Jun> 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ... 1049 THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. ...Thursday/ June 1. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Business in the west of Scotland coal trade continues brisk, but the market has shown a somewhat, easier tendency, due in a measure to a feeling of uncertainty regarding the Government's action. Orders oh hand, however, are sufficient to keep the collieries fully engaged, and though the demands for household qualities and gas coal are now much curtailed, nothing is being allowed to accumulate. Best qualities of ells, splints and navigations are well taken up, the last-named being quoted about 39s. to 40s. per ton. Second-class qualities are also commanding a good deal of attention, and values are well maintained. The local demand for nuts of all sizes is very heavy, and few shipping licences are being granted for these sorts. Shipments have been remarkably good during the past week, amounting to 147,525 tons, compared with 111,889 in the preceding week and 143,005 tons in the corresponding week last year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal................ BH ...................... Splint...........■........ Treble nuts .............. Double do................. Single do. ............... Current prices. 28/ -32/. 35/ -37/6 35/ -45/ 21/6-22/ 20/6-21/6 19/6-20/6 iL’st week's’ Last year's prices. I prices. 28/ -33/ ! 15/ -17/6 i 38/ -41/ 17/ -17/6 I 36/ -45/ 18/6-24/ 21/ -22/ . 20/6-21/ 19/3-20/ 17/6-18/ 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 IRON. No change of importance falls to be reported in connec- tion with the Scotch iron trade. Activities in all branches •of the trade are fully maintained, and values are firm all round. Pig iron makers report that the demand for all qualities of iron is unabated, and outputs are fully taken up, while stocks in makers’ yards are gradually decreasing. Licences have been granted a little more freely of late, and good shipments of iron have gone to France and Italy and a fair quantity to the colonies. The prices of makers' iron are quoted as follow:—Monkland and Carnbroe, f.a.s. at Glasgow, Nos. 1, 125s., Nos. 3, 120s.; Govan, No. 1, 122s. 6d.’ No. 3,120s.; Clyde, Summerlee, Calder and Langloan, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s.; Gartsherrie, No. 1, 131s. 6d., No. 3, 126s. 6d.; Eglinton, at Ardrossan or Troon, and Dalmelling- ton,. at Ayr, Nos. 1, 126s. 6d., No. 3, 121s. 6d.; Shotts and Carron, at Leith, Nos. 1, 130s., Nos. 3, 125s. per ton. The pig iron warrant market continues inactive. Buyers have raised their quotation for Cleveland iron to 92s. 6d. per ton, but sellers have not even mentioned prices. Total stocks now amount to 34,561 tons, compared with 116,098 tons at the end of 1915. In manufactured iron the chief feature is the demand for malleable iron products. Makers are over- whelmed with orders, both for iron and mild steel bars, and find it impossible, despite increased output, to keep deliveries up to date. Prices are very firm, and Crown quality bars are quoted <£14 to <£14 2s. 6d. per ton net, f.o.t. works for home delivery and similar figures f.o.b. Glasgow. Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. . , ■ COAL. ’ • ' During last week 105,277 tons of coal and 9,422 tons of coke were despatched from Tyne Dock, an increase of 28,267 tons of coal .and 8,514 tons of coke when compared with the shipments for the corresponding week of last year. The Dunston clearances amounted to 35,495 tons of coal and 5,759 tons of coke, a decrease of 4,312 tons of coal, but an increase of 4,091 tons of coke. The Blyth ship- ments totalled 70,477 tons of coal and coke, an increase of 22,002 tons. Thus, the shipments from the three places , mentioned aggregated 226,430 tons, an increase of 9,021 tons on those for the previous week, and of 58,562 tons on those for the corresponding week of last year. The ..prompt coal market has been very quiet since last report. There has been a general hold-off from the transaction of business pending the evolution of the new schemes for the restriction of coal freights from. British ports to France and for the limitation of prices of coal intended for French destinations. The result has been something akin to general stagnation. At the time of writing coal supplies appear to be rather more plentiful, but, after all, that simply means that the normal demand has been pent up. When that demand is fully resumed, there will be found to be no surplusage of fuel, for the collieries state that they are already well booked up over the first half of June, and there is little likelihood of the output of coal overtaking the enquiry at present —not, indeed, for the duration of the war. Thus it is that, despite the momentary absence of business, f.o.b. quotations for prompt shipment are very firmly maintained, the only alterations, indeed, being in the direction of increases. The price-list with which this report closes refers, of course, to coal for other directions than France. On the week, the following variations in what we may call these “ free trade" quotations have occurred:—Best Blyth steams are Is. 6d. per ton dearer; gas seconds, Is. more ; Durham unscreened bunkers, 6d. to Is. higher ; and coking coals, Is. advanced. All other descriptions of fuel are unaltered. Thus far, no trans- actions at the new rates have been recorded on the coal market. The only new-item of business worth noting this week is that the Norwegian Government is stated to be enquiring for supplies of Northumbrian steams for naval purposes, over the summer. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Steam coals :— Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings or West Hartleys) ... Unscreened Small, Blyths Do. Tynes Do. specials Other sorts:— Smithies Best gas coals (New Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals (Pelaw Main or similar) Special gas oals Unscreened bunkers, Durhams Do. do. Northumbrians Coking coals Do. smalls ...... Coke, foundry Do. blast-furnace Do. gas ' Current prices'.' ’ 60/ -62/6 60: 50/. 55/ 40/ -50/ 35/ 30/ -32/6 ‘35/, .35/ 37/6 35/ -36/ 37/6-40/ 36/ -38/ 40/ 35/ -36/ ; 35/ 50/ -60/ 47/6 44/ 27/ -28/ L’stweek’s prices. 60/ -61/ ! 60/ ] 50/ i 55/ 40/ -50/ 35/ 30/ -32/6 35/ . 35/ 2 ' -37/6 35/ 37/6-40/ 35/ -37/6 40/ 35/ 33/ < 50/ -60/ ! 47/6 44/ 27/ -28/ Last year’s prices. ; 23/6-24/6 22/6 19/ -20/ I 19/ -20/ i 18/ ; 16/ -16/6 ! 15/ -15/6 17/6 22/ 22/6-23/6 21/ 25/ 20/ -23/ 18/ -19/ 22/ 21/ 22/6-25/ i35/ -37/6 30/ -32/6 19/ -20/ Scotland.—Eastern District. COAL. Collieries in the Lothians district are doing a fair amount of prompt business, and are also well booked a few weeks ahead. There is more willingness on' the part of holders to sell, but extremely high prices are asked for for- ward shipment. Clearances for the past week only amounted to 29,732 tons, against 42,262 tons in the pre- ceding week and 49,181 tons in the corresponding week of last year. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Sunderland. COAL. The pxports from Sunderland last week amounted to 66,605 tons of coal and 190 tons of coke, as compared with 61,905 tons of coal and 440 tons of coke for the corre- sponding period of 1915, being an increase of 4,700 tons of coal and a decrease of 250 tons of coke. Prices remain nominally firm, with special Wear gas at up to 42s. 6d. Bunkers are steady at 40s. for best qualities, and 35s. for ordinary kinds. Coke prices are firmer. Prices f.o.b. Sunderland. are quoted 35s. to 36s., second qualities 32s. 6d., and special Wears round about 37s. 6d. Durham steam coals srange -- from 50s, /to 52s. 6d.; Bunkers are inz very good request, and ordinary Durhams are realising 35s. to 36s.; while best kinds are in the neighbourhood of 37s. 6d. .Coking'coals are very well taken up at from 33s. to 35s. All classes of coke are in good demand both for local use and for delivery to other districts, and supply is none too plentiful, with the result that customers readily pay the fixed maximums for home use. Durham blastfurnace coke Of average quality is 28s. at the ovens, and 30s. 6d, at the ovens is the price for kinds low in phosphorus. Good foundry sorts are quoted 45s. to 50s. f.o.b. Gas-house coke runs from -27s'. to' 30s. f.o.b. according to port of shipment. IRON. The announcement that the maximum price of Cleveland pig iron for home consumption is to be raised hasJ caused no surprise. It is stated that after the end of next month the maximum will be 87s. 6d.. Such an announcement has not been officially made, but traders generally vouch for the accuracy of the statement. But for the continued scarcity of pig iron, a large business would be.,passing. Buyers are keen, but they experience the greatest difficulty in placing orders. The Government are now pressing makers to increase the output, and as they have intimated that they will provide labour and material for that purpose preparations are in active progress for enlarging the production. One or two idle furnaces are shortly to be re-started on the manufacture of haematite, an additional one on basic is to be put into blast, and hope is expressed that the make of Cleveland pig may also be increased. One of the greatest obstacles to enlarging, the output is the shortage of coke. There is little business passing in pig iron. No. 3 Cleveland is 82s. 6d. for home use, and? nominally 100s. for export, whilst Nos. 1, 2 and 3 east coast hsematite pigs stand at 82s. 6d. for home consumption and 140s. and upward for export. The foreign ore trade shows no change. Rubio of 50 per cent, quality is fully 18s; f.o.b.' at port of despatch, making the ex-ship Tees quotation in the open market 36s. 6d. as the freight Bilbao-Middles- brough is 18s. 6d., but consumers under control are permitted to arrange freights through the Government at 17s., making the ex ship Tees price of best rubio 35s. Excellent supplies of foreign ore are coming, steadily to hand. Imports to the Tees during May reached 195,178 tons. Manufactured iron and steel producers con- tinue almost exclusively engaged on '.work specified by the Ministry of Munitions, and have little or no -time to consider the rather numerous ordinary' commercial enquiries in the market. Quotations all round are strong. -------—'—■ - ■ Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. The situation in the Cumberland coal trade is easier this week than it has been for some months. The diminution on local landsale account has released a fair amount of coal for other branches, and manufacturing requirements, more particularly at the iron ore mines, are not so large as they were. There is, of course, not enough to give all users their full supplies, but the position has become less stringent. This week a good surplus was left for shipping, purposes. All the collieries in the county are working full time, and outputs continue to increase. House coal is inactive, but all the other branches are doing well. The collieries are well off for orders, and as far as can be fore- seen there is no likehood of any diminution on either home or export accounts this summer.. Gas coal for home use is in fairly strong demand and several of the local councils will be coming into the market shortly to renew their contracts for gas coal. Locomotive fuels for the local railways are in very keen, request and there is a good all- round demand, from both home and outside consumers, for all varieties of coal for industrial purposes; smalls are still very scarce, and nearly all .the .production is now required for the local by-product ovens. The shipping trade to Ireland is in a healthy condition. More coasting vessels are mow available and the- -shipments from - Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven are all on the increase. All varieties of fuel are in keen demand for the Irish market, and requirements in this branch are still much larger than can be met. During ;the week 19 vessels have sailed from Maryport with coals for Irish ports, and the shipments have • amountedf to 5,067 tons, compared with 5,550 tons this time last year, or an increase of ..1,532 tons compared with last week. . Coke makers are very busy, and all the Cumberland by-product* ovens are fully employed. Best screened steam coal... Secondary qualities..... Treble nuts ............ Double do. ............ Single do.............. Current prices. 42/6-45/ 42/ 24/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ L'st week’s prices. 42/ -45/ 1 40/ 25/ -26/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -22/9 Last year’s prices. 18/ -18/6 17/6-18/ 18/ -19/ 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ The coal trade in Fifeshire is in a satisfactory position. Tonnage is plentiful, and collieries are kept busy. For forward business enquiries are still coming to hand, but the collieries are not inclined to contract ahead, and any quotations mentioned are generally prohibitive. Ship- ments for the week amounted to 60,047 tons, against 61,543 in the previous week, and 66,683 tons in the same week last year. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. Best screened navigation coal..................... Unscreened do............ First-class steam coal... Third-class do........... Treble nuts ............. Double do. ....... Single do................ Current prices. 45/ -50/ 43/ -47/6 40/ -45/ . 33/ -37/6 . 24/ -26/ . 23/ -24/ . 21/ -22/ L’st week’s Lastyear’s prices. prices. 46/ -50/ 36/ -40/ 42/6-45/ 37/6-40/ 24/ -26/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 24/6-26/ 22/ —24/ 19/ -22/ 16/ -17/6 j 17/6-18/ 17/ -17/6 j 16/6-17/ Current L’stweek’s Lastyear’s Gas coals:— prices. prices. prices. Special Wear gas coals 42/6 37/6-40/ ^3/ Secondary do. House coals:— 35/ 33/6-34/6 •22/ Best house coals 62/6 50/ . 27/6 22/ . Ordinary do Other sorts:— 50/ 42/6 Lambton screened 60/ 57/ -60/ 27/ ’ South Hetton do 60/ 57/6 27/ - Lambton unscreened ... 36/ . 34/ 20/ South Hetton do 36/ 33/ 20/ Do. treble nuts 37/6 — 23/6 . Coking coals unscreened 35/6-36/ 35/ 20/ Do. smalls 34/6 ' 32/6 36/ 19/6 Smithies.... 35/ 20/6 Peas and nuts 37/6 37/6-40/ 24/ Best bunkers 40/ 37/6 22/6 Ordinary bunkers Coke:— 35/ 35/ . 19/6 Foundry coke Blast-furnace coke (did. .47/6 . 47/6 37/6 Teesside furnaces) ... 28/ 28/ 30/ Gas coke 27/ . 27/ 20/ All the output is going to the West Cumberland blast- furnaces. There is continual activity in the local by- products trade and all the plants in the district are The aggregate shipments from Scottish ports during the past week amounted to 237,304 tons, compared with 215,694 in the preceding week, and 258,869 tons in the corres- ponding week of last year. Freight rates for the Mediterranean are lower. For other districts there is little business doing, owing to the diffi- culty to secure export licences. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. COAL. All descriptions of fuel are scarce for prompt business. Practically every department of the market is inactive, and attention is almost entirely devoted to accelerating the shipments already arranged for. Best Durham gas coals Current quotations. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit Best washed nuts at pit... Buckhill best coal „ ... Do. double-scrned washed nuts at pit Oughterside best coal at pit Oughterside best washed nuts at pit St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit .. St. Helens best house nuts at pit ..... Best dry small at pit Best steam nuts . Best Cumberl’nd coal, f.o.b. Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... Best bunkers (coastwise) Do. (for foreign-going steamers) Bunkers (mixed nuts and steam coal) (coastwise) Do. (foreign) Best coal for gasworks ... Best washed nuts for gas- works ........................ Current prices. - ■ 23/4 - . 2173 22/6' : 21/ 22/6 ' 21/ / 22/0 . 21/ ' 12/6 19/ 19/6 17/6 25/ . ■ 30/ 21/6 ' / 25/' 19/3 s 18/3 L’stweek’s prices. . 23/4 . 21/3 22/6 " 21/ . 22/6 21/ ' .22/6. / ” 21/‘ ' 12/6 . 19/ ’■■■ 19/6 17/6 i ,25/.,,.. 30/ 21/6 , ! :2.5/ - 19/3 : -As/S Lastyear’s prices. 20/10 . 18/9 < 20/ " . . 18/6., ■ 20/ -< A 18/6 ’ . • ,20/ ; . , 18/6 •' ,.'.,:ll/83>;' 16/8 , 19/6 '17/6 19/ A AL . 17/ ! 15/ ■ 14/ ' -