October 22, 1915. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 835 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, October 21. ___________________________________________ North Wales. Wrexham. COAL. The general condition of the coal trade of this locality remains in a satisfactory state, and all the collieries continue to work at full stretch, although some have been a little bit hampered through shortage of empty wagons. The position of the house coal trade is particularly strong, as there are a large number of orders on the books of the different collieries for all grades of house fuel, and the pressure of course is mainly due to the shrinkage in the output due to the shortage of labour, and it is considered that the position is likely to be more acute in the near future. Merchants are pressing for supplies for their landsale depots, and those who are able to send in their own wagons get a quicker and fuller supply. The position as regards steam coal is not quite so brisk, although there is no difficulty in selling the output, owing to the great demand by railway companies for locomotive fuel, and added to this is the demand by industrial firms having large Government contracts. There is little change in the shipping trade. A fair tonnage has been despatched from Ellesmere Port and Garston Docks, but the volume of trade in shipment coal has been less than normal. The gas coal trade is steady. Supplies are being kept up to the weekly contract tonnage, and there have not been any new contracts fixed up that can be heard of. Negotiations are afoot in regard to the effect which the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act will have on the contracts now existing between buyers and sellers, many gas companies having given notice under the provisions set forth in the Act. Further economies in public lighting are being effected, especially along the coast line of North Wales. Small coal is having a fair demand, nuts being as usual particularly scarce, and the tonnage of slack available is much less than in normal times due to the reduced raise. There has not been any appreciable alteration as regards prices. House coals are being retailed at the wharves at 25s. to 27s. 6d. per ton for best, and 23s. 4d. to 25s. per ton for the seconds. Large steam coal fetches 18s. to 19s., and about fid. per ton less is accepted for shipping orders, while 18s. to 19s. is quoted for best large gas coal, and fid. to Is. per ton less for nuts. Slack is listed at 8s. 6d. to 9s. 6d. at pit, and gas coke at 16s. 8d. to 18s. 4d. per ton at the gas works. ! Current Prices at pit f.o.r.- prices. Best house coal ...... 20/ -21/ Secondary do...........19/ —20/ Steam coal............ 18/ -19/ Gas coal..............: 18/ -19/ ................ Bunkers.............. 17/6-18/6 Nuts ................. 17/6-18/6 Slack .................8/6- 9/6 Gas coke (at works)____; 16/8-18/4 Prices landsale: -- i Best house coal ......: 25/ -27/6 Seconds ..............■ 23/4-25/ Slack ................I 13/4—15/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. 20/ -21/ 14/9-15/9 19/ -20/ 13/9-14/9 18/ -19/ i 12/3-13/' 18/ -19/ ; 12/ —12/6 17/6-18/ i 12/ -12/3 17/6-18/ i 11/ -11/9 8/ - 9/6 , 5/6- 7/ 17/6-19/2 : 11/8-13/4 25/ -27/6 : 18/4-20/ 23/4-25/ ' 16/8-18/4 13/4-14/2 j 10/ -11/8 _________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. The outlook in the coal trade grows darker week by week, to-day’s view showing no trace of any sign of improvement. Tonnage is scarcer than ever, while the week’s chartering promises little in the way of increasing the supply of steamers. Collieries are quoting here and there in what seems an erratic manner, making it most difficult to indicate prices, which, indeed, vary in every direction. It is accurate to say that to-day’s values are less than one-half of the prices paid last May at the top of the market, although wages and other expenses of colliery working have increased considerably since that time. The coal trade merits a reputation for rapid changes, but without some drastic and early alteration in the tonnage supply, the year will probably drift out with busi- ness no better than during the past month. Outward freights continue to advance for all destinations, tonnage being extremely scarce. Up to 42s. 6d. has been arranged for several Mediterranean ports. Pitwood continues in greatly deficient supply, all sizes being looked for, latest values of good fir being 42s. 6d. to 43s. per ton ex ship. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. for lights. Mills are well booked for the early part of next year, and will now only accept further orders upon their own terms. Welsh haematite has again advanced, current quotations reading 110s. to 112s. 6d., delivered to works within the district. Iron ore is much scarcer and firmer, with values uncertain. The easing of export restrictions has stiffened the tinplate department, and more business is now being negotiated. Prices have advanced to 18s. 4|d. to 18s. 6d. for 20 x 14 Bessemer or Siemens primes. Cardiff. COAL. Instead of improving, the market position seems to be getting from bad to worse, and the tonnage scarcity is more pronounced than ever. The increase in chartering which was noted a week ago has not been maintained, and the outlook is dismal in the extreme. The amount of tonnage taken up last week was only 98,550 tons, compared with 220,650 tons in the preceding six days, or a decrease of 122,100 tons. To further complicate matters, dense fogs have prevailed for some days, and this has occasioned considerable delay in arrivals. Colliery stoppages have been more numerous, and even the most favourably situated concerns have had the greatest difficulty in providing sufficient wagons to keep the pits in full work. All the railway sidings are blocked with accumulations of coal, and there is no hope of any relief until vessels arrive in larger numbers. Surprise continues to be felt that the Govern- ment do not take action in order to improve the situation. It is notorious that great delays are taking place at the ports of discharge, which might be obviated if the control were in the hands of an expert committee. Various sug- gestions have been made to the authorities, but at present there appears to be no solution of the difficulty. The result is that freights have gone up by leaps and bounds, and higher rates are now obtainable than at any previous time since the commencement of the war. In many instances the amount demanded by shipowners has gone up 300 per cent, since August. Marseilles could then be done at 17 fr., whereas to-day 51 fr. is being paid. Similarly, the rates to Genoa and options have increased from 16s. to 42s. 6a., Honfleur 9s. to 15s., Bordeaux 10 fr. to 27^ fr., Gibraltar 13s. 3d. to 28s., Algiers 17 fr. to 44 fr., Port Said 22s. 6d. to 46s. 3d., and Alexandria 20s. to 45s. These abnormal prices have naturally had the effect of restricting business, but it is hoped that the tempting fixtures now being made will induce shipowners whose vessels are engaged in the /American and Far Eastern trades to divert a large proportion of their tonnage to home ports. Ship- ments from the Bristol Channel last week amounted to 363,452 tons, compared with 381,249 tons in the corre- sponding week of last year, or a decrease of 17,797 tons. From Cardiff alone there were exported 236,972 tons, against 230,140 tons, or an increase of 6,832 tons. From Newport the shipments were 33,274 tons, or a decrease of 38,451 tons; from Swansea 61,945 tons, or a decline of 6,529 tons; and from Port Talbot 31,261 tons, or an improvement of 20,351 tons compared with the corre- sponding period of last year. All these figures are, of course, exclusive of the shipments made on Government account. Admiralty demands have not been quite so pressing, and small quantities of best steams have been coming on to the market. There, however, is little or no demand except in the case of contractors who were fortu- nate enough to enter into engagements last autumn at, comparatively speaking, low figures. If permission to ship were more readily granted there is no doubt that the market would expand, but here again the shortage of tonnage comes into consideration. Best Admiralty steams are still unquoted, and the same remark applies to superior seconds.. Ordinaries are offered at 17s. 6d. to 18s. 6d., and in some instances 19s. has been obtained. The same conditions prevail in Monmouthshire, and the market generally is weak for all descriptions. Black Veins are 18s. 6d. to 19s., western valleys 18s. to 18s. 6d., and the best of the easterns 17s. to 17s. 6d. The small coal market has been very irregular, and’ almost any prices have been accepted in order to release wagons. Best bunkers do not command more than Ils. to 12s., ordinaries 9s. to 10s., and cargo qualities anything between 6s. and 8s. There is little doing in bituminous coals, and prices, if anything, are inclined to be easier. No. 3 Rhondda large is 21s. tc 22s., No. 2 16s. to 17s., and other grades in proportion. The slump in the small coal market has had the effect of bringing down the price of patent fuel, best grades of which are now offering at 28s. and 30s. Coke prices have been firmly maintained. Arrivals of pitwood have been below the average, and the quotation has advanced up to 43s. The official Custom House returns for the month of September are now available, from which it appears that the quantity of coal exported from the Bristol Channel during the month amounted to 1,543,640 tons, compared with 1,388,798 tons in the corresponding month of 1914, being an increase of 154,842 tons. From Cardiff alone there were despatched 904,870 tons, against 898,098 tons; from Newport 308,515 tons, compared with 270,994 tons; from Port Talbot 123,510 tons, against 69,292 tons ; and from Swansea 198,581 tons, compared with 143,838 tons. The following table shows the quantity of coal exported from the Bristol Channel to foreign countries and British Possessions during the month of September last, compared with the corresponding month of 1914:— Sept. 1915. Tons. Sweden..................._____ 4,720 Norway.................. 6,296 Denmark ................ 3,119 Netherlands.............. 1,749 Belgium ................ — France .................. 756,160 .................. Algeria ................. 44,932 French Somaliland....... 5,843 Madagascar .............. — Portugal ................ 62,750 Azores .................. 4,872 Madeira _____:............... 2,959 Spain .................. 74,443 Canary Islands .......... 10,400 Italy .................... 270,022 .................... Greece .................. 5,697 Tunis .................. 6,560 Chili ...................... — Brazil .................. 11,556 Uruguay ................ 14,226 Argentine Republic ...... 108,619 .......... .......... Channel Islands .......... 3,507 Gibraltar ................ 20,255 Malta and Gozo ........... 5,927 Egypt .................. 97,184 Aden and Dependencies.... 5,095 British India ............ 5,005 Ceylon and Dependencies... — British West Africa ...... 45,525 French West Africa ...... 97,575 Portuguese West Africa ... 91,842 IRON. _________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). _______________ ! Current Steam coals:— ■ prices. Best Black Vein large... 18/ -191 Western-valleys, ordin’y 18/ -18/6 Best Eastern-valleys ... 17/6-18/ Secondary do. ... 16/6-17/ Best small coals ______ 12/6-13/ Secondary do........ 12/ —1276 ...... Inferior do........... 8/ -10/ Screenings __..........* 13/ Through coals ........ 14/6-15/ Best washed nuts..... 14/6 -15/ Other sorts:— Best house coal.... ..... 22 /6—23/ .......... Secondary do......... 20/6-21/6 ........ Patent fuel __......... 26/ —28/ Furnace coke.......... 30/ -32/ Foundry coke ......... 36/ —38/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices, i prices. 19/6-20/6 ' 16/9-17/ 19/ -20/ 16/ —16/6 18/ -18/6 15/6-16/ 17/ -/IS ' 15/ -15/6 13/ -14/ : 6/9- 7/ 12/ -13/ ! 6/ - 6/9 8/ -10'l ' 5/6- 6/ .13/6-14/ ! 7/ 15/ -15/6 ' 11/9-12/ 15/ -16/ ; 12/6-13/ 22/6-23/ 1 18/ -19/ 20/6-21/6 ; 16/6-17/6 28/ -30/ ! 16/ -16/6 30/ -32/ ; 18/ -19/ 36/ -38/ ’ 21/ -23/ Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam coals ................ Superior seconds ..... Ordinary do........... Best bunker smalls.... Best ordinaries....... Cargo qualities........ ......... Inferior smalls......j Best dry coals ________• Ordinary drys ........ Best washed nuts ..... Seconds .............. Best washed peas...... Seconds .............. Dock screenings ...... Monmouthshire— | Black Veins ........! Western-valleys ....I Eastern-valleys .... Inferior do......... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Current prices. 17/6-18/6 11/ "12/ 9/ -10/ 6/ - 8/ 5/ - 6/ 23/ -24/ 20/ -22/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 19/ -20/ 12/ —13/ 18,6-19/ 18/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 16/ -17/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -23/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. * 21/ -22/ * 20/6 18/ -20/ ■ 18/ -18/6 13/ i 8/ - 8/3 11/ -12/ 7/9 8/ 6/ - 6/6 6/6- 7/6 5/ 23/ -24/ 21/ -21/6 21/ -22/ 19/ -20/ 22/ -23/ 16/ 21/ -22/ 15/ 20/ -21/ 15/ 19/ -20/ 14/ 13/ -15/ 9/ 19/ -20/ 17/3 18/6-19/ 16/9 17/6-18/ 16/3 16/6-17/6 | 15/ -15/3 IRON. Further strength is generally reported in all departments of the local iron and steel trades, more business having been put through, and prices are firm all round. There is again a larger enquiry for tin-plate and sheet bars, with quotations advanced on the week. Officially prices are now at <£7 10s. for both Siemens and Bessemer qualities, but with the further rise in pig iron makers are now showing no inclination to book further at present prices. With still larger Government orders pending, the trend is to higher values in the immediate future. Steel rails, too, are firmer, with quotations difficult to obtain. Heavy sections are now priced <£9 5s., with the usual extras Bituminous larged.. Through-and-through Small ............. No. 2 Rhondda— Large.............. Through-and-through Small ............. Best patent fuel ...... Seconds ............... Special foundry coke .. Ordinary do. .......... Furnace coke .......... Pitwood (ex-ship) ..... 21/ -22/ 18/ -19/ 15/ -16/ 16/ -17/ 14/ -15/ 10/6-11/ 28/ -30/ 25/ -27/ 42/ -45/ 36/ -40/ 31/ -34/ 42/ -43/ * Nominal. 24/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 18/ -18/6 15/6—16/6 j 17/ -18/ 15/6-16/6 11/ -12/ 33/ —33/6 31/ -31/6 I 42/ -44/ J 38/ -40/ | 32/ -34/ | 39/ -41/ 20/ 17/6-19/6 17/6 14/ 11/ I 13/6-13/9 10/6 7/3- 7/6 16/6-18/ 15/ -16/ 27/ -30/ 22/ -26/ 18/ -19/ j 19/9-20/ Sept. 1914. Tons. 22,192 5,656 6,039 7,202 5,387 353,205 22,925 3,323 * 5,002 42,713 5,404 7,670 104,187 8,751 390,594 15,634 12,011 7,298 50,607 6,528 107,556 7,061 7,993 8,953 85,451 16,939 5,904 11,492 76,369 64,964 99,946 There has been increased buying of tin-plates during the past week, and shipments were again considerably in excess of receipts from works. Exports amounted to 94,473 boxes, compared with 75,598 boxes produced during the week, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans now stand at 288,153 boxes. The increased war bonus which has been granted to the men is estimated to mean at least 3d. additional cost per box, and manufacturers are firm in their demand for enhanced figures. Most of the works are now fully booked until the end of the year, and owing to the fact that licences are being more freely granted, a still further rise is looked for in the near future. Bessemer standard cokes are being held for 18s. 9d. to 19s., and for oil sizes makers are asking 19s. to 19s. 3d. and 27s. 3d. respectively. Welsh tin bars are quoted at <£7 10s. for Bessemers, and Siemens qualities <£7 10s. to <£7 15s. per ton. Some anxiety prevails as to the position of the steelworks, for in the event of the Government taking over the control, there is a probability that a shortage of bars will take place, and the tin-plate industry would suffer. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no improvement, and many works experience a difficulty in keeping the mills going. Spelter on spot is still <£68 a ton, but for forward delivery quotations are djwn to as low as £56 10s. Prices for 24-gauge corrugateds are rather easier, and not more than £17 10s. to £18 is now obtainable. Rail mills continue to be well supplied with orders, but there is no alteration in rates. Welsh pig iron has again advanced, and quotations are now on the basis of £5 10s. to £5 12s. 6d. per ton delivered, with a probable further advance in the near future. The iron ore market is in a more healthy condition than for some time past, and best rubio commands 30s. to 31s., and second quality 27s. per ton. In scrap metals there is little doing, and prices are practically unaltered. Llanelly. COAL. There is little alteration noticeable in the coal trade locally for the past week, and the demand for most of the qualities raised is still very satisfactory. The difficulties which the colliery people are experiencing are due to shortage of tonnage, and the scarcity of boats is rather upsetting the position. There are large stacks of coal lying in the await order sidings ” for arrivals, and the colliery companies have all their work cut out to ________________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. ____________________________________________ Anthracite:— Best malting large ... Secondary do. ... Big Vein large....... Red Vein do......... Machine-made cobbles... German 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 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. 34/ -36/ 32,6-34/ 21/ -23 32/ -34/ 31/ -33/ 19/ -21/ 33/ -35/ 33/ -35/ 177 -19/ 26/ -28/ 26/ -28'/ 13/6-14/ 42/ -44/ 40, -42' 20/ -22/ 41/ -43/ 42/6-45/ 42/ -43/ 30‘ -32/ 18/ -19/6 9' -10/ 3/6- 4/6 22/ -24/ 14z -16/ 6/ - 8/ 15/6—16/6 41/ -43/ 42 6-45' 40/ —42/ 30/ -32 18/ -19 6 8/6-11/6 3/6— 4/6 22/ -24/ 14/ -16/ 8/ -10/ 16/ —18/ 22/ -23/ 22/ -24' 99' —94. 20 6-22,6 13 '6-14 6 5 / -. 5 6 3/9- 5/6 16' -18' 10/ -10 6 8/6— 9,6 11/ —11/6