March 31, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. _____________________________________ 615 ________________________________________________________ With 362,717 tons in the corresponding month of last year, or a decrease of 11,636 tons. From Cardiff there were exported 219,732 tons, against 267,783 tons, or an increase of 48,031 tons ; from Newport, 74,874 tons, or an increase of 32,941 tons ; from Swansea, 10,085 tons, or a decline of 1,132 tons 5 and from Port Talbot 30,563 tons, or an increase of 18,702 tons. Patent fuel shipments only amounted to a little over 13,000 tons. Chartering was on a more liberal scale, the tonnage taken up being 196,330 tons, compared with 93,570 tons in the preceding six days, or a total increase of 102,760 tons. This fact, no doubt, is influencing the market, and a busy time is anticipated within the next two or three weeks. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). ______________ _________ ■ Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals:— Best Admiralty steam prices. prices. prices. coals * * Superior seconds * 35/ -36/ Seconds ' 36/ -38/ i 31/ -32/ • —— Ordinary do 35/ -36/ 30/ -31/ 34/ -35/ Best bunker smalls 19/ -20/ 17/ -18/ / 21/ -21/6 Best ordinaries 17/6-18,6 15/ -16/ 1 20/ -20/6 Cargo qualities 14/ -16/ 12/ -14/ ? 18/ -19/ Inferior smalls 11/ -13/ 9/ -ii/ ; 117/6-18/ Best dry coals 36/ -38/ 32/ -33/ | 1 34/ -35/ Ordinary drys 34/ -35/ 29/ -31/ 31/ -33/ Best washed nuts 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 24/' Seconds 25/ -27/ i 27/ -28/ 25/ -27/ 22/ Best washed peas | 27/ -28/ 23/ Seconds 24/6-25/6 24/6-25/6 21/ -21/6 ,Dock screenings Monmouthshire— 15/ —16/ 14/ -15/6 | 19/ -20/ Black Veins 36/ -37/ 31/6-32/ / 35/9-36/3 Western-valleys 35/ -36/ 30/ -31/ ! 35/3-36/ Eastern-valleys 33/ -34/ 28/ -29/ j 27/ -28/ j - 35/3 Inferior do. ...... Bituminous coals:— 32/ -33/ 34/ • Best house coals (at pit) 23/ -24/ 24/ 1 30/ Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— 22/ -22/6 22/ -23/ I i 29/ Bituminous large 34/ -35/ •28/ -31/ < 33/ -34/ Through-and-through 31/ -32/ 26/ -27/ i 30/ -31/ Small No. 2 Rhondda— 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ | 26/ -27/ Large 31/ -32/ 26/ -27/ i 29/ Through-and-thr ough i 26/ -27/ 21/ -22/ ! 23/ Small 16/ -17/ 15/ -16/ 1 19/ -20/ Best patent fuel 35/ —40/ 35/ -37/6 ; 35/ -40/ Seconds 33/ -35/ 1 32/ -33/ i 5o/ -57/6 ; 32'6 Special foundry coke 60/ -65/ ' 43/ -45/ Ordinary do. 55/ -60/ | 50/ -52/6 1 38/ -40/ Furnace coke ! 42/6-47/6 46/ -47/ 42/6-45/ i 30/ -33/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 46/ -47/ j 39/ * Nominal. IRON. There is little change to report in this market except that prices are firmer than ever, and makers are disinclined to enter into new business. Bessemer standard cokes are 31s. to 31s. 6d., and oil sizes 31s. 6d. to 32s., and 44s. to 45s., respectively. Receipts from works last week amounted to 70,201 boxes, against 51,264 shipped, leaving in stock 317,973 boxes. The galvanised sheet trade is unchanged, except for the fact that labour is becoming shorter than ever. Quotations for 24-gauge corrugateds are on the basis of <£28 to .£28 10s. per ton. Spelter is unaltered. AH the steel works are busy and working at high pressure, both on rails and ordinary constructional work. Welsh pig iron is nominal, with no alteration in quotations, and Welsh steel bars command from =£13 to <£13 10s. per ton. The iron ore trade is dull, but prices remain unchanged at 39s. to 40s. for best rubio. Second grades are 2s. to 3s., lower scrap metals are unaltered. Swansea^ COAL. ' The trade of the port last week was slightly more active* The coal trade was again quiet, but there was a good export of patent fuel, the shipments together amounting to 79,974 tons. A capital attendance assembled on ’Change, but there was no improvement to report in the state of the anthracite coal market, which was still easy. Swansea valley large was freely offered for immediate delivery at lower prices, whilst Red Vein large was unaltered. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were easily obtainable, but beans and peas were firmly held at last quotations. Rubbly culm was in good demand, but there was a slight falling off in enquiries for duff. There was an active demand for steam coals, and values were firm. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week's Last year’s Anthracite:— prices. prices. 1 prices. Best malting large i (hand picked) 23/ -24/ 23/ -24/ ■ 22/6-24,6 Secondary do. 18/ -20/ 1 18/ -20/ 20/6-21/6 Big Vein large 16/ -17/ 16/ -17/ i 16/6-17/6 Red Vein large 17/6-19/ 17/6-19/ j 17/9-18/6 Machine - made cobbles 27/ -28,6 27/ -28/6 s 26/ -30/ Paris nuts ) French do. 28/ -30/ j 28/ -30/ i 28/6-30/ *Stove do i 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ ( 26/ -29/ Beans 28/6-31/ 28/6-31/ s 22/ -25/ Machine - made large peas 21/ -22/ 21/ -22/ 13/9-15/ Do. fine peas — — Rubbly culm 8/9- 9/6 , 8/9- 9/6 j 10/6-11/6 Duff. 4/ - 4/6 . i 4/ - 4/6 j 3/6- 4/6 Steam coals:— Best large 31/6-35/ ; 31/6-35/ j 27/ -30/ Seconds 26/6-28/ | i 26.6-28/ / 23/6—26/6 Rnnkers 21/6-25/6 , i i i ; 21/6-25/6 ( 123/6-25/ Small 13/6-16/ 1 ‘ 1 13/6-16/ / 15/6-18/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— j Large 31/ -35/ 31/ -35/ ; 23/6-30/ Thro’-and-thro’ — Small 19/6-22/ 19/ -22/ 19/6-22/6 Patent fuel 32/ -34/6 ■ 32/ -34/6 25/6-30/ _______ * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts, IRON. During the past week there was a large yield of pig iron from the blastfurnaces, and the steel-producing establish- ments were briskly engaged. Labour shortage retarded the manufacture of tin-plates. The Mannesmann Tube Works were kept fully occupied, whilst the foundries and engi- neering works were busy. The shipments of tin-pla1es were 51,264 boxes, receipts from works 70,201 boxes, and stocks in the dock warehouses and vans 317,973 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. Very little alteration can be recorded as to the position of the coal trade locally, and for most of the coals raised the conditions ruling at the moment are firm. Some of the sorts, however, are very difficult to dispose of, and collieries find great diffculty in reducing the large stocks which are accumulating. With freights still advancing the amount of anthracite coals now shipped is very small, which is resulting in several of these pits working very short time. All the large kinds are held to sell, whilst for cobbles and nuts the enquiry is very poor, and conces- sions in prices are willingly given to lessen the large number of loaded trucks. For beans and peas, on the other hand, the big demand continues, and sufficient of these classes cannot be secured to keep pace with the demand. Rubbly culm and duff, too, are going well at satisfactory figures. In the steam and bituminous markets the big call for most of the coals continues, and in many instances buyers are at their wits’ end to know where to turn for deliveries. Large steams in particular are very scarce, and, with the Government requirements still so heavy, the private customer is having great difficulty in getting his wants attended to. For manufacturing fuels there is a very big demand, and collieries are being much pressed to keep up full supplies. Through coals are also going well, and many sellers have their make sold ahead at satisfactory prices. This week’s quotations 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. 21/ -24/ 18/ -20/ 15/6-16/6 16/6-18/ ^6/6-27/6 26/6-27/6 27/6-28/6 26/6-27/6 28/ -30/ 20/ -22/ 9/ -9/6 4/ - 4/6 32/ -34/ 22/6-24/6 14/ -16/ 20/ -22/6 L’st week’s prices. 21/ -24/ 19/ -21/ I 15/6-16/6 16/6-18/ ' 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ : 28/ -29/ 27/ —28/6 28/ -30/ 20/ -22/ 9/ - 9/6 ! 4/ - 4/6 30/ -32/ 21/6-23/6 I 14/ -16/ ! 20/ -22/ Last year’s prices. 21/6-23/ 18/ -19,6 17/ -18/6 17/ -17/6 26/ -29,6 28/6—30/ 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 22/ -25/6 14/ -15/ 10/6-11/6 4/ - 5/ 26/ -28/ 23/ -25/ 14/ -18/ 19/ -21/ ____________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 30. _______________ Dublin. The very severe weather prevailing through the present month has kept the coal trade in an unusual state of activity for the time of year, and, so far, business in all branches continues good. Prices generally remain unchanged, at late rates, viz. :—Best Orrell, 38s. per ton; Hulton Arley, 37s.; best Wigan, 36s.; best Whitehaven, 36s. ; best kitchen, 34s. ; Orrell slack, 30s. ; all less Is. per ton discount. Welsh steam coal, 40s. per ton; coke, 38s. per ton delivered. It is now next to impossible to get Scotch coal, and the prices being considerably above the normal. English coal is at present cheaper. Irish coals at WolfbiU Collieries, Queen’s County, are : Best large coal, 30s. per ton; best household, 28s. 4d. ; culm, all prices from 3s. 4d. per ton upwards—all at the pit mouth; f.o.r. Athy, 5s. per ton extra. The Athy Guardians, at last week’s meeting, considered two tenders for Irish coal, the Castlecomer (Kilkenny), at 29s. 2d. per ton delivered, and the Wolfhill, at 35s. per ton delivered. The Castlecomer, being the lowest, was accepted. The Arigna Alining Company (Leitrim) have recently established an agency in Dublin, and a large manufacturing firm carrying- on business in the city have placed an order for a quantity of the coal. The price of best quality is 33s. per ton, less Is. per ton discount, delivered in Dublin, the railway rate from the collieries being 6s. 3d. per ton. Cross-Channel freights still keep high, one city firm having paid as much as'12s. per ton last week. The coal vessels arriving during the past week numbered. 52, as compared with 39 the week previously, chiefly from Neath Abbey, Newport, Partington, Preston, Ayr, 'Whitehaven, Garston, Workington, Ellesmere Port, Troon, Liverpool, West Bank, and Saunders foot. The total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays was 20,000 tons, as against 16,500 tons the previous week. Belfast. The scarcity of supplies is being more severely felt this week, many consumers of manufacturing coal finding, it almost an impossibility to obtain sufficient for their require- ments. There has 'been a largely increased demand for household qualities, and stocks are almost depleted. House coal prices are firm, at recent figures, viz. :—Best Arley, 38s. 6d. per ton; best Wigan, 37s. 6d.; Scotch household, 34s. 6d.; Orrell nuts, 37s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 34s. 6d. All classes of steam coals are now abnormal in prices. Coal- laden vessels arriving during the week were from Newport, Ellesmere Port, Garston, Workington, Ardrossan, Parting- ton, Point of Aire, Lydney, Glasgow, Ayr, Swansea, and Troon. The total number of colliers entering the harbour from March 5 to 18 was 116. ____________________________ Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull to foreign countries for the week ending Tuesday, March 21, is as follows Amsterdam, 154 tons; Bordeaux, 1,538 ; Calais,. 1,097 ; Dunkirk, 1,061; Gothenburg, 1,667; Rotterdam, 943; St. Sampson, 144; tojal, 6,604 tons, Corresponding period March 1915, total, 27,955 tons. These figures do not include bunker coal, shipments for the British Admiralty, or the Allies’ Governments. THE LONDON COAL TRADE. Thursday, March 30. _____________________________ ___________ ‘The London coal trade for the past week has shown a considerable falling off in the tonnage coming forward, both in the house coal market and for manufacturing qualities. The severe weather has stimulated the demand and con- siderably lessened the supply. Merchants are pressing on all sides for an increased tonnage, and depots are exceedingly short, but in many cases the Government requirements are so extensive that very little coal is available on the open market, and the trade generally is compelled to make the best of the diminished supply. Collieries are refusing all outside orders, and merchants find it exceedingly difficult to meet the needs of regular customers, and new business is entirely discounted. Merchants have received an over- whelming number of house coal orders, and now freely adnjit their inability to cope with them, so that very small supplies are being sent in with a view of tiding over the .immediate need, and a considerable portion of the delivery must of necessity be delayed for some weeks, or even months. The prices ruling are largely nominal, as so few of the collieries can accept orders, and the new Act prevents any material change in price. All colliery quotations are at the maximum, but it is only from factors and merchants having contracts that any “ buying ” can be done, and then only in small quantities. Best Silkstones are quoted at 18s. 6d. to 20s. per ton -at pit. Barnsley .softs at 18s.. 6d. to 19s.; seconds 16s. to 17s. South Yorkshire hards, 17s. 6d. to 18s. ..Derby brights, 17s. 6d. to 19s. ; Derbyshire hard steam, 17s. to 17s. 6d. ; seconds, 16s. 6d.; cobbles, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6cl. ; -slacks are fetching 13s. to 13s. 6d. ; and small nuts are as high as 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. Coke is quoted at .24s. per ton, Barnsley district; 30s. to 36s. from South Wales dis- trict, but for. export the lowest price appears to be 45s. to 50s. The Humber market is very firm, and for export trade as much as 27s. to 28s. per ton f.o.b. is realised for South. Yorkshire hard steam for prompt shipment, and nutty slacks 18s. 6d. to 19s. fo.b. In the South Wales market all best Admiralties are still required for Government use, but seconds are quoted at 34s. f.o.b. ; best Monmouthshire, 34s.; seconds, 31s. to 32s.; Rhondda, 29s.; patent fuel, 36s. There is unquestionably an increasing demand for all kinds of manufacturing coal for all the factories and local works along the Thames side. Large coal and hard cobbles are in good demand, and the supply is fairly maintained, but small nuts and nutty slacks are very difficult to obtain. Collieries ■are using considerable quantities for their own stokeholes, and the reduced output leaves very scanty quantities of this class of fuel to fulfil contract obligations, and the open market is entirely clear of all offers. All prices are firm, and as the export market is prepared to pay even higher prices than the Act allows for London,' the chances of securing an adequate supply for London factories is very remote. In many cases works have had to revert to short time owing to difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply for requirements. The pressure for Government supplies has been felt more keenly in this department than in any other. Gas coals are coining forward in better quantities, but as all the vessels coining into the Thames are all contract cargoes, the outside business is very small. The freight market is extreme])- firm. Tonnage is scarce, and the difficulty in securing licences makes chartering slow. From Newcastle to London, fixtures have been made at 17s. per ton, and 15s. 6d. to 16s. from Hull to London. The arrival of boats in the River Thames has been fairly maintained during the week; 19 contract cargoes, were returned for Monday’s market, and 12 for Wednesday. The extra- ordinary recent gales have made it very difficult to get any great amount of work done at the London. depots. Con- siderable havoc has been reported from river craft in the Thames, and many barges have been sunk by the violence of the wind and waves. The delay also on the railw-ay system has been most pronounced; loaded coal wagons have.been shunted into all kinds of wayside sidings, and the movement forward is very problematic. Meanwhile, depots are getting exceedingly short of fuel. ___________________________ From Messrs. Dinham, Fawcus and Co.’s Report. Friday, AIarch 24.—There was a fair enquiry for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes were on offer. Cargoes, 25. Monday, AIarch 27.—The enquiry for seaborne house coal continued good to-day, but no sales were' reported. Cargoes, 19. Wednesday, AIarch 29.—There was no alteration in the seaborne house coal market to-day; there was fair enquiry, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 12. _________________________ Gcal Shipped from Ports in the United Kingdom during February.—The following figures, which have been extracted from the returns issued by the Commissioners of H.AI. Customs and Excise, show the quantities of coal shipped from each group of ports in the United Kingdom during the month of February, as compared with the corresponding month last year :— Cargo. Feb. 1915. Feb. 1916. Tons. Tons. Bristol Channel ports ......... 172,898 ... 112,072 North-western ports ........... 212,454 ... 194,010 N orth-eastern ports ........... 553,171 ... 445,944 Humber ports ................. 121,994 ... 62,821 Other east coast ports ......... 3,843 ... 4,505 Other English ports _____............. 2,709 ... 2,077 Ports on east coast of Scotland 31,535 ... 37,518 Ports on west coast of Scotland 138,275 ... 101,160 Total ............... 1,236,879 ... 160,111 Bunker. Feb. 1915. Feb. 1916. Tons. Tons. Bristol Channel ports ......... 18,844 ... 9,475 North-western ports........... 48,755 ... 41,256 North-eastern ports ........... 31,559 ... 50,272 Humber ports ................. 10,419 ... 7,809 Other east coast ports ............... 8,112 ... 11,481 Other English ports ........... 3,289 ... 3,232 Ports on east coast of Scotland... 9,870 ... 16,770 Ports on west coast of Scotland... 22,880 ... 14,393 Irish ports................. 3,214 ... 2,944 Total .............. 156,942 160,632