THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ November 26, 1915. 1091 THE WELSH COAL AND IRON TRADES. Thursday, November 25. ___________________________________________ Wrexham. North Wales. COAL. The coal trade of this locality during the past week has been of a satisfactory character. All the pits have worked full time, the output has been disposed of readily, but there is nothing particularly new to report. Prices are well maintained, and the figures quoted last week have been the basis of the quotations for the past week. I Current Prices at pit f.o.r.:— < prices. Best house coal ......i 19/6-21/ Secondary do..........; 18/6-20/ Steam coal............i 18/ —19/ Gras coal..............j 18/ -19/ Bunkers..............! 17/6-18/6 Nuts ................|17/6-18/6 Slack .................i 8/6- 9/6 Gas coke (at works)....I 18/4-20/ Prices landsale:— L’st week’s prices. 19/6-21/ 18/6-20/ 18/ -19/ 18/ —19/ 17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 8/6- 9/6 18/4-20/ Last year’s prices. 14/6-15/6 13/9-14/6 11/9-12/6 12/ -13/ 11/6-12/3 11/3-11/9 5/9- 7/ 11/8-13/4 Best house coal ....... 25/ -27/6 Seconds ............... 22/6—25/ Slack ................. 14/2-15/ 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ 14/2-15/ 18/4-20/ 17/6-18/4 10/ -12/6 _______ _______ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COaL. Exports during the past week have been rather heavier than of late, but the supply of tonnage continues to be far deficient of colliery requirements. The main features of the steam coal trade remain, in fact, quite unchanged. Huge stocks, lack of steamers, deficient chartering, scarcity and costliness of working materials, growth of establish- ment charges, all these are evils which as yet show no sign of diminution, yet a feeling pervades business circles that the outlook is more hopeful, and sellers are now a little firmer than they were in their quotations for forward business. There has been a considerable comment upon the Government scheme for the control of British tonnage, but there is little confidence that it will effect any percep- tible relief for some time to come. In the freight market outward rates are still advancing, 54s. for Genoa, and 40s. for the River Plate, with 20s. for Havre, indicating the strength of the market. Bunkering coals have been a shade better looked after, 6d. more being paid for best smalls. The pitwood trade shows supply and demand further apart than ever, good wood changing hands at the phenomenal price of 52s. 6d. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. 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......i Other sorts:— | Current prices. 18/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 16/6-17/ 16/ -16/6 11/ -12/ 9/6—10/ 6/6- 7/6 14/ -15/ 15/6-16/ L’st week’s Last year’s prices, j prices. 18/ -18/6 | 16/6-16/9 17/ -17/6 I 15/9-16/3 16/ -16/6 I 15/6-15/9 15/6-16/ | 15/ -15/6 11/ -11/6 j 6/9- 7/3 9/ -10/ i 6/ - 6/9 6/6- 7/6 ! 5/6- 6/ ■ - ' 7/ - 7/3 14/ -15/ i 11/ -11/6 15/6-16/ | 13/ -13/6 have been only working half time, and in many other instances temporary stoppages have taken place for a day and two days, with the result that large numbers of men have been idle. The crux of the present position is the tonnage question, and until vessels arrive in the Channel in considerably larger numbers than they are doing to-day, very little improvement can be expected. As already stated, urgent representations have been made to the Government, and the recent Order in Council restricting British ships to British trade is anticipated to be productive of good results in the near future. It is pointed out, with justification, that extravagance in transport organisation is at the root of the difficulty in the Cardiff coal market, although it is generally admitted that there is a world-wide shortage of shipping tonnage, which at present cannot be remedied. Freights continue to go up by leaps and bounds, and in many cases the rates demanded by shipowners are five and six times more than they were before the commencement of the war. Charterings last week amounted to 158,000 tons, compared with 145,850 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 12,150 tons. Such a total, however, is entirely inadequate to the requirements of the port, and it is earnestly hoped that some scheme will be devised which will not only attract more vessels to the channel, but also result in the freight market being put on a more reasonable basis. Shipments last week amounted to 397,163 tons, compared with 267,323 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or an increase of 129,840 tons. These figures are, of course, exclusive of the shipments on Admiralty account, particulars of which are not available. From Cardiff alone there were exported 193,947 tons, against 141,509 tons, or an increase of 42,438 tons. From Newport the shipments were 52,633 tons, or an improvement of 4,244 tons; from Swansea 65,204 tons, or an increase of 12,224 tons ; and from Port Talbot 85,379 tons, or 70,934 tons more than in the corresponding week of last year. No information is yet to hand as to the allocation of the business of the French Midi and the Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Railways, but it is expected that the contracts will be settled in the course of a few days. There is also an enquiry on the market for the Paris and Orleans Railway, but the quantity asked for is not stated. With regard to prices, there is very little change. Best and superior second Admiralties continue to be monopolised for the most part by the Government, and what quantities can be released are being supplied to exporters under old contracts. There is therefore no quotation to indicate the market value. Ordinary qualities are still on the basis of 17s. 6d. to 19s., the latter figure being firmly maintained in the case of collieries which are favourably situated so far as stems are concerned. Monmouthshire coals are unaltered, best Black Veins being 18s. to 19s., western valleys Is. less, and easterns 16s. to 17s. Owing to reduced outputs, the small coal market is rather firmer, but material concessions are obtainable in cases where collieries are hard pressed for empty wagons. Best bunkers are Ils. 6d. to 12s., ordinary 10s. to Ils., and cargo qualities about 7s. 6d., although 8s. is being asked for forward delivery. Bituminous coals, especially of the better qualities, are rather firmer, due to the recent spell of cold weather, and the demand has improved. No. 3 Rhondda large is 23s. to 24s., No. 2 15s. to 16s., and other grades in proportion. Shipments of patent fuel last week were considerably below the average, and the market displays an easier tendency. Best makes are obtainable at 24s. to 25s., and secondary qualities at 22s. to 23s. per ton. The scarcity of pitwood continues, and prices have advanced to 51s. 6d. to 52s. 6d. per ton. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). actions are a matter of individual bargaining. The same remark applies to Welsh pig iron, which is also described as nominal. In these conditions there is naturally a wide range. Steel works are employed at full pressure, and large quantities of bars are being sent weekly to France. In the galvanised sheet trade there is no improvement in business, but prices have advanced considerably. ‘Spelter has gone up to <£98 per ton, and with the high rates demanded for bars and black-plates, manufacturers had either to put up their quotations or close down; For 24-gauge corrugateds <£23 to <£23 10s. is now being asked. Scrap metals are firm, steel being 87s. 6d., cast 60s., heavy wrought 72s. 6d., light wrought 40s., double-headed steel rails 85s., iron ditto 80s., mixed sections 75s., and new steel crop ends 105s. per ton. The iron ore market is slow, owing to excessive freights. Best rubio is 31s., and seconds 28s. to 28s. 6d., but everything depends on the rate at which shipments can be obtained. Swansea. COAL. The trade of the port showed an improvement on last week. The coal trade was fairly active, and there was a fair shipment of patent fuel considering the limited tonnage available, the shipments together amounting to 94,247 tons. There was a capital attendance on ’Change. Anthra- cite coals had again a very strong tone, Swansea Valley and Red Vein large both being very tightly held. In the machine-made sizes, nuts and cobbles were again very scarce, and both these commodities were practically unobtainable at any price. Rubbly culm and duff, however, were very weak. In steam coals there was no change, the general demand being poor. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’sLast year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. prices. Best malting large (hand picked) .....! 36/ -37/6 i 36/ -37/6'22/6-24,6 Secondary do. ...'34/6-36/ j 34/6-36/ 20,6-22/6 Big Vein large ...... 36/6-37/6 ; 36/6-37/6 ' 19/6-22/ ........... Red Vein large ..... 32/ -35/ I 32/ -35/ i 15/6-17/ Machine-made cobbles 43/ -45/ I 43/ -45/ ■ 23/6-26/6 Paris nuts .............. — ! — ; — French do............., 47/ -49/6 Stove do..............! 44/ -47/6 Beans ................1 32/ -34/6 Machine - made large peas ..............i 18/6-19/6 .................. Do. fine peas .... — Rubbly culm.......... 8/ -9/ Duff................... 2/6- 3/ Steam coals:— Best large ......... Seconds ............. Bunkers............. Small ............... Bituminous coals:— 20/ -24/ 17/ -19/ 13/ -14/6 6/ - 8/ No. 3 Rhondda— Large___ ............i 23/ -26/ Thro’-and-thro’..... — Small ...........’15/ -16/ Patent fuel ............I 22/ —23/ Best house coal.......| 22/ -24/ Secondary do.........J 21/ -22/ Patent fuel .........! 24/ -24/6 Furnace coke.........| 32/ -34/ Foundry coke .......| 36/ -38/ 22/ -24/ 21/ -23/ 24/ -24/6 30/ -32/ 36/ -38/ 18/ -19/ 16/6-17/6 16/ -16/6 18/ -19/ I 21/ -23/ IRON. The local iron and steel trades well maintain their recent strength, while the forward tone in all departments is towards still higher values. Enquiry continues uniformly good, while manufacturers continue to show disinclina- tion to commit their output further ahead at current values. Outputs at steel works are, if anything, larger than ever, while prices named for Welsh bars are stronger at <£8 10s. for both Bessemer and Siemens. Steel rails, too, are firmer on a basis of <£910s. for heavy sections, with other weights pro rata. In the pig iron trade new business in haematite is still more difficult to negotiate, and although the nominal price of 125s. to 130s. is spoken of, works are not now booking at this rate. Iron ore continues strong at 31s. to 32s. for best rubio c.i.f. Newport. There is no fresh feature of impor- tance in the tin-plate trade. A fair amount of business is passing, and quotations rule strong on the basis of 20s. 9d. to 21s. for|20 x 14 x 112 either Bessemer or Siemens primes. Cardiff. COAL. Although tonnage has been arriving more freely, it cannot yet be said that prospects are any more promising than they were a week or two ago. The comparatively heavy chartering at the opening of the month is beginning to tell, but many vessels are much overdue owing to stormy weather. Against this, however, must be set the fact that shippers are fighting shy of Greek tonnage, and they are disinclined to enter into arrangements until the political situation becomes clearer and the position more defined. Outputs are still very largely in excess of the demand, and stocks continue to accumulate on all sides. Some collieries Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * 21/ -22/ Superior seconds * * 20/ Ordinary do 17/6-19/ 17/6-19/ 17/6 Best bunker smalls 11/6-12/ 11/ -12/ 9/ - 9/6 Best ordinaries 10/ -11/ 10/ -10/6 8/6- 8/9 Cargo qualities 7/6- 8/ 7/6 6/ - 6/6 Inferior smalls 6/ - 7/ fil ~ 7/ 5/ - 6/ Best dry coals 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 18/6-19/6 Ordinary drys 21/ -22/ 20/ -22/. 16/- 17/ Best washed nuts 24/ -25/ 25/ -27/ 18/ Seconds 22/ -23/ 22/ -24/ 16/6-17/ Best washed peas 17/6-18/6 19/ -20/ 15/ Seconds 15/6—16/6 17/ -18/ 13/6-14/ Dock screenings 10/ -12/ 10/ -12/ 9/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 16/9 Western-valleys 17/ -18/ 17/6-18/ 16/3 Eastern-valleys 16/ -17/ 17/ -17/6 15/9 Inferior do 15/ -16/ 16/ -17/ 15/3-15/6 Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 20/ Second qualities (at pit) 22/ -22/6 17/6-19/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ 17/6-18/ Through-and-through 21/6-22/6 21/6-22/6 14/6 Small 19/ -20/ 19/6-20/6 11/6-12/ No. 2 Rhondda— Large 15/ -16/ 15/ -16/ 13/6-14/ Through-and-through 13/6-14/ 13/6-14/ 10/6-11/ Small 10/ -11/ 10/ -11/ 7/6 Best patent fuel 24/ -25/ 25/ -26/ 16/ -16/6 Seconds 22/ -23/ 23/ 15/ -15/6 Special foundry coke 38/ -42/ 40/ -42/ 26/ -30/ Ordinary do. 36/ —38/ 36/ -38/ 22/ -27/ Furnace coke 30/ -32/ 30/ -32/ 19/ -20/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 51/6-52/6 47/6-49/ 21/6-22/ # • Nominal. IRON. There was a considerable improvement in the shipment of tin-plates last week, and for the first time in a couple of months the exports exceeded the receipts from works. The latter amounted to 64,099 boxes, whereas the shipments totalled 76,947 boxes, thus leaving in stock 362,908 boxes. Prices have again advanced, Bessemer standard cokes being 21s. 3d. to 21s. 6d., and oil sizes 18f x 14 21s. 9d. to 22s., and 20 x 10 sheets 30s. 3d. to 30s. 6d. These are the highest rates reached for a very long period, and as raw material is still rising there will undoubtedly be a further increase in the near future. Quotations have been with- drawn for both Siemens and Bessemer bars and all trans- 47/ -49/6 | 23/6-26/6 44/ -47/6 I 23/6-26/6 32/ -34/6 i 18/6-19/6 18/6-19/6 i 12/6-13/6 8/ - 9/ j 3/9- 4/6 2/6- 3/ ; 2/9- 3/6 20/ -24/ . 18/9-21/6 17/ -19/ | 15/9-16/6 13/ -14/6 | 10/3-11/ 6/ - 8/ j 5/6- 8/6 23/ -26/ I 17/6-18/6 15/ -16/ ( 10/ -10/9 22/ -23/ | 15/6-16/6 IRON. The various trades in this district were brisker; there was a large production of pig iron, and steel works were very active. In the tin-plate trade the same number of mills were operating at most works, while there was a better outlook at the sheet mills, orders being more plentiful. The shipments of tin-plates were 76,947 boxes, receipts from works 64,099 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 362,908 boxes. Bar-rolling mills and tinhouse sets were going splendidly, and great activity was again shown at the Mannesmann Tube Works. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market of this district is still characterised by a great deal of firmness, and the position of steam coals is improving. The fog of the past week has, however, inter- fered largely with tonnage arrivals, and a large number of wagons have thus accumulated in the “ await order sidings.” Many pits are working short time for want of sufficient rolling stock. The demand for anthracite is still satisfac- tory, and most collieries are now refusing to quote ahead for the machine-made kinds, as they have sufficient orders on their books for the remainder of the year. Big Vein and Red Vein large are still in good request, and although for the latter kind there is a little falling-off in the demand, prices as yet show no alteration. Culm and duff are still the weak features, and very low prices are being accepted for spot lots in order to have a clearance. Closing quota- tions approximately are:— 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 prices. 35/ -37/ 33/ —35/ 35/ -37/ 32/ -34/ 42/ -44/ 43/ -45/ 45/ -4,7/ 43/ -45/6 31/ -32/ 19/ -20/ 7/6- 8/6 2/6- 3/6 L’st week’s Last year’s prices. * prices. I 35/ -37/ i 33/ -35/ ! 35/ -37/ | 32/ -34/ i 42/ -44/ 43/ -45/ 45/ -47/ 43/ -45/ 31/ -32/ 19/ -20/ i 7/6- 8/6 ; 2/6- 3/6 22/ -24/ J 22/ -24/ 13/6—15/ j 13/ -13/6 6/ - 8/ | 6/ - 8/ 15/6-16/6 • 15/6-16/6 prices. 23/ -24/ 20/ —21/ 19/ -21/ 14/ -15/6 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/6 23/ -24/6 23/ -24/6 19/ -22/ 13/ -13/6 4/ - 4/6 3/6- 4/ 18/ -20/ 10/9-11/3 8/ -9/ 9/ -10/ _______________________________ In the House of Commons yesterday, the President of the Board of Trade introduced a Bill to restrict, in connection with the present war, the increase of the rent of small dwell- ing houses in certain areas, and the increase of the rate, of interest’ on and the calling in of securities on such dwelling houses. The Bill was read the first time, and will come up for second reading on Tuesday next.