1286 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 18, 1915. slight relaxation in prime cost of raw materials, and Bessemer standard cokes are now quoted at 19s., with oil sizes at 19s. 3d. and 27s. 3d. respectively. It is reported that American competition is being severely felt in the eastern markets, and prices generally are much lower than actual cost in South Wales. Shipments last week were 69,733 boxes,- compared with 87,231 boxes received from works, and stocks in docks, warehouses and vans remain at 312,856 boxes. Welsh bars are rather easier. Last week <£7 10s. to <£7 15s. was quoted for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities, but this week they are obtainable at <£7 5s. In the galvanised sheet trade conditions have not improved, and spelter has advanced another <£5 to <£115. per ton. The result is that galvanising is almost at a standstill, and many works in the district have offered their machinery and plant to the Govern- ment for the manufacture of munitions. These offers are being carefully considered by the special committee recently appointed, and wherever the machinery is at all adaptable for Government work there is no doubt that the fullest advantage will be taken by those responsible. The only difficulty, if there be any at all, will be in the supply of the necessary skilled labour. At the moment there is little new business doing, and 24-gauge corrugateds are offered at <£22 10s. Welsh pig iron is quoted at 107s. 6d. to 110s. per ton delivered. Steelworks are busy, and considerable business is being done in the way of sub- contracting on Government orders. The iron ore market is irregular owing to the heavy drop in freights. Best rubio is offering at 24s. to 25s., and seconds at 22s. to 22s. 6d. per ton. There is an easier tendency in scrap metals, with little business doing. Steel scrap is 76s., heavy wrought 68s., double-headed iron rails 82s., steel ditto 80s., mixed sections 72s. 6d., light wrought 40s., cast 60s. to 62s. 6d.^, and new steel crop ends 85s. to 86s. Swansea. COAL. During the past week both the coal and patent fuel trades were active, the shipments together amounting to 107,942 tons. A capital attendance assembled on "Change, and the undertone of the anthracite coal market was strong. Swansea Valley large, although easy for prompt, was firmer for forward delivery. Red Vein large was very firm. Machine-made nuts and cobbles of all descriptions were in excellent demand, and values again moved in an upward direction. Bubbly culm and duff continued strong. There was little alteration in the steam coal market, prices, if anything, being a shade weaker. Prices f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Anthracite:— Current prices. L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) (net)... 22/6-24/6 22/ -24/ 21/ -23/ Secondary do. 19/ -20/6 19/6-20/6 17/ -18/ Big Vein large (less 2| per cent.) 16/6—18/ 16/6-18/ 15/ -16/ Bed Vein large do. ... 17/ -18/3 16/9-17/6 12/9-13/6 Machine made cobbles (net) 25/6-28/ 25/ -25/9 21/ -22/6 Paris nuts (net) — — — French do. do 26/6-28/ 24/ —28/ 21/9-23/9 Stove do. do 25/6-28/ 24/ -26/ 21/9-23/9 Beans (net) 24/6-25/6 23/6-25/ 15/6-17/• Machine - made large peas (net) 16/6-17/6 16/ -17/6 11/ ~_12/ Do. fine peas (net) — — Bubbly culm (less 2| p.c.) 11/9-12/6 10/6-11/6 6/6- 6/9 Duff (net) 6/9- 7/3 6/ - 7/3 4/3- 4/6 Steam coals:— Best large (less 2g p.c.) 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 18/6-20/ Seconds do. 24/ -26/6 24/ -26/6 13/6-15/6' Bunkers (net) 20/9-22/ 15/6-19/ 20/9-22/6 10/6-11/9 Small (less 2 g p.c.) 15/6-19/ 8/3- 9/ Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Bhondda— Large (less 2| p.c.) ... 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 17/ -18/ Through-and-through (less 2| p.c.) .— .— Small (less 2| p.c.) ... 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 11/ -12/ Patent fuel do 32/ -35/ 32/ -35/ 17/ -18/ IRON. There was greater activity in the district last week, with the exception of the tin-plate industry. Work at the blast furnaces was still pressing, and there was a substantial increase in the production of pig iron. All the steel works were in full swing. The position at the Mannesmann Tube Works showed increasing pressure, whilst the iron foundries, engineering and fitting shops were actively engaged. The shipments, of tin-plates were 69,733 boxes, receipts from works 87,231 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 312,856 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. There has been a change for the better in the coal market of this district. Only a few weeks ago the anthra- cite people especially w-re very short of orders, and pits in many instances were working only half time. During the past two or three weeks, in fact since Italy joined the Allies, there has been a steady improvement, and now, Prices f.o.b. Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large....... Bed Vein do.......... Machine-made cobbles... German nuts.........i French do............ Paris do. ........... Machine-made beans ... Do. peas........ Culm ................ Duff................i Other sorts:— Large steam coal.....■ Through-and-thr ough... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 21/6-22/6 : 20/ -22/ 18/6-19/6 "" 16/ -17/ 16/6-17/6 23/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 23/ -25/ 15/ -15/6 10/6-11/ 5/6- 6/6 18/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 12/6-13/ 19/ -21/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 20/ -22/ 16/ -20/ 12/6-13/6 6/ - 6/6 4/6- 6/ 30/ -32/ 20/ -23/6 16/ -18/ 18/ -20/ 16/ -17/ 11/ -11/6 8/6- 9/6 10/9-11/3 prices. 22/ -24/ 19/6-20/6 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/6 24/ -25/ 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 25/ -27/6 23/ -25/ 16/6-17/6 11/6-12/6 6/6— 7/6 30/ -32/ 20'/ -23/ 16/ -18/ 20/ -21/ practically for all kinds, the demand is at least equal to the make. It is also felt that the market has not yet reached top, and that prices will go still higher during the next few weeks. Anthracite large kinds have a very good demand, and many of the collieries are fully sold at good prices. There has been a welcome change in the demand for cobbles and nuts, and shipments of these kinds are brisk. For beans, peas and culm there is a very good sale. Bituminous and steam coals, however, are very much easier than they were, and prices have come down several shillings per ton during the past week or two. The embargo on coals to certain of the foreign markets has greatly hampered the trade. This week’s quotations approximately are :— THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is very firm, and there are ■several advances, notably in benzols, crude naphtha, and creosote. Other products remain steady, and in fairly good request. The improvement in benzols is more noticeable in the South than the North. There is no change in toluol. Nearest values are :— Rise(+) or fall (-) on the week. Benzols,-90’s ....................... /U—1/ ... + /0J ,, 90’s North . .............. /10J— /Il ... — „ 50’s ,, .............. 1/3—1/4 ... — Toluol ..................:........... 2/4 ... — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... 3/6 ... 2— ,, . crystals (40 per cent.) 1/4—1/6 ... — Solvent naphtha (as in quality and package) ........................ 2/1 ... —/2 Crude naphtha (in bulk) ............. /5f—/6J ... + /0^ Creosote (for ordinary qualities) .. /3—/3| ... + /0| Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) .......... 21/—22/ ... — ,, (f.a.s. west coast) .......... 20/—22/6 ... — Tar ................................... 21/6—25/6 ... — [Benzols, toluol, creosote, solvent naphtha, carbolic acids, usually casks included unless otherwise stated, free on rails at maker's works or usual United Kingdom ports, net. Pitch f.o.b. net.] Sulphate of Ammonia.—There is a continued feeling of strength about the market generally, and for forward there is a good demand, as well as a marked disinclination amongst holders to sell ahead save at a substantial premium. Seeing that the statistical position is also satisfactory as a whole, there is little prospect of prices falling yet 'awhile, although bears are trying their utmost to make capital out of the depressed state and outlook of nitrate of soda. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (—) on the week. London (ordinary makes) .......... £14 ... +1/3 Beckton ................... £13/7/6—£13/10 ... +2/6 Liverpool ................. £13/17/6—£14 ... +2/6 Hull ...................... £13/15—£13/16/3 ... +1/3 Middlesbrough .............£13/17/6—£13/18/9... +1/3 Scotch ports .............. £14/2/6—£14/5 ... — Wales ......................... £13/17/6 ... — Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. 12/3 ... — [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 2J per cent, discount; 24 per cent, ammonia, good grey quality; allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.] Trade Notes. It is noteworthy that although sulphate of ammonia still suffers from the ban of prohibition, the export trade is most satisfactory, as the returns for last month conclusively show. It has not been surprising to see a gross decline in the returns for a month or two past, but in May there was an increase to the value of £54,113, the gross tonnage being 24,239 tons, against 21,650 tons the same time last year. That is to say, we have done £54,000 more trade last month than we did last year before war was even seriously con- sidered, much less began. The outstanding, and, in many ways, most significant feature of the returns is the way our trade with France and Italy has picked up. It shows on the periods under com- parison an increase of £29,000, while the Italian figures, though naturally on a much smaller scale, are over three times as big as last year. There is another side to be looked at, however, and that is the very serious shrinkage in the Japanese and American trade. The figures for U.S.A, are 453 tons, against 370 last year. What totals! While Japan shrinks to-1,885 tons from 6,800. The Dutch East Indies also have taken about 21 times less. The satisfactory sum-total is there- fore again accounted for by that mysterious item of “ other countries,” which are accredited with an increase of £29,500, or more than half the total advance on the month ! The by-products trade is in many ways doing as much “ fighting ” for this country as any other, if not more, yet although benzols, toluol, sulphate of ammonia, etc., are contraband of war, and manufacturers are being hit up for vitriol in the various branches of production, the other essen- tial product for making high explosives, cotton, seems to be left almost entirely alone. Still, when one comes to look at the amount of cotton that has suddenly found its way from the United Kingdom to “ neutral ” countries of such doubtful sympathies as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, it really is enough to shake, one’s faith in the business capa- bilities and equitability of the powers that be. If- Switzer- land, with its increase of £41,000 worth in May last, is ignored now completely, owing to Italy’s participation in hostilities, it makes one as raw as the staple itself to find that last April Sweden took 30 times as much raw cotton from the United Kingdom alone as she did in March of last year. Norway is bad enough, with 50 times as much, but she did take less last April. The Netherlands total is an eye opener, having increased 100 times, while Denmark caps the lot, for whereas in 1914 she never took an ounce from us, she managed to get hold of 1,813,1001b. of raw cotton all in a hurry during last March and April! It is hard to “ cotton ” to such patriotism, as this, when we cannot make munitions of war fast enough, and have bottled up all other sources of raw materials to strengthen our own hands and scotch the enemy’s supplies. We are slack enough in sulphate of ammonia trade with America, and we look like feeling a draught in creosote oils, for a recent estimate foreshadows an increase of 25 per cent, in their production. Germany and ourselves usually sup- plied at least 65 per cent, of the total consumption, yet the imports from these two sources have dropped 30 per cent, since last August. Activity in benzol plants also continues to manifest itself in the States. The Laclede Coke Works at St. Louis have begun work. The Zenith Works at Duluth have completed their installation, each having benzol recovery plants. It is calculated that the daily output of benzols from coke works will soon reach 50 tons per diem. The figures for the week have not been very. encouraging. Pitch accounts for 2,274 tons, 170 barrels, 8 drums, and £1,573. Tar is poor, £313 and 146 barrels. Tar oil, 5 tons and 50 casks. Benzol, £105 to Genoa. Sulphate of ammonia, 1,198 tons. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, June 17. The London coal trade for the past week has maintained a very firm tone, but buying has not been so freely adopted as heretofore, partly owing to the limited quantities offering for sale and partly to the hesitancy on the part of the merchants to buy at the extreme prices, especially now the coal has all to go into stock. Orders from the general public have been coming in freely, but the delivery, for the most part, has been delayed until further into the summer, so that the depot trade continues slow. House coals are still fetching a good price. Derby Brights range from 16s. to 16s. 6d. per ton