1358 _______________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _____________________________________________ December 27, 1918. THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Tuesday, December 24. Scotland.—Western District. COAL. Practically the entire output from the West of Scotland collieries is absorbed by industrial, gas, and household requirements. Consequently shipments are still under strict supervision. No change in conditions is likely to take place until after the turn of the year. Prices f.o.b. Glasgow. Steam coal.............i Ell .................... Splint.................. Treble nuts ............ Double do............... Single do. . ........... Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 34/6 1 34/6 27/6 32/6-35/ 32/6-35/ 26/6-28/ 35/ -37/ 37/ 28/ -30/ 30/ 30/ 23/ 29/ 29/ 22/ 28/ ; 28/ 21/ IRON. Scotch pig iron makers have plenty of business on home account, and everything produced is quickly absorbed. Exports are still to the slow side, and some time is likely to lapse before this department returns to its former activity. In the malleable iron trade makers are fully booked up with local orders, but are once more on the outlook for new business. The export price has been reduced from <£20 to .£18 10s., and this may influence transactions, but many buyers anticipate a still further drop in values, and are holding off in the meantime. Enquiries for flat and corrugated black and galvanised sheets are numerous, and the outlook is promising for this branch of the trade. ________ ________ Scotland. Eastern District. COAL. No change is reported from the Lothians. Admiralty business is said to be still considerable, but otherwise outputs are reserved for local consumption. Prices f.o.b. Leith. Current Best screened steam coal... prices. 33/6 Secondary qualities 32/6 30/ Treble nuts Double do 29/ Single do 28/ L’st week’s prices. 33/6 32/6 30/ 29/ 28/ Last year’s prices 26/6 25/6 23/ 22/ 21/ The Fifeshire collieries have as much as they can do to overtake local orders, and outputs are disposed of to home consumers entirely, with the exception of certain quantities to the Admiralty. Prices f.o.b. Methil or Burntisland. later loading. Best Blyth steams for January-March loading for neutrals could readily command 85s. per ton, gas bests 75s., and Durham bunkers from 65s. to 75s., according to loading date. So far as the present year is concerned, business may be regarded as closed. Loading turns are choked for weeks ahead, and no free coals worth mentioning are available until well into January. Pro- ducers are declining to quote for any period ahead, preferring to await developments. The coke market is stronger, with foundry and blastfurnace coke in good demand at well-maintained figures. Gas coke has advanced 7s. 6d. per ton, and is now listed at from 60s to 62s. 6d. The Norwegian State Railways are enquiring for their 8,000 tons of Northumberland and/or Durham best steams for February-March shipment. Whilst merchants are willing to tender, doubts are expressed as to whether there will be any supplies wherewith to meet this order. Sunderland. COAL. Owing to the shortage of coal the market is idle. The output is absorbed in meeting the requirements of home tradesand shipments to the Allies. Buyers are without the slightest chance of securing supplies before mid-January Neutrals are keen to operate for all positions from January to March. The average price for the several parcels of steam coal (cargoes) is about 70s. The nominal value for best gas is 70s. Bunkers for prompt shipment are in demand, and 70s. is freely offered for almost any quality. There is a steady demand for gas coke at 55s.; but foundry is plentiful, with a weak undertone at 65s. f.o.b. Middlesbrough-on-Tees. goal. Business in coal is practically at a standstill owing to inability to obtain supply for anything outside official business. Demand on home and Allied acoount keeps heavy and difficult to meet. Tonnage is very plentiful. In fact, many boats m- st continue to be idle until after the turn of the year. Neutral business' is almost impossible, as only well forward enquiries are entertained. Bunker coal is very scarce, and there is vain search for odd lots to get steamers away. Coke shortage is acute generally, but supplies to local blastfurnaces are maintained on a scale sufficient to meet absolut? needs. IRON. Transactions in pig iron are very few, as is usual at this holiday season, but with consuming works closed, and blast- furnaces in ordinary operation, stocks of pig may accumulate to some extent during the holidays. Only limited ship- ments, both coastwise and foreign, are reported. For home consumption No. 3 Cleveland pig, No. 4 foundry, and No. 4 forge are all quoted 95s., No. 1 is 99s., and mixed numbers of east coast haematite 122s. 6d., whilst for export No. 3 and the lower qualities are 145s., No. 1 is 150s. and mixed numbers of haematite 172s. 6d. Manufacturers of finished iron and steel are taking longer holiday than usual, very largely owing to the scarcity of coal, but of course opportunity will be taken during the stoppage to carry out much needed general overhauling of plant. Works are closed for a fortnight. are not now quite as large as they were. In other respects the position is unchanged. As far as the market for haematite pig iron is concerned, the demand is over- whelming, and even with a full production makers are still unable to fulfil all requirements. So far there has been no alteration in prices. The steel trade is exceedingly brisk. The situation in the Cumberland iron ore industry is fairly satisfactory. ________ ______ South-West Lancashire. COAL. Matters in this district remain much in the condition reported in the previous issue. The official holidays at the pits include one day (or at the most two days) this week and the usual two days at the New Year. Probably forges and heavy users of fuel in the iron trades will make a longer holiday, and so bring a little relief in the present situation. Every avenue of trade seems to be short of its full quantity of house coal, gas coal, and shipping coal, particularly the latter. Complaints arise regarding vessels being delayed in consequence of the lack of available bunkering fuel. Prices aS pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal Best ................ Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Medium .............. Do. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Kitchen .............. Com. (f.o.b. Garston, net) Screened forge coal...... .............. Best scrnd. steam coal f.o.b. Best slack ............. Secondary slack ........ Common Jo. __....... ... _________________ _________ * Allies. Current L’st week’s Last year’ prices. prices. prices. 27'6-28/6 27/6-28'6 24'6 29/ -30/ 29/ -30/ 26/ 25/6-26/6 i 25 6-26/6 21 6-22/ 28'6-29/ i 28/6-29/ 25/ 24 6 24/6 20/6 27/ -28/ ' 27/ -28/ 24/ 24/6 24'6 20 6 ( 34/6* 1 34/6*) 30/6 I 65/t 65/t 5 22/6 22,6 18/6 21 6 21/6 17/6 20 6 20,6 16/6 t Neutrals. _________________ South Lancashire and Cheshire. COAL. Owing to the holidays there is little to report. The colliery proprietor has been doing what he could to produce more coal. Prices are as below: — Prices at pit (except where otherwise stated). House coal.-— Best ............... Medium.............. Common............... Furnace coal..... .... Bunker (f.o.b. Partington) Best slack ___.......... Common slack ...... . Current prices. 28 6 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24J -24/6 __* iL’st week's I prices. I 28 6 I 26/ -27/ 24/6-25/ 24/ -24/6 __* 22,/6 upwds |21/ upwds 22/6upwds 21/ upwds Last year’s prices. 24/6 22/ -23/ 20 6-21I 20/ -20/6 _______* 18/6 upwds 17/ upwds Current prices. L’st week’s prices. Last year’s prices. Best screened navigation coal 36/ -38/ 36/ -38/ 29/ —31/ Unscreened do 31/ -32/ 31/ -32/ 24/ -25/ First-class steam coal 35/ 35/ 28/ Third-class do. 31/ 31/ 24/ Treble nuts 30/ 29/ 30/ 23/ Double do 29/ 22/ Single do ... 28/ 28/ 21/ ___________ ___________ * As per official list. _________________ Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. Newcastle-on-Tyne. COAL. The congestion of orders and the relative scarcity of fuel continue in the local coal market, and an uncommonly keen “squeeze ” for supplies is anticipated, for it is certain that the output will -be greatly curtailed during the current fortnight by reason of the seasonable holidays. There is no ground for complaint with reference to the manner in which the miners have been doing their work. The pro- duction at the collieries has been gratifyingly large, when all adverse circumstances are taken into consideration. It is not nearly sufficient to meet the requirements on Govern- ment, Allied and inland accounts, and therefore the cupboard is still practically bare so far as foreign customers are concerned. Neutrals are occasionally able to obtain odd lots of coals, but they experience much trouble and have to pay very stiffly. This shows that the embargo on shipments to Denmark, Sweden and Holland is not absolute. A cargo of coals has been arranged for for shipment to Denmark under special licence. The shipload is composed of “ parcels ” of bunker coal, and the average price of the lot works out at about 70s. per ton. Neutrals are willing to pay “anything within reason”—a very elastic phrase in the coal trade at present—for supplies either for prompt or Cumberland. Maryport. COAL. Both household and industrial consumers have been laying in stocks to tide them over the holidays. The home market is more active than it has been this year. A good many local users are still on short rations, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to give the essential indus- tries sufficient to keep them going. A small increase in the importation of fuel from outside districts has helped matters this week. It is not expected that there will be any improvement in the position before the end of January. All the collieries will be idle on Christmas Day and the following day, and it has also been decided to have holiday two days during New Year week. The landsale trade is brisk. The question of shortage of coal for household pur- poses cropped up at the meeting of the Maryport Urban District Council this week, when it was pointed out that the scarcity of coal in Maryport was due to the short delivery by one particular colliery. However, this week they were better off. The demand for best steam coal for gas, locomotive and industrial purposes is very strong. Business on export account is well maintained. Exports this week have also included 1,200 tons of pitch from the West Cumberland by-product works for the Continent. Current quotations. Prices f.o.b. for prompt shipment. Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best, Blyths (D.C.B.) ... 37/ -80/ 36/6-80/ 37' -80/ 30 -32/6 Do. Tynes (Bowers,&c.) 36/6-80/ 29 6-32/ Secondary, Blyths Do. Tynes (Hastings 32/6-67/6 32/6—67/6 25 6-28/ or West Hartleys) ... 34/ -70’ 34/ -70/ 27/ -29'6 Unscreened 30'6-61,8 27/ -50/ 30 6-61/8 23/6-27 6 Small, Blyths 27/ -50/ 20/ -22 6 Do. Tynes...... 25/6-45/ 25/6-45/ 18 6-21/ Do. specials Other sorts:— , 27/6-50/ 27/6-50/ 20/6-23/ Smithies Best gas coals (New 32/ -60/ 32/ -60/ 25/ -33/6 Pelton or Holmside) Secondary gas coals 32/ -65/ 32/ -65/ 25/ -27/6 (Pelaw Main or similar) 30/6-60/ 30/6-60/ 23/6-26/ Special gas coals Unscreened bunkers, 33/6-65/ 33/6-6 5/ 26/6-29/ Durhams Do. do. 31/ -65/ 31/ -65/ 26,6-27/6 N orthumbr ians 31/ -55/ 31/ -55/ 26 6-27/6 Coking coals 31/ -55/ 31/ -55/ 24/ -27/6 Do. smalls 31/ -55/ 31/ —55/ 24/ -27/6 House coals 35/6-75/ 35/6-75/ 28/6-32/6 Coke, foundry 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ - 42 6-45/ Do. blast-furnace 49/6-65/ 49/6-65/ 42,6-45/ Do. gas 60/ -62/6 52,6-55/ 35/ -37/6 Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best Cumberl’nd coal at pit 29/10 29/10 25/10 Best washed nuts at pit... 28/2 28/2 24/2 Seconds at pit 27/4 27/4 23/4 Washed nuts at pit 27/4 27/4 23/4 Do. smalls ,, 23/2 23/2 19/2 Do. peas „ 21/6 21/6 17/6 Best dry small, at pit 26/ 26/ — Buckhill best coal at pit... 29/ 29/ 25/ Do. double-scrned washed nuts 27/6 27/6 23 6 Oughterside best coal ...... 28 2 28/2 25/ Ough ter side best washed nuts 26/6 26,6 23 6 St. Helens (Siddick) best coal at pit 29/ 29/ 25/ St. Helens (Siddick) best house nuts at pit 27/6 27/6 23,6 Best Cumberland coal. f.o.b 26/ 26/ 22/ Best washed nuts, f.o.b. ... 24/ 24/ 20/ Best bunkers (coastwise) 35/ 35/ 31/ Do. (foreign)... 38/ 38/ 31/ Best works fuel 26/6 26 6 22'6 Best gas coal..... 26,6 26,6 22/6 Best washed nuts for gas- works 25/6 25 6 21/6 _________________ Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Leeds. COAL. The pits will be idle this week from to-day (Tuesday) onwards, and this, coupled with wintry weather, has made the position more difficult. Stocks are exceedingly low. To some extent the ban placed on export is helping to tide over a time of special stress, but as only a week’s benefit of the shipping restriction has been experienced before the holidays, its effect is barely appreciable as yet. There is some hope of an improvement in the situation when the pits make a restart after the holidays, as a considerable number of miners have recently returned from the Army, and are expected to resume ^h.eir ordinary occupations in the pits. The gas works are receiving some benefit from the diversion of suitable qualities from industrial consumption, but while supplies on the whole are better, many works are barely in a position safely to expand the make of gas to meet the extra needs of the season. The industrial posi- tion in regard to coal supplies is simplified by the fact that holidays corresponding in period to those of the collieries are general. The transition from war work to peace activities is taking place smoothly and rapidly, and there is little reduction in fuel requirements on this account. Furnace coke is in quieter demand, and production is on a lower scale, but a revival is expected early in the new year.. Pit prices are nominal: — Current pit prices. IRON. Considerable activity still prevails in all departments of the west coast haematite pig iron trade, but during the last fortnight production has been slightly curtailed, owing to the serious shortage of east coast coke. Supplies of coke from the east coast have diminished considerably of late, and the shortage has now become so acute that, unless there is a speedy change for the better, it is feared that two or three more furnaces will have to be either damped down or put on slack blast. Only about one-half of the usual supplies from the east coast arrived last week, and stocks of local coke from the Cumberland by-product ovens House coal:— Current L’st week’s Last year’s Prices at pit (London) : prices. prices. ! prices. Haigh Moor selected ... 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 1 21/6-22 6 Wallsend & London best 25/ -25 6 25/ -25/6 ! 21/ -21/6 Silkstone best 25/ -25/6 25/ -25/6 21/ -21/6 Do. house 24/ -24/6 24/ -2U6 20f -20 6 House nuts 22/6-23,6 22/6—23/6 18,6-19,6 Prices f.o.b. Hull:— Haigh Moor best 29/6-30/ 29/6-30/ 25/6-26/ Silkstone best 28/ -29/ 28/ —29/ 24/ -25/ Do. house 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ ■ : 23/ -24/ Other qualities 24'6-26,6 24/6-26/6 j 20/6-22,6 Gas coal:— Prices at pit: Screened gas coal 22/ -22/6 22/ -22/6 18/ -18/6 Gas nuts 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 17/ -18/ Unscreened gas coal ... 20/6-21/6 20/6-21/6 16/6-17/6 Other sorts:— Prices at pit: Washed nuts 22/6-23/6 22/6-23/6 18/6-19/6 Large double-screened engine nuts .• 21/6-22/6 216-22/6 17/6-18 6 Sma.ll nuts 20/6-21/6 20,6-21/6 16/6-17,6 Rough unscreened engine coal 20/6-21/6 20'6-21/6 ’ 16/6-17/6 Bost rough slacks 19/6-20/6 19/6-20/6 | 15 6-16/6 Small do. 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 ! 13,6-14,6 Coking smalls 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 14/ -15/ Coke:— Price at ovens Furnace coke 32/ 32/ 32/ Barnsley. < GOAL. The output has been largely devoted to home industries and household purposes, and generally speaking the result is such as should relieve any anxiety over the holiday