THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ July 14, 1916. 75 THE WELSH COAL AHD IRON TRADES. Thursday, July 13. ___________________________________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. An easier tone prevails in the steam coal market. Stocks are rather more abundant, and while colliery quotations continue firm, middlemen are seeking to attract purchasers by offering concessions. Tonnage has scarcely come into port in the quantity anticipated, but there is promise of good arrivals for the next week, which will assist exports. Chartering has been none too active of late? a quiet demand being met with rates that have been only barely maintained, there being scarcely any enquiry about outside of French ports. The Admiralty have been for some days now easier in their demands for coal, which soon reflects upon the market. Smalls show practically no change, maintaining their recent values, while throughs, nuts, Ac., are also quite steady. House coal values are inclined to be firmer in spite of the Government limit, which, it is to be feared, is in some cases inoperative. In patent fuel there is practically nothing doing, and quotations are merely nominal. Coke is very scarce and dear. Pitwood values have shown little fluctuation during the week, latest quotations ruling 40s. to 41s. for best French fir, with no difficulty in moving off supplies. ____________ Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. _______ Steam coals: — Best Black Vein large... Wes tern-valleys, ordin’y Best Eastern-valleys ... Secondary do. Best small coals ..... Secondary do.......... Inferior do........... Screenings ........... Through coals ......... Best washed nuts...... Other sorts:— Current prices. 48/ -49/ 46/ -48/ 45/ —47/ 39/ -43/ 26/ -28/ 23/ —24/ 20/ -21/ 27/ -28/ 21/ -30/ 30/ -33/ Best house coal_______ Secondary do......... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke......... Foundry coke ........ 22/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 55/ -60/ 50/ —52/6 61/ -62/ L’st week’s Last year’s | prices. prices, j 49/ -51/ 25/ -25/6 j 48/ -49/ 23/ -24/ i 47/ -48/ 21/6-22/ | 39/ —43/ : 19/6-20/6 I 26/ -28/ ' 17/6-18/ I 23/ -24/ ' 16/6-17/ 20/ -21/ ; 15/6-16/ I 27/ —28/ : 17/9-18/ i 25/ -30/ ; 18/ -18/6 30/ -33/ 19/ -19/6 23/ -24/ . 27/ -28/ 22/ -23/ ! 25/ -26/ 55/ -60/ 'i 34/ —35/ 50/ -52/6 i 32/ -33/ 61/ —62/ J 38/ -40/ the/- result;* that J f prices [have remained J exceptionally firm. Best Black Veins are 47s. 6d. to 48s., western valleys 47s. to 47s. 6d., and easterns 44s. to 45s. per ton. The small coal market is extremely firm, and there is little alteration in prices. Best bunkers are 29s. to 30s., seconds 26s. to 28s., and cargo sorts 20s. to 25s. per ton. In bituminous coals there is a great demand particularly for coking purposes, and prices are very high. No. 3 Rhondda large is 47s. to 48s., through 38s. to 40s., and smalls 32s. to 40s. No. 2 qualities are 35s. to 37s., through 30s. to 33s., and smalls 23s. to 25s. per ton. Business is restricted, and it is extremely difficult to arrange new business. Patent fuel shows no change. Local makers are booked up many months ahead, and there is consequently no market. For small quantities 55s. to 60s. is quoted, but these prices afford no indication of the market, and the rates are purely nominal. Pit wood has been rather more plentiful, and prices are easier, best qualities being 39s. to 41s. ex-ship. IRON. The quietude in the tin-plate trade has continued, and the shipments last week were only 62,000 boxes, compared with 90,000 boxes received from works, thus leaving 230,000 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans. Prices have not varied, Bessemer standard cokes being 35s. to 36s., and oil sizes 36s. 6d. and 50s. to 51s. respectively. Works are fairly well employed, but American competition is being severely felt, and it is believed that bad times may be in store before the old markets are regained. The galvanised sheet trade is unaltered, 24-gauge corrugateds being £27 to £27 10s. per ton. Welsh haematite is nominal, and steel bars are quoted at £14 per ton. Spelter has declined to £44 per ton, and as extensions are reported at Swansea involving half-a-million capital, it is expected that the bulk of the spelter trade will in future be confined to this district. Iron ore and scrap metals are unchanged. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, July 13. IRON. Whilst all matters at the local iron and steel works remain firm, there is not a large amount of business being done, as anything important is being held over pending the usual quarterly meeting. At bar mills matters remain firm, with to-day’s official quotations based upon .£14 10s. for either Bessemer or Siemens Welsh bars. Steel rails also are unchanged at £14 for heavy sections with light ditto subject to the usual extras. Welsh haematite continues firm and scarce at £7 2s. 6d. delivered to works in the district. Makers have only very scanty supplies available for disposal. At tin-plate works prices continue steady, on the same basis as last week, 35s. 3d. to 35s. 9d. for 20 x 14 Bessemer or Siemens primes, with other sizes and grades according. Cardiff. COAL. The market during the past week has undergone many vicissitudes. In the first period the tendency was firm, but in the latter portion quotations became irregular owing to concessions which were being made. At the time of writing, conditions were on the firm side. Admiralty requirements are still very great, and very little of the superior quality of coals is coming on to the market. First and second Admiralties are only quoted as nominal, and seconds are only 47s. to 49s. Ordinaries are Is. less at 45s. to 47s. In Monmouthshire coal there has been a great demand, but tonnage conditions have been difficult, with Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port last week showed a slight improve- ment, and considering the restrictions in force this is very satisfactory. The coal trade was active, but the exports of patent fuel showed a falling off. The shipments together amounted to 95,456 tons. There was a good attendance on ’Change this morning ; in the anthracite market a quieter tone prevailed. Large was in good demand, but it was possible here and there to obtain parcels at lower than quoted figures. Machine-made cobbles and nuts were firm. Beans and peas continued in strong demand and conse- quently commanded full prices. Bubbly culm and duff were fully up to last levels, but steam coals were unsteady. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current Anthracite:— prices. Best malting large (hand picked) ...... 31/ -33/ Secondary do. ... 28/ -29'6 Big Vein Valley large...; 27/6-29/6 Red Vein large ......! 25/ -27/ ............ Machine-made cobbles 36/ -38/ Paris nuts ..........! — French do............ 35/6-38/ ............... Stove do.............35/ -37/ j Beans ................ 31/ -33/ Machine - made large1 peas __.............. 21/6-23/ Do. fine peas .... — Rubbly culm.........' 13/ -13/6 ................. Duff.................. 5/ - 5/6 I Steam coals:— ! L’st week’s Last year’s Best large .......... 37/6-40/ I Seconds ............... 36/ -37/6 i Bunker throughs...... 29/ -32/ i Small ......................... 20/ -23/6 i Bituminous coals:— ______________________________________ ________________ Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). _________ ________________ Current Steam coals:— prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * Superior seconds i -* Seconds Ordinary do i48/ -50/ Best bunker smalls ! 29/ -30/ Best ordinaries i 26/ -28/ Cargo qualities ! 20/ -25/ Inferior smalls ' 19/ -23/ Best dry coals 1 46/ -48/ Ordinary drys : 45/ -47/ Best washed nuts ' Seconds ! Best washed peas * Seconds j Dock screenings * Monmouthshire— Black Veins 1 47/6-48/ Western-valleys i 47/ -47/6 Eastern-valleys 44/ -45/ Inferior do 43/ -44/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) 22/ -23/ No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 47/ -48/ Through-and-through 38/ -40/ Small 32/ -34/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 35r/ -37/ Through-and-through 30/ —33/ Small 23/ -25/ Best patent fuel 1 50/ -55/ Seconds 1 48/ -50/ Special foundry coke 62/6-65/ Ordinary do. 1 60/ -62/6 Furnace coke 50/ -55/ Pitwood (ex-ship) j 39/ -41/ ;L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. __* __* 50/ -52/ 48/ -50/ 30/ -31/ 27/ -28/ 21/ -25/ 19/ -21/ 45/ -47/ 42/ -44/ 36/ -38/ 33/ -36/ 32/ -35/ 30/ -32/ 50/ -52/6 49/ -50/ 48/ -50/ 40/ -45/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -22/6 45/ -48/ 37/6-40/ 30/ -35/ 35/ -37/6 29/ -31/ 24/ -25/ 50/ -55/ 48/ —50/ 62/ -65/ * Nominal. __* ! 25/ -26/ 20/ 19/6 15/6-16/ 14/6—15/ 25/ -27/ 22/ -24/ 27/ 26/ 25/ 24/ 18/6 25/3 23/9-24/3 23/3 22/6 30/ 27/6-29/ 25/ 23/ 21/ -22/ 20/ 18/6 16/6 35/ -37/6 I 32/ -33/ 42/ -45/ 38/ -41/ 55/ -60/ 52/ -55/ 30/ -35/ 38/6-42/6 25/ -25/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Large............. 43/ -46/ Thro’-and-thro’.....! — Small ........... 26/ -29/ ' Patent fuel ............ 50/ -51/ [ 31/ -33/ ! 23/ -25/ 28/ -29/6 J 22/6-23/6 27/6-29/ ? 21/6-23/ 25/6-27/ ■ 18/6-19/ 35/ -36/6 J 30/ -32/ 33/6-36/ ! 32/6-34/ 33/ -35/6 j 30/6-32/ 31/ -33/ ‘ 24/3-25/3 21/ -22/6 ' 18/ -18/9 — I —- 13/ -13/6 10/6-11/ 5/ - 5/6 6/ - 6/3 37/6-40/ ■ 24/6-25/ 36/6-38/ j 22/ -24/ 30/ -33/ ' 16/6-18/3 20/ -23/6 ; 13/ —15/ 43/ -46/ ■ 24/6-25/ 27/ -30/ 19/6-20/6 48/ -50/ ( 30/ -32/6 _________________________________________________________ Trade in the past week has changed very little. The enquiry continues good, and supplies are still very meagre. The demand for house coal is very firm, and both merchants and colliery representatives have a large number of unexecuted orders on the books, some of which have been on hand many weeks. The reports from the depots continue to show a great shortage. Prices are unchanged, but con- tinue at the maximum rate. Steam coals are also in good demand, but as the munition works and large inland fac- tories, in addition to the railway companies, are all pressing for better supplies, there seems very little hope of getting better supplies for the London trade. Small nuts are prac- tically unobtainable, and all descriptions of slacks are very active. The colliery books all round are reported to be well filled with contract orders, and consequently nothing can be offered on the open market. The attendance on the market has been only moderate during the week, and the actual trade is restricted to very narrow limits. Merchants are very free with orders, and no question is raised as to waiting until late in the season for laying in their winter stocks. It has been confidently anticipated that with the warmer days of summer, when the actual consumption would be at its lowest level, the quantity available for stocking would be largely increased, and stocks would be replenished, but up to the present time no cessation has been apparent in the pressure for immediate supplies, and the outlook for the winter is viewed in many quarters with considerable anxiety. The steady demand from the great body of householders to fill their cellars early in the summer months may lessen the pressure during the early part of the winter. Many of the metropolitan houses have very little room for storing any- thing like an adequate quantity, and therefore the weekly or monthly supplies must be depended upon. The seaborne market is very firm, and the arrivals are coming forward with great regularity. Thirty-five vessels were entered as arriving in the river Thames for Monday’s market, and 10 for Wednesday, all contract cargoes. The freight market is firm, but the scarcity of tonnage is hampering chartering. The Mediterranean demand is very strong. The French limitation scheme has now had a month’s trial, and the Export Committee have found innumerable difficulties, chiefly, however, from the limited tonnage and the difficulty of obtaining coals at limitation prices. Neutral powers are said to be diverting steamers into trades where freights remain unlimited. The immediate effect of the French scheme has been a considerable lowering of the freights and also the pit prices, but the dearth of boats for France has been very pronounced. Some of the French ports are still congested with steamers loaded with coal. The Coal Exchange fund for the Belgians now amounts to £1,313. Current quotations are firm at 19s. to 20s. per ton at pit for Silkstone qualities. Barnsley best house coal, 18s. 6d. ; seconds at 17s. ; Derby Brights, 17s. 6d.; South Yorkshire Hards, 18s. to 18s. 6d. ; Derbyshire Hards, 17s. 6d. South Wales qualities are ruling unusually high. The best Admi- ralties are “ off ” the market, and seconds are quoted as high as 50s. per ton f.o.b., Monmouthshire 50 s., and Rhonddas at 37s. Tyne prices are quoted at 52s. 6d. per ton f.o.b., Durham gas coal 35s., seconds 33s. The Humber coal exports show a falling off of 56 per cent, during the half-year January to June 1916, as compared with the corresponding half-year in 1915, due entirely to the smaller quantities of coal available for sale to foreign countries and the increasing demand for our own Government requirements. The export trade engrosses all the attention at the present time, and as the prices obtainable at the various ports are far ahead of any of the limitation prices in London (and all classes of fuel are easily disposed of for the export trade), the home markets are bound to go short. The production of furnace coke cannot keep pace with the increasing demand, notwithstand- ing the heavy increase in the supplies From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, July 7.—The demand for seaborne house coal con- tinued steady, but no cargoes of either Durham or Yorkshire appear to be forthcoming at present. Cargoes, 21. Monday, July 10.—The general tone of the seaborne house coal market was firm, but no spare cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 35. Wednesday, July 12.—The seaborne house coal market continued firm to-day, but no cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 10. _____________________________ Llanelly. COAL. The conditions governing the position of the mar I et locally are now more satisfactory than they have been for the past few weeks, and for most classes the demand is now brisk. The improvement is, if anything, more noticeable in the anthracite section, and large, cobbles and nuts are being more quickly disposed of, whilst for the latter little difficulty is experienced in securing quite two or three shillings per ton more on prices ruling about a week ago. - Beans and peas, too, are going strong, but the position of rubbly culm and duff remains almost unchanged. Large steams are very scarce and delays in the execution of orders are considerable. Through and small steams are getting busier, but so far values have not fluctuated to any great extent. Manufacturing fuels are quickly bought up and the demand gives no indication of easing. This week’s quotations approximately are :— Prices f.o.b. THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE. Tar Products.—The market keeps steady, considering all things, and prices are fairly well maintained, with the excep- tion of solvent naphthas of the higher fractions, which are the turn easier. Crude, however, is unaltered. Nearest values are :— Anthracite:— Best malting large .. Secondary do. ....... Big Vein large_______ Red Vein do__________ Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts........... French do............ Paris do__________ Machine-made beans ... Do. peas......... Culm ................ Duff................. Other sorts:— Large steam coal..... Through-and-through... Small ............... Bituminous small coal... Current prices. 31/6-33/6 28/6-29/6 27/ -29/6 25/6-27/6 36/ -38 6 35/6 39/ 36/6-39,6 35/6-38'6 32'6-34/6 22/ -23/ 13/ -13/6 5/ - 5/6 37/6-39/6 28/6-32/6 20/ -22/ 27/6-29/6 L’st week’s Last year’s ! prices. 30/6-32/6 28/ -30/ 26/6-28/6 25/6-27/6 35/ -37/ 34/ -36/ 34'6-36/6 33/6-35/6 32/6-34/6 22/ -23/ 13/ -13/6 5/ - 5/6 36/6-38/6 30/ -32/6 20/ -22/ 29/ -31/6 prices 24/ -26/ 22/ -25/ 21/6-23/6 18/ -20/ 30/ -32/ 30/ -33/6 32/ -35/ 32/ -33 6 24/6-25 6 18/ -19/6 10 6-11/ 6/3- 6/9 24/ -26/ 16/6-18/6 14/ —16/ 19/ -21/ Benzols, 90’s ....................... ,, 90’s North ................. ,, 50’s North ................. Toluol ............................. Carbolic acid, crude (60 per cent.)... ,, crystals (40 per cent.) Solvent naphtha, south (90% at 190 dogs.), as in quality and package... Solvent naphtha, north (90% at 190 degs.), as in quality and package... Crude naphtha, north (in bulk) ...... Creosote Tor ordinary qualities) .... Pitch (f.o.b. cast coast) ............. ,, (f.a.s west coast) ............. Tar (per ton ex works) _____________ 1/0} 1/3—1/4 2/3 3/4 1/3 Rise (+) or fall (-) on the week. 2/ ... —/I 2/1 ... — /I /6f-/7 ... - ... - 15/—15/6 ... — 14/—14/6 ... — 15/3—19/3 ... — Sulphate of Ammonia.—The hardening tendency notified last week has materialised, while there has been a distinct quickening of the forward market, in which £17 15s. has been paid. The statistical outlook also favours the prospect of an advancing market. Closing prompt prices are :— London (ordinary makes) ... £16/18/9 Beckton (25 per cent.) .... £15/17/6 ............... Liverpool ....................... £17/5 Hull ................... £17 Middlesbrough .......... £17 Scotch ports ............. £17/5—£17/7/6 Wales ................. £16/18/9—£17/2/6 Nitrate of soda (ord.) per cwt 17/10} iise ( + ) or all ( —) on Lie week. +2/6 +2/6 +1/3 + 5/