January 7, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 29 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, January 6. North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. During the past week all the collieries in North Wales have been fully engaged. Orders for all grades of fuel have come to hand freely, and sellers have had some difficulty in deal- ing with the demand. Selling prices of fuel have remained practically stationary during the past few weeks, and there is nothing new to report in regard thereto. quantity shipped from the Bristol Channel amounted to 94,192 tons, compared with 120,912 tons' in the corresponding period of 1914. Exports from the Bristol Channel last week amounted to 198,568 tons, compared'with 383,904 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Cardiff alone despatched 95,437 tons, Newport 44,748 tons, Swansea 35,917 tons, and Port Talbot 22,466 tons. There was a big drop in chartering, the amount of tonnage taken up being only 88,430 tons, against 126,820 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 38,390 tons. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Prices at pit f.o.r.:— Best house coal ........ Secondary do.......... Steam coal........... Gas coal.............. Bunkers............... Nuts ................. Slack ................ Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale:— Best house coal ...... Seconds .............. Slack ................ Current prices. 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 10/ -11/ 20/ -22/6 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ 14/2-15/ L’st week’s prices. 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/ 18/ -19/6 18/ -19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 10/ -11/ 20/ -22/6 Last year’s prices. 15/ -16/6 14/ -15/ 11/6-12/6 12/ -13/ 11/4-11/8 11/ -11/6 5/6- 6/6 11/8-13/4 25/ -27/6 19/2-20/ 22/6-25/ 17/6-18/4 14/2-15/ 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire, South Wales, Ac. Newport. COAL. The steam coal market continues to develop strength, colliery salesmen at the present time showing little anxiety for fresh bookings for the next two or three weeks. Outputs are fair, but not excessive, while stocks are moderate, and tonnage supplies at hand and due to arrive are quite sufficient to prevent any accumulation of coal sufficient to disturb values. Sellers are confident as to current prices, expecting considerable pressure for supplies during the next month, and for small parcels for January loading are asking up to 26s. 6d. for best varieties. Meanwhile, there is a good enquiry on the market, notwithstanding the difficulties met with by charterers in fixing suitable tonnage,’for in the freight market more than in any other circle of business has the war affected every-day transactions. During the last two or three days, rates for nearer European ports have been barely so steady,, but continue at unabated strength for all Middle Sea and South American ports. Values of smalls are maintained equally as strong as large coals, while coke, patent fuel, and house coals also show undiminished quota- tions. The supply of pit wood continues far deficient of requirements, with famine prices of 52s. to 53s. for wood that comparatively recently would have been judged dear at 15s. - r Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals:— Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * 2!/ Superior seconds * 19/6-20/ Ordinary do 25/ -27/ 24/6-25/6 18/6-18/9 Best bunker smalls 15/ -16/ 12/6-13/6 13/6-14/ Best ordinaries. 14/ -15/ 11/6-12/ i 12/9-13/ Cargo qualities 8/6—11/ 7/6- 9/ 11/6-12/ Inferior smalls 7/ - 8/ 6/ - 7/ Best dry coals 25/ -26/ 25/ -26/6 19/ -20/ Ordinary drys 24/ -25/- 23/6-24/ 18/ -18/6 Best washed nuts 25/ -27/ 25/ -27/ 19/ -20/ Seconds 22/ -24/ 22/ -24/ 16/6-17/ Best washed peas 20/ -22/6 20/ -22/6 15/6 Seconds 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 14/ Dock screenings 10/ -12/6 10/ -12/6 12/ Monmouthshire— Black Veins 26/ -26/6 24/ -25/ 18/6-18/9 Western-valleys 25/ -26/ 24/ -24/6 18/3 Eastern-valleys 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 17/9-18/ Inferior do 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 17/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 17/6-19/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 24/ -25/ 23/ -24/ 17/6 Through-and-through 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 16/ Small 19/6-20/6 18/6-19/ 15/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 20/ -21/ 20/ -21/ 15/6-16/ Through-and-through 16/ -17/ 16/ —17/ 14/6-15/ Small 13/6-14/6 12/ -12/6 11/ -11/6 Best patent fuel 24/ -25/ 24/ -25/ 19/ Seconds 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 18/ -18/6 Special foundry coke 42/ -45/ 42/6-15/ 28/ -32/ Ordinary do. 38/ -40/ 40/ -42/6 25/ -28/ Furnace coke 32/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 20/ -22/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 52/ -53/ 52/ -53/ 28/ -29/ of the market is good, and shows no sign of falling off. Prices are easily being maintained, ©specially for the anthracite machine-made sorts. Orders being received far exceed the make and sellers have often to return orders from regular customers. This is chiefly due to the smaller outputs and the big demand from France and Italy. Anthracite, large kinds, too, are going well, but culm and duff are in very poor demand. Steam and bituminous sorts are in firmer demand, and prices are advancing. Bunkers are higher than they have been for weeks, whilst large is also moving rather better. Prices this week are :— Prices f.o.b. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large 33/ -35/ 35/ -37/ 21/ -24/ , Secondary do 3z/ -34/ 33/ -35/ 20/6-21/ Big Vein large 30/ -32/ 35/ -37/ 19/ -21/ Red Vein do 29/ -31/ 33/ -35/ 1 16/ -17/' Machine-made cobbles... 43/6-45/ 43/6-45/ i 25/ -29/ . German nuts 44/6-47/ 44/6-47/ | 30/ -33/ French do 47/6-49/ 47/6-49/. i 30/ -34/ Paris do 44/6-47/- 46/6-47/ 30/ -34/ Machine-made beans ... 32/ -34/ 32/ -34/ 19/ -21/ Do. peas 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 13/ -13/6. Culm 6/3- 9/ 7/ - 7/6 3/6- 4/ Duff 2/ - 2/6 2/ - 2/6 2/9- 3/ Other sorts :— . Large steam coal 22/ -24/ 22,-24/ 18/ -20/ ; Through-and-thr ough... 15/6-17/ 14/6-16/6 13/6-14/6 Small 7/6- 9/ 6/ - 8/ H 8/ - 9/ Bituminous small coal... 15/6-16/6 15/6-16/6 > 10/ -11/ THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market is very quiet, and for the most part prices are unchanged. If anything, there' is a slightly firmer feeling in crude carbolic acid. Nearest values are :— Rise ( + ) or fall (-) on the week. 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. 26/ -26/6 25/6-26/ 24/6-25/ 24/ -24/6 13/6-14/ 12/ -12/6 9/ -10/ 13/9-14/3 16/6-17/6 16/6-17/ 22/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 24/ -24/6 32/ -35/ 40/ -42/6 L’st week’s prices. 24/6-25/ 23/6-24/6 23/ -23/6 22/ -23/ 13/ -13/3 11/6-12/ 8/6- 9/6 13/3-13/6 15/3-15/6 16/ —16/3 Last year's prices. 18/ -18/3 17/6-18/ 16/9-17/3 16/3-16/6 12/ -12/9 11/ -11/6 10/6-10/9 12/6-12/9 13/3-13/9 15/9-16/ 22/ -24/ 21/ -22/ 24/ -24/6 32/ -35/ 37/ -40/ 18/6-19/ 17/ -18/ 18/ -19/ 20/ -21/ 23/ -25/ IRON. The local iron and steel markets have developed further strength during this week, prices in every department show- ing fresh advances. New business continues very difficult to negotiate, as makers show much reluctance to add to the orders on their books before working off more of their present commitments. At bar mills work continues .at full pressure, with good outputs, while values have advanced to £11 15s. to .£12 for both Bessemer and Siemens Welsh bars. Steel rails, too, are firmer, with quotations difficult to obtain, heavy sections nominally being priced £11 15s. to £12. In pig iron, values have again advanced, and while official figures are quoted as £7 5s. to £7 7s. 6d., works are asking and getting 2s. 6d. to 5s. more for any small lots they may have free., Iron ore is scarce and strong around 37s. 6d. for best Rubio c.i.f. Newport. Tin-plates also show7 increased values on the week. Little actual business is now passing, pending the approaching quarterly meeting; but the nominal basis is now 26s. to 26s. 3d. for Bessemer or Siemens’ primes, 20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. ' COAL. The first week of the new year has opened badly, so far as tonnage conditions are concerned, and many collieries have had the greatest difficulty in keeping the pits working. The holidays certainly restricted outputs and reduced stocks in the sidings, but bad weather prevented the arrival of fresh tonnage, with the consequence that there was a pronounced shortage of vessels in the early days, of the present week. Not- withstanding this factor, the market has been exceedingly firm, and colliery salesmen are very optimistic as to. the future. There is a great scarcity of coal in all directions. There is an active demand from all quarters for cargoes of coal, and the prices depend in all cases on the particular circumstances which prevail at the moment. . Ordinary second Admiralties command 26s. to 27s., and ordinary coals are very little less, upwards of 25s. to 26s. per ton being realised’. A corresponding increase has taken place in Mon- mouthshire coals, Black Veins being 26s. to 26s. 6d., Western Valleys 25s. to 26s., and Easterns 24s. to 25s., in each case f.o.b. Cardiff. The small coal market is rather better, owing to diminished outputs. In bituminous coals, there has been a Tittle improvement. Spot price for patent fuel is 25s., but 2s. to 3s. more is being asked for business several months ahead. Pit wood remains steady, at 52s. to 53s. per ton. The Custom House returns for the coal shipped coastwise for the month of November are now to hand, and show that the * Nominal. IRON. There is very little change to report in the tin-plate trade, except that prices are firmer than ever. Bessemer standard cokes are 26s., and oil sizes 26s. 6d. and 37s. respectively— the highest prices which have prevailed for years. All the works are now under Government control, and although private orders are being supplied as usual, there is a control over the machinery. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no change. Spelter remains at £88 per ton, and 24-gauge corrugateds realise £25 10s. to £26 per ton. Very few new orders, however, are in the market, and most of the work now being done is on Government account. There has been a further advance in Welsh pig iron, which is now quoted at £7 5s. delivered, and bars are also dearer, Siemens and Bessemer qualities having advanced to £11 10s. to £12 per ton. The iron ore market is nominal, but prices are on the basis of 35s. to 37s. a ton for best Rubio. Scrap metals, although dear, are unaltered. Swansea. COAL. The very bad weather experienced and the holidays reduced the trade of the port considerably last week. The shipments of coal and patent fuel together only amounted to 50,944 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, and there was no material alteration to report in the general condition of the anthracite coal market. Swansea Valley large was still easy for immediate delivery, whilst Red Vein large was also unsteady for prompt loading. Machine-made nuts and cobbles maintained their strong position, all descriptions being well stemmed. Rubbly culm and duff were easy, although there was a slightly improved enquiry for the latter. There was no alteration in the steam coal market, and prices generally remained unaltered. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) 33/6-35/ 36/ -37/6 22/6-24/6 Secondary do. 31/ -34/ 33/ -36/ 20/6-22/6 Big Vein large 30/ -32/ 33/ -36/ 19/6-22/ Red Vein large 29/ -31/ 31/6-35/ 17/ —18/ Machine - made cobbles 43/ -45/ 43/ -45/ 25/6-30/ Paris nuts ___. French do. 47/ -49/6 47/ -49/6 29/6-35/ Stove do 44/ -47/6 44/ -47/6 29/6-33/6 Beans 32/ -34/6 32/ -34/6 18/6-22/ Machine - made large peas 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 13/6-15/ Do. fine peas — •— — Rubbly culm 6/ - 9/ 7/ - 8/ 3/9- 4/6 Duff 2/ - 2/6 2/6- 3/ 2/9- 3/6 Steam coals:— Best large 21/ -24/ 21/ -24/ 18/9-21/6 Seconds 17/6-20/ 17/6-20/ 16/6-17/6 Bunkers 14/ -16 6 14/ -16/6 13/ -14/6 Small ,. 6/ - 8/ . 6/ - 8/ 6/6- 8/9 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 23/6-26/ 23/6-26/9 17/6-18/6 Thro’-and-thro’ Small 15/6-16/6 15/ -16/6 10/ -10/9 Patent fuel ... 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ ] 15/6-16/6 Llanelly. COAL. The rough weather of the past week seriously interfered with tonnage arrivals; stocks in consequence are heavy for most sorts, and there are none too many wagons available to keep pits at work. Collieries are prepared at times to make reductions to have wagons released. The general tone Benzols, 90’s 1/01-1/1 ... — ,, 90’s North /Ill—1/ ... — '■ ,, 50’s ,, 1/4 ... V/3. Toluol — Carbolic acid, crude (60 per. cent.)... 3/6 ' +/1 ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 1/4 .. 7 degs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 2/2—2/3 .. ■ degs.), as in quality and package.... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... 2/2—2/3' .. — /61-/7 .. — Creosote (for ordinary qualities) /2J-/3 .. —r- Pitch (f.o.b. east coast) 15/6—16/6 .. . ,, (f.a.s. west coast) Tar (per ton ex works) 1(5/6—16/ .. — 18/6—23/6 ... — [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.—The situation is very firm, both the prompt and forward markets favouring sellers. There, are some rumours of speculative buying for a fall, but apparently there is more of “ bear ” tactics than actual sales about the rumour. Closing prompt prices are :— Rise ( + ) or London (ordinary makes) £17/10 fall (-) on the week. ... +10/ Beckton (25 per cent.) £17/2/6 ... +12/6 Liverpool £18 ... +10/ Hull £17/12/6 ... -+W Middlesbrough £17/15 ... +15/ Scotch ports £18—£18/5 ... +10/ Wales • £17/10 ... +2/6 Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt. 15/4| ... +/H [Sulphate of ammonia, f.o.b. in bags, less 21 per cent. discount; 24 per cent, ammonia,, good grey allowance for refraction, nothing for excess.'] quality; Trade Notes. The events of the week reveal two things, namely, the hopeless aloofness and lack of information shown by Departmental Committees, and the vital importance of such organisations as the Sulphate of Ammonia Manufacturers’ Association. The Departmental Committee on home-grown food recommends arranging for sufficient supplies of sulphate, of ammonia at pre-war prices, exportation being forbidden if necessary—which has been the case, except under special licence, for months past. Little help is to be gained from' the advice to provide improved shipping arrangements and lower freights for nitrate of soda and phospha tic ores, since the Government is unable to procure bottoms for the nitrate it bought in Chili to keep prices down. Two members of Parliament have just discovered how greatly the exports of sulphate of ammonia to Holland have increased of late, and that sulphate of ammonia can be used for the making of munitions; facts which were pointed out in these notes months ago, before export licences were in force. One of these questioners pointed out that the price of sulphate of ammonia to the British farmer has been advanced 50s. since November, and asked for the exports to be. restricted in order to cheapen this fertiliser for the “ benefit of British agriculture.” The first statement is quite untrue, and the suggested remedy absolutely unneces- sary, as we only export the surplus supplies, not needed for . home use. The official answer stated that ample supplies had been reserved for the two months in question,,and at a stationary price. The actual facts, which have now been given to the public Press, are even more emphatic and crushing. The charges made against the sulphate of ammonia trade were :—(1) Supplying neutral countries to the detriment of home. growers; (2) neglecting the needs of the British farmer;: (3) neglecting his future needs; (4) favouring . exports, because of the shortage and high prices supposed to result therefrom. On the other hand, the Sulphate of Ammonia. Association states that only surplus production has been, and will be, exported. As for the farmer, it appears that he. has as yet only taken up 18 per cent, of the low-priced supplies reserved for his; autumn dressings. Liberal, provision has also been made for spring requirements, suffi- . cient to cover the deficiency of nitrate if the Government cannot get their purchases delivered here. In other words, the sulphate of ammonia manufacturers are caring for the