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 33/ -34/ 32/ -33/ 37/ -39/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. 33/6-35/ 33/ —33/6 32/ -33/ 30/ -31/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/ 17/ —17/6 18/6-19/ 23/ -21/6 24/ -24/6 prices. 17/ -17/6 16/6-16/9 16/ -16/6 15/3—15/6 8/9- 9/ 8/ - 8/3 7/6- 7/9 8/9- 9/ 12/9-13/ 13/3-13/9 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 33/ -34/ 32/ -33/ 37/ -39/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -18/ 19/9-20/ 19/6-20/6 23/ -25/ IRON. The iron and steel trades of the district show but little alteration since last week. A fair amount of business is passing, values in all departments continue firm, what few alterations there are being of an upward character. Works all round are well booked, assuring full outputs for the next quarter, while naming harder figures for autumn delivery. Enquiry at bar mills is better, with more inclination on the part of buyers to come to terms for future deliveries. The association price has stiffened from last week up to <£7 10s. for either Bessemer or Siemens Welsh bars. Some makers are naming higher figures, and do not appear anxious to book even at <£7 15s. Welsh haematite is active and firm at 110s. to 115s., with few sellers. Iron ore is scarce, and firm on the basis of 30s. for best rubio. Busi- ness at rail mills is satisfactory, with values trending upwards, the latest basis being <£7 10s. to <£7 15s. for heavy sections. Stock lots of tin-plates are in good demand, and moving off well. Up to 17s. 6d. has been paid for 14 x 20, and 35s. 6d. for 28 x 20, but works are holding off at these prices, and asking more. Cardiff. COAL. The position with regard to the best coal is the same as last week. It is still entirely monopolised by the Govern- ment, and there is little prospect of any being released by the Admiralty authorities until the passage through the Dardanelles has been forced. The consequence is that there is no best coal available for ordinary commercial purposes, and no prices. The same remarks also apply to superior second qualities, practically the whole of which are retained either for ourselves or the requirements of our Allies. The position of the freight market has rather upset the situation with regard to ordinary qualities, and quotations have been somewhat irregular. Collieries are still firmly quoting from 34s. to 35s. for May delivery, but certain middlemen have been effecting sales at several shillings less than this figure. A diminution in arrivals of tonnage, and a sudden demand for Mediterranean ports sent up prices with a bound. As much as 45 francs was paid for Marseilles, but the rate has since receded about 10 francs. As indicated above, many shippers who had contracted last year on the basis of 18s. or 19s. per ton, Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals Current prices. 34/ -35/ 21/6-22/6 21/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/ 35/ -36/ 30/ -32/6 28/ 26/ 26/ 24/ 20/ 32/9-33/3 32/3 30/3 28/6-29/ 30/ 28/ -29/ 30/ 27/6 25/ 25/ 22/6 20/ 37/6 35/ 43/ -45/ 38/ -42/ 32/ -34/ 34/ -35/ L’st week’s prices. * 37/ -38/* 35/ -36/ 21/6-22/ 20/6 18/6—19/ 17/6-18/ 35/ -37/ 32/ -34/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 26/ -27/ 25/ 20/ 34/3 33/3 32/9 30/ -31/ 30/ 27/6-29/ 32/ 29/ 26/ -27/ 29/ -30/ 24/ -25/ 19/ 37/6 35/ 43/ -45/ 38/ -40/ 31/ -33/ 34/6 Last year’s prices. 19/ -19/6 18/6-18/9 17/6-17/9 11/3-11/6 11/ 8/9- 9/3 7/ - 8/ 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/ 16/ 15/ 14/3 13/3 11/9-12/ 17/6 17/ 16/9 15/3-15/6 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 15/ 12/3-12/6 13/9-14/ 11/6-11/9 8/9- 9/ 21/ 19/ -20/ 28/ -29/ 22/ -251 19/ 19/6-20/ 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 lai,ge 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) # Nominal. rather than face the difficulty of stemming, disposed of their contractual portions at several shillings discount, and, were still able to secure for themselves a very handsome profit. The general anticipation of the market is that with more tonnage available prevailing prices will again stiffen, and as a matter of fact, rates for May are con- siderably higher than those which are being accepted for current business providing buyers are in a position to supply prompt tonnage. The small coal market shows very little change, but generally speaking the tone i*s a shade easier than it was a week ago. Best bunkers realise 21s. 6d. to 22s., ordinary about 21s., and cargo sorts anything between 18s. and 19s. The French Government are again in the market for about 30,000 tons for delivery within the next three months, and for large coals there are enquiries both on Russian and Greek account. In the f >rmer case the demand is unlimited, and, as in former cases during the last year or so, the Russian authorities will take occasional cargoes in the open market rather than make definite fixtures for a given quantity. It is expected that the near opening of the White Sea will be a considerable influence on Russian business. On Greek Government account the enquiry is for'50,000 tons of steam coal. There is very little probability, however, of supplies being forthcoming owing to the demands from other quarters. The feeling of the market is that the Greek authorities have lost their opportunity by not adopting the Venezelos policy, and that there will be a considerable difficulty in negotiating business. Had the contemplated attitude of the Greek Government been maintained, it is believed that the British Admiralty would have assisted in obtaining supplies, but it is recognised that the position is now a difficult one. In Monmouthshire coals the market is not quite so firm, although there is a scarcity of all descriptions. Black Veins are quoted at 32s. 9d. to 33s. 3d., Western Valleys 32s. 3d., and Easterns 30s. In the bituminous coal market there has been a big decline in prices owing to the falling off in the demand. No. 3 Rhondda large does not command more than 30s., through-and-through 27s. 6d., and small 25s. In No. 2 qualities the drop has been even greater, large not being more than 25s., through-and-through 22s. 6d., and small 20s. Coke prices are practically unaltered, special being 43s. to 45s., ordinary foundry 38s. to 42s., and furnace 32s. to 34s. In patent fuel there is very little new business, as makers are pretty well booked up for some time ahead. For what small quantity of free fuel is available 37s. 6d. is being asked for best grades, with a reduction of 2s. 6d. for ordinary qualities. Pitwood remains fairly steady, the current price averaging between 34s. and 35s. per ton. The Board of Trade returns of coal shipped coastwise during the month of March has just been issued, from which it appears that the quantity despatched from the Bristol Channel amounted to 118,467 tons, compared with 240,252 tons in the corresponding period of last year. From Cardiff alone there were shipped 53,333 tons, of which London took 16,310 tons, and Bristol 9,801 tons. From Newport the shipments were 64,412 tons, of which Dublin took 13,570 tons, Cork 10,450 tons, Avonmouth 8,626 tons, and Water- ford 6,670 tons. Port Talbot shipped 11,543 tons, Briton Ferry 7,843 tons, and Swansea 19,629 tons. The week’s shipments from the Bristol Channel amounted to 435,482 tons, compared with 490,773 tons in the corresponding week of last year. This, of course, is exclusive of Admiralty shipments. From Cardiff alone the exports were 264,007 tons, against 335,080 tons in the corresponding week, or a decrease of 71,073 tons. Newport shipments were 79,024 tons, or a decrease of 4,391 tons, Swansea 51,593 tons, or an increase of 2,873 tons, and from Port Talbot 40,858 tons, or an increase of 17,307 tons. Shipments of patent fuel during the week amounted to 22,231 tons, of which the Crown Company contributed 14,066 tons. Charterings last week were on a fairly satisfactory basis, the amount of tonnage taken up being 214,770 tons, compared with 134,265 tons in the corresponding period. The following table shows the exports to the principal foreign countries and British Possessions during the month of March, compared with the quantities exported in the corresponding month of last year: — March March 1915. 1914. Tons. Tons. Russia — 11,934 Norway 10,544 16,594 Germany — 13,350 Netherlands 4,725 7,867 Java -—■ 6,251 Belgium .. — 37,647 France 730,903 659,625 Algeria . 44,595 56,816 French Somaliland 6,944 5,670 Madagascar 5,398 4,152 Re-union ( Bourbon) — 5,498 Switzerland 83,570 73,614 Portugal 8,396 ... 7,404 Azores 12,145 ... 7,595 Spain 138,358 66,866 Canary Islands 13,935 ... 51,087 Italy 497,605 379,333 Austria-Hungary — 15,564 Greece 34,153 20,081 Bulgaria — 9.359 Roumania — 28,784 Turkey (European) — 24,800 „ (Asiatic) — 19,767 Tunis 18,234 ... 6,631 Chili 3,493 34,395 Brazil 48,490 91,673 Uruguay 32,499 56,365 Argentine Republic 281,001 127,358 Channel Islands 8,209 ... 3,810 Gibraltar 17,602 32,845 Malta and Gozo 5,874 ... 56,985 Egypt 68,259 190,809 Sierra Leone 3,598 ... 5,286 Nigeria 7,135 2,813 Mauritius & Dependencies 6,821 501 Aden and Dependencies — 29,091 British India 1,517 12,214 Straits Settlements and Dependencies (including Labuan) 255 9,941 Ceylon and Dependencies... 15,965 West Africa (French) 33,906 ... 10,326 „ (Portuguese)... 20,519 ... 13,728 IRON. The tin-plate trade has continued on a fairly satisfactory basis, but there is an absence of new work, and in many instances there is rather a difficulty owing to shortage of labour. Receipts from works amounted to 89,746 boxes, whilst there were shipped 81,492 boxes, leaving 347,293 boxes in stock compared with 351,501 boxes in the corre- sponding week of last year. The cost of raw materials is still advancing, and as a result quotations have been raised, but even now the rates ruling are said to show very little profit on the actual cost of production. Bessemer standard cokes are 17s. 3d. to 17s. 9d., and oil sizes 17s. 9d. to 18s. and 24s. respectively. Welsh steel bars are firm at .£7 5s. to <£7 10s., and some makers are holding out for even higher rates. In the galanised sheet trade there is no improvement, and business is of a hand-to-mouth character. Colonial buyers are unwilling to enter into any transactions except to satisfy immediate requirements, and trade generally is, therefore, of an unsatisfactory character. Manufacturers in need of orders are willing to make substantial concessions, but in the case of others better circumstanced full, quotations are being demanded. The result is a wide margin in rates, and 24-gauge corrugateds are offered at anything between <£15 and .£16 per ton. Welsh pig iron is still advancing, and makers are realising 105s. per ton free on truck, and even more. The heavy steel industry is progressing, and business is more brisk than at any time since the commencement of the war. In the iron ore trade there is no change. Best rubio commands 26s. to 27s., seconds 23s. 6d., and Almeria 22s. to 23s. 6d. per ton. Scrap metals are firm and unaltered. Swansea. COAL. A considerable reduction was shown in the trade of the port last week. This is only what might have been anticipated as a consequence of the increasing restrictions placed on trade with certain countries. The shipments of coal and patent fuel amounted to 66,452 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change on Tuesday, but the general conditions prevailing on the anthracite coal market were not bright. The demand for Swansea Valley large had fallen off considerably, and values for prompt loading were weaker. Red Vein large was also a little weaker for immediate delivery. Of the machine-made descriptions