THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ April 14, 1916. 713 THE WELSH COAL AMD IROM TRADES. Thursday, April 13. __________________________________________________ Horth Wales. Wrexham. COAL. All the collieries in this locality have been working full time during the past week to maintain the output. Orders for house coal come to hand with a fair amount of 'freedom, and the supplies of gas coal on account of existing •contracts have been well maintained. Steam coal particu- larly has a heavy demand for all classes of business. The bulk, of course, is claimed by the railway companies on account of the large contracts for locomotive coal which are held by local sellers. In addition to this business there is a large tonnage disposed of weekly for works where munitions are being made, and there is a regular trade in the shipping of coal from local collieries but this is not so great as formerly. In the case of nuts, these are very scarce, and so is slack, and there is .every likelihood that things are likely to be worse in the future in this respect. The prices of house coal do not vary much, the best large quality selling from 21s. to 22s. per ton at pit, and ■seconds Is. per ton less, while at the landsale depots 25s. to 27s. 6d. per ton are the standard figures. Apparently there as some difficulty in settling new railway contracts, as the new prices have not yet been decided upon, but for ordinary trade 18s. to 19s. per ton is being secured, and the same figures have been obtained for orders for shipment coal. There also appears to be a hitch as regards the settlement of gas coal contracts, as very few have yet been closed, but the average prices mentioned are from 18s. to 19s. for large coal and 6d. per ton less for gas nuts. Slack is offered at from 10s. to 12s. per ton and gas coke is making up to 25s. per ton at the works. The following is a full list of prices now quoted: — Prices at pit. ___________ Prices at pit f.o.r. : — Best house coal ........ Secondary do.......... Steam coal............ Gas coal.............. Bunkers............... Nuts ................. Slack ................ Gas coke (at works)... Prices landsale: — Best house coal ...... Seconds .............. Slack ................ Current prices. 21/ -22/ 20/ —21/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ 18/ —19/ 17/6-18/6 10/ -12/ 21/8-25/ L’st quot’d tast year’s prices. ' -nrinoq 21/ -22/ 20/ -21/ 18/ -19/ 18/ -19/ '17/6-18/6 17/6-18/6 10/ —11/6 21/8-25/ time there are a great number of steamers available for supplies to neutral countries. Supplies generally are short, and many colliery proprietors are so fully booked that they will not entertain fresh business even at the lucrative figures now offered. Best and superior second Admiralties are still retained by the Government, who are also in the market for large quantities of large and small coals, never before considered by the Government authorities. For substantial quantities quotations are altogether out of the question, as most of the collieries are fully booked, and for the small quantity that comes on the market almost any price is obtainable, according to circumstances. For instance, a shipper may have contracted to deliver 1,500 tons of coal, say, at 25s. per ton. To-day he finds he can only obtain 1,250 tons at the price named, and he therefore has to go into the open market to secure the remainder. The result has been that prices averaging 10s. per ton higher have been offered for prompt shipment, and there are many middlemen who are in a position to obtain large figures for anything they may have available for prompt shipment. These conditions do not represent the true state of the market, but the fact remains that very heavy prices are being realised, whilst coal owners are refusing to quote at any price owing to the demands of the Government on all coal which is likely to be of use at the front. The quotations at present ruling are purely nominal, and some- times vary according to individual circumstances. Best Admiralties and second qualities are out of the market owing to the demand of the Government. For ordinary seconds 47s. 6d. to 50s. is being obtained, with 45s. to 47s. 6d. for ordinary qualities. The huge shipments which are now being made to France for small coal have naturally affected the market, and many orders placed some weeks ago are incapable of fulfilment, owing to the fact that all supplies are now under Government control. The large demand by the French and Italian Governments seems to assume that prices will be maintained for many months to come. Ordinary steam coals are 45s. to 50s per ton, with other grades less in proportion. With regard to Monmouthshire coals, the same stringency exists, and there is nothing less obtainable than 43s. to 50s. per ton according to quality. Dry coals, peas and beans are also heavier in proportion, and the great run which has recently taken place on bituminous coals had had the effect of increasing the price of coke, so that there had been a great decrease of tonnage and also of revenue, so far as the home trade is concerned. It was pointed out that, whereas a second-class Admiralty coal from the Rhondda was worth 13s. 6d. per ton, it now stood at something over <£1, and the difficulty was to bring it within proper limits. For the present there is an ample supply of tonnage, and several weeks must elapse before the Government are forced to seek extra boats. In the meantime despatch is proceeding with the utmost speed, and buyers are hopeful that the trade generally has been put on a satisfactory basis, although the prices generally are higher. The appended table shows the current quotations compared with those of last week, and prices obtained a year ago. Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). there were only 38,136 boxes received from works, against 38,814 boxes exported, thus leaving 320,192 boxes in stock in the docks warehouses and vans. The galvanised sheet trade is no better, but prices are slightly higher owing to the increased cost of raw materials. Spelter is £98 per ton, and the cost of bloik tin has gone up to over £200 per ton. Quotations for 24-gauge corrugateds are £29 per ton. Welsh steel bars are still firmer, and there is nothing offering under £13 10s. to £14 per ton, with the result that Bessemer standard cokes are 33s. to 33s. 6d., and oil sizes 33s. 6d, to 34s. and 47s. 6d. to 48s. respectively. Welsh pig iron is purely nominal, and the same remark may apply to pig iron. There is no change in price, but the rate is controlled by the freight market. Scrap metals are unaltered. Swansea. COAL. Owing to the improved supply of tonnage, a large increase in the returns of the trade of the port was shown last week compared with the previous period. There was some improvement in the coal trade, and an exceptionally large export of patent fuel. The shipments amounted to 74,475 tons. There was a capital attendance on ’Change, and the anthracite market displayed a much firmer tone. Swansea Valley large ’was in better request, with values moving upwards. Machine-made nuts and cobbles were strong, whilst beans and peas were very scarce. Rubbly culm and duff maintained their position. In steam coals there was a marked firmness in all classes, and a sharp advance in prices was noted. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) prices. i23/ -24/ prices. 1 prices. 23/ -24/ ’ 22/6-24/ Secondary do. 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 19/6-21/6 Big Vein large 17/ -18/6 ; 16/ -17/17/ -18,6s Red Vein large 16/6-17/6 | 16/6-17/6 17/6-18/6 Machine - made cobbles 1 27/6-29/ 1 27/ -28,6 24,6-26/6 Paris nuts — — — French do 28/ -30/ j 27/ -28/ 25/ -27/ *Stove do ; 27/6-30/ 25/ -26/ • 24/ -26/ Beans 31/ -32/ 28/6-31/ 24/ -25*6 Machine - made large peas 21/6-22/6 i 21/6-22/6 ' 14/6-16/ Do. fine peas — 1. Rubbly culm 9/6-10/ ; 9/3- 9/6 10/6-11/6 i 4/ - 4/6 5/ - 5/6 Duff 4/ - 4/6 Steam coals:— Best large 35/ -38/6 1 i 32,6-35/6 28/6-31/ Seconds 27/6-30/ i 25/6-27/6 24/6-27/6 Bunkers 26/ —33/ J 22/ -25/6 . 25/ -27/6 13/6-16/ 16/6-20/ Small 15/6-16/6 Bituminous coals:— No. 3 Rhondda— Large 36/ -42/- 31/ -35/ 28,6-32/ Thro’-and-thro’ — — — Small 22/ -25/6 19/ -22/ s 19/6-22/6 32/ -34/6 i 28/ -30/ Patent fuel 35/ -36/ j * Previous to the war these were described as German nuts IRON. prices. : 18/4-20/ ) 17/6-18/4 ' 16/6-18/ ’16/6-18/ 15/9-16/3 1 12/ -14/ ; 7/6- 9/6 . • 11/8-16/8 ; 23/4-26/8 20/ -22/6 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ 15/ —16/8 I 15/ -16/8 10/10-13/4 25/ -27/6 22/6-25/ _________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, Newport. COAL. Extraordinary conditions have been developing in the steam coal trade for some time, and the trade is in a position never seen before. Abnormal prices are quoted, but practically nothing is changing hands just now. The immediate cause of the present situation was the great storm. Other and deeper causes prevent more plentiful supplies, while, at the same time, tonnage, which a few weeks ago was greatly deficient, is now so abundant that owners are quickly adjusting their notions of freights outward, having clearly in view the effect of the approaching Easter holiday upon the prevailing deficiency of coal. Efforts are being made to restrict the stoppage of the pits to one day only in Easter week, but to this there is considerable oppo- sition. There is a quiet confidence that the market will have attained a more comfortable position by the middle of May. Buyers are now talking of best Monmouthshire semi-bituminous coals at 30s. to 35s. for next month’s loading, with little response on the part of collieries. Pitwood values are distinctly easier around 40s. for good wood. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Current 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..... Other sorts:— Best house coal...... Secondary do......... Patent fuel ......... Furnace coke......... Foundry coke ........ prices. 45/ -50/ 45/ -47/6 42/6-45/ 41/ -42/6 22/ -24/ 18/ —20/ 15/ -18/ 23/ -24/ .26/ -28/ 31/ —32/6 23/ -24/ 22/ -23/ 42/6-44/ 45/ -47/6 55/ -60/ L’st week’s prices. 37/6-40/ 37/ -39/ 35/ -37/ 35/ -36/ 18/6-19/6 14/ -18/ 12/ -14/ 19/ -19/6 24/ -26/ 28/ -29/ .Last year’s prices. 35/ -36/ 34/ -35/ 33/ -34/ 31/ -33/ 19/ -20/ 18/6-19/ 17/6-18/ 19/6-20/ 23/ -25/ ■ 24/ -25/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/ 37/ -39/ 42/6-45/ 52/6-55/ 28/ -29/ 26/ -27/ 33/ -34/ 32/ -33/ 37/. -39/ Steam coals Best Admiralty steam coals ................ Superior seconds ..... Seconds ______............ Ordinary do........... Best bunker smalls.... Best ordinaries....... Cargo qualities....... Inferior smalls....... Best dry coals __...... Ordinary drys ........ Best washed nuts ..... Seconds ...........__ Best washed peas...... Seconds .............. Dock screenings ...... Monmouthshire— Black Veins ........ Western-valleys .... Eastern-valleys ..( Inferior do......... Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) Second qualities (at pit) No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large.... 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) ...... Current L’st week’sLast year’s prices. prices. ) prices. __# __* ' __ _____* i ________* J ______* 48/ -50/ ! 39/_-40/ ;____— 45/ -47/6 I 38/ -39/ ; 38/ 25/ -26/ J 21/ -22/ , 22/ -22/6 23/ -24/ i 19/ -20/ i 20/ -21/ 18/ -21/ .15/ -18/ ; 19/ —19/6 16/ -17/ 12/ -14/ > 18/ -18/6 48/ -50/ ; 39/ -40/ j 37/ -38/ 42/ -46/ i 38/ -39/ i 35/ -36/ 31/ -32/6 ! 28/ -30/ , 28/ 28/ -30/ i 25/ -27/ i 26/ 29/ -30/ i 27/ -28/ [ 26/ -27/ 26/ -28/ j 24/6-25/6 i 25/ 18/ -20/ ! 15/ -16/ ! 20/ -21/ 49/ -50/ ■ 39/6-10/ i 37/3-38/3 48/ -49/ : 39/ -39/6 < 36/3-36/6 43/ -45/ 37/ -38/ , 35/3-35/6 40/ -42/6 36/ -37/ ; 33/ -34/ 23/ -24/ ' 23/ -24/ I 30/ 21/6-23/ ; 22/ -22/6 ' 28/ -29/ i ! 48/ -50/ ■ 36/ -38/ ! 33/ -34/ 36/ -38/ ! 31/ -32/ ! 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ | 26/ -27/ j 27/ -28/ 36/ -40/ . 32/ -33/ ; 28/ -30/ 27/ -30/ ! 26/ -27/ ; 25/ -27/ 18/ -20/ j 16/6-17/6 20/ -22/ 44/ -46/ 37/6-40/ i 37/6-40/ 42/ -43/ 35/ -36/ i 32/6-35/ 57/6-62/6 ' 57/6-62/6 | 43/ -45/ 52/6-57/6 i 52/6-57/6 ; 38/ -40/ 42/6-47/6'42/6-47/6 i 31/ -33/ 38/ -40/ . 44/6-45/6 35/ -36/ IRON. There is a strong upward tone in all departments of the iron and steel trades, advances having to be reported in all quarters. Business is very difficult, makers showing no inclination to further commit themselves, anticipations of further advances being firmly grounded. Most works have plenty of orders to keep them going for the rest of this half year, and are slow to book even at current prices. At bar and rail mills values continue very firm, latest nominal prices being <£14 for tin-plate bars, either Siemens or Bessemer, and <£12 for heavy section rails. There are good enquiries coming forward for Welsh heematite, for which official quotations remain at £7 10s. Iron ore is a firm market at 40s. for best rubio. Tin-plates continue to advance. In this department also makers are reluctant to book further at present prices. Latest ruling quotations are based upon 33s. 6d. for Bessemer or Siemens primes 20 x 14 x 112. Cardiff. _____________________________________________________ * Nominal. COAL. The events of the last few days have made it extremely difficult to forecast the trend of the Cardiff coal market. ’Tonnage has been arriving very freely, and at the present Shipments last week were rather above the average of last year, the total exports for the Channel being 327,779 tons, compared with 313,617 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or an increase of 14,162 tons. From Cardiff there were shipped ' 180,024 tons, against 191,713 tons, or a decrease of 11,471 tons ; from Newport, 52,658 tons, against 44,542 tons, or an increase of 8,116 tons ; from Swansea, 42,980 tons, or a decline of 11,502 tons, and from Port Talbot, 51,899 tons, or an improvement of 29,019 tons. Chartering has been rather more active, but there is little probability of fresh engagements being entered into at the present moment, owing to uncertainty of delivery, and the restrictions imposed by the Admiralty. The amount of tonnage taken up last week was 128,450 tons, against 124,150 tons in the preceding six days, or an increase of 4,300 tons. IRON. It is difficult to write about the tin-plate trade of South Wales. The military authorities are rigidly revising the lists, with the result that many eligible men for the Army are being released from the various works. The result is already being felt in the production of plates. Last week, During the past week the blast furnaces were fully employed, and the steelworks were very active. The Mannesmann Tube Works had pressing orders, and the foundries and engineering plants were busy. Tin-plate makers were short of men and raw material. The ship- ments of tin-plates were 38,814 boxes, receipts from works 38,136 boxes, and stocks in the dock ’warehouses and vans, 320,192 boxes. Llanelly. COAL. The coal market of this district is characterised by a slightly better feeling this week, and on account of the approaching holidays buyers are getting in extra stocks, fearing the miners will take more than the one day which has been allowed them, it is more than probable the majority of the men will take two or three days, and out- puts for the Easter week it is felt certain will be con- siderably down. Seeing that most of the manufacturing works, especially those on munitions, are working the full seven days weekly, the consumption is much heavier than usual, but the quantity of coal available is, of course, less than normal. There is also an improvement noticeable in the anthracite market, and enquiries are more numerous for all kinds. Whether this is merely due to the holidays remains to be seen, but the colliery people are hoping that a change for the better has taken place and that orders received will enable them to keep pits at work better than has been the case during the past two or three months. Many of the sellers have done very badly and have not worked even half time, whilst prices received have -been anything but satisfactory. The smaller machine-made kinds have had a splendid run, and sellers have been quite unable to keep pace with the demand. Steam coals are all very scarce, and any free coal which is offering is quickly snapped up at high figures. Bunkers are now higher than they have been for a considerable time, and are likely to become still higher during the coming week. Smalls of all kinds are difficult to secure, whilst large steams are almost unobtainable. This week’s quotations approximately are : — Prices f.o.b. Current Anthracite :— - prices. Best malting large .... 22/6-23/6 .... Secondary do..........18/ -20/ Big Vein*large........: 17/6-18/6 .......... Red Vein do.......... 16/6-17/6 Machine-made cobbles... 26/6-28/6 German nuts........... 27/ -29/ French do........... 27/6-29/6 Paris do........... 27/6-29/ ................ Machine-made beans ... 30/ -32/ Do. peas....’ 20/ -22/ Culm .................. 9/ -9/6 Duff................... 4/ - 4/6 Other sorts:— Large steam coal...... 36/ -38/ Through-and-through... 28/ -32/ Small ................I 15/6-16/6 Bituminous small coal... 23/6-26/ _________ L’st week’s Last year’s prices. I prices. 22,6-23/6 21/6-22/6 18/ -20/ ' 17/ -19/ 15/6-16/ : 16/ -17/ 16/6-17/ , 16/6-17/ 26/6-27/6 ; 24/ -26/ 26/ -27/6 22/ -25/ 27/6-28/6 24/ -26/ 26/6-27/6 24/ -26/ 28/ -30/ , 23/ -25/ 20/ -22/ ! 14/ -15/ 9/ - 9/6 : 10/6-11/6 4/ - 4/6 ' 5/6- 6/ 32/ -34/ ■ 30/ -32/ 23/6-25/6 25/ -27/ 14/ -16/ 16/6-19/6 20/ -22/ 19/ -21/