THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ January 5, 1917. 29 THE WELSH COAL AHD IROK TRADES, Thursday, January 4. ___________________________________________ Monmouthshire, South Wales, &c. Newport. COAL. : There is now a steady and improving output from most of the collieries in Monmouthshire. The men have settled down with every prospect of working in harmony with the new conditions of Government control, and are sending large quantities of coal to the surface. Tonnage has recently arrived in quantities, and there is a very brisk immediate shipment. The delay of wagons is not now so serious as it was a few weeks ago, when some of the pits had to stop in consequence of the unfortunate turn of events. As there is not much free coal to put upon the market, prices are hardening all round, and there seems a tendency to much higher prices in a short time. There has been a very fair import of mining timber, added to which local grown pit props are freely coming into use. Prices f.o.b. cash 30 days. Steam coals: —• Current L’st week’s Last year’s prices. prices. prices. Best Black Vein large... 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ 26 7-26/6 W estern-valleys, ordin’y 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 25/6-26/ Best Eastern-valleys ... 28/ -29/ 26/ -28/ 24/6-25/ Secondary do. 26/6-27/ 25/ -26/ 24/ -24/6 Best small coals 18/ -19/ 17/ -19/ 13/6-14/ Secondary do 12/ -17/ 14/ -16/ 12/ -12/6 Inferior do 10/ -11/ 12/ -14/ 9/ -10/ Screenings 19/ 19/ -20/ 13/9-14/3 Through coals 22/6 — 16/6-17/6 Best washed nuts — . — 16/6-17/ Other sorts:— Best house coal 24/ -25/ 24/6-26/6 22/ -24/ Secondary do 22/6' 22/ -24/ 20/ -22/ Patent fuel 35/ -37/ 35/ -37/. 24/ -24/6 Furnace coke — 47/6-52/6 32/ -35/ Foundry coke — ■ 57/6-62/6 40/ -42/6 Cardiff. COAL. No developments have occurred during the past few days, and no particular features present themselves for discussion, except perhaps the outlook for the future. A holiday tone has prevailed, and it was not until the middle of the week that business in earnest commenced to be done. Monday was practically a blank day, and the Exchange closed at noon. On Tuesday there was a more settled feeling, and this tendency developed on Wednesday, when a stronger tone was manifested. Tonnage conditions were satisfactory, but owing to the heavy demands of the authorities very little free coal came on to the market, and this was quickly appropriated by buyers with boats at their disposal for prompt shipment. Second Admiralties were nominally quoted at ^0s. to 32s. 6d., with ordinary steams at 30s. to 31s. Dry coals ranged from 26s. to 30s., according to quality, and the quotations for all Monmouthshire descrip- tions were very close. Black Veins were 30s. to 31s., Western Valleys 29s. to 30s., and best Easterns 28s. to 30s., with a reduction of 2s. for inferior grades. There was no change in the small coal market, but values were well maintained, best bunkers realising 19s. to 20s., ordinaries 18s. to 19s., and cargo qualities 15s. to 17s. There was not much enquiry for bituminous coals, and the price for No. 3 Rhondda large was 28s. to 30s., No. 2 qualities being 27s. to 28s. Patent fuel was stationary, at 35s. to 36s. There was a scarcity of pitwood, and the price advanced to 52s. and 53s. per ton. Shipments during the week only amounted to 129,199 tons, compared with 198,568 tons in the corresponding week of last year, or a decrease of 69,369 tons. From Cardiff there were exported 72,693 tons against 95,437 tons, or a decrease of 22,744 tons, and of this quantity 34,871 tons went to France, 18,359 tons to depots, and 17,784 tons to neutrals. Italy was credited with only 1,679 tons. Newport exported 33,963 tons against 44,748, or a decline of 10,785 tons, of which France took 23,310 tons. From Swansea there were shipped 15,401 tons, or a decrease of 20,516 compared with the corresponding period, and of this quantity 10,723 were despatched to France. The Port Talbot total was only 7,142 tons, compared with 22,466 tons in the corresponding week, and the whole of this quantity went to France. Patent fuel shipments were about the smallest on record, and only amounted to 202 tons, or a decrease of 20,407 tons compared with last year. The local committee dealing with the French and Italian limitation scheme at a meeting this week decided to proceed immediately with the alloca- tion of all tonnage on time charter which did not comply with the Board of Trade arrangements. IRON. The majority of the iron and steel works in South Wales were working at high pressure throughout the holidays, owing to the heavy demands for munition purposes. There is, however, practically no business of an ordinary com- mercial character, and quotations are quite nominal. In the tin plate trade a better tone is observable, but the restrictions as to licences and permits are becoming more stringent than ever, owing to the scarcity of steel bars. A request that the Government should increase the supplies has not been successful, but it is stated that a proportionate allowance will be made. For Class A certificate work quotations are higher, and standard sizes are 28s. to 30s. Bessemer standard cokes from stock are 34s. to 35s., but oil sizes are in little demand. As indicated some time ago, permits for large plates are now unobtainable except under special conditions. There is no change in the galvanised sheet trade, and most of the mills are now engaged on painted sheets and trench plates for war purposes. Spelter is .£50 5s. per ton. There is no alteration in the iron ore market, and quotations are nominal. The same remark applies to Welsh haematite. Shipments of tin plates last week amounted to 6,451 boxes, whilst receipts from works were 18,517 boxes, leaving 192,081 boxes in stock. Swansea. GOAL. The trade of the port displayed some improvement last week, notwithstanding the holidays, and exports of patent fuel were larger. There was, on the contrary, a decrease in the coal trade. Shipments of coal and patent fuel together amounted-to 54,384 tons. There was a good attendance on '’Change, but the general tone of the anthracite coal market is unimproved. Tonnage is still coming along slowly. Several collieries have difficulty in keeping regularly at work, and concessions can be obtained in many directions for early shipments. Large coals of all qualities are very slow. Machine-made cobbles, nuts, and beans are weak, with poor enquiry. Peas are steady about last figures^ but rubbly culm is freely offered. Duff continues firm with a good enquiry. Steam coals are slightly better, but are held back with the shortage of tonnage. Prices are all net f.o.b. (cash in 30 days). _________________________________________________________ Prices f.o.b. Cardiff (except where otherwise stated). Current L’st week’s Last year’s Steam coals prices. prices. prices. Best Admiralty steam coals * * * Superior seconds * —* ' — ’ Seconds 30/ -32/6 29/ -30/ Ordinary steams 30/ -31/ 28/ -29/ 25/ -27/ Best bunker smalls ...... 19/ -20/ 19/ -20/ 15/ -16/ Best ordinaries.. 18/ -19/ ■ 17/ -19/ 14/ -15/ Cargo qualities 15/ -17/ 14/ -16/ 8/6- 11/ Inferior smalls 14/ -15/ 13/ -15/ 7/ - 8/ Best dry coals 29/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 25/ -26/ Ordinary drys ^Z v^z 26/ -27/6 25/ -27/ 24/ -25/ Best washed nuts 25/ -27/6 25/ -26/ 25/ -27/ Seconds 25/ -26/ 24/ -25/ 22/ -24/ Best washed peas 24/ -25/ 23/6-24/6 20/ -22/6 Seconds 23/ -24/ 22/6-23,6 18/ -20/ Dock screenings 10/ -12/6 Monmouthshire— Black Veins 30/ -31/ 29/ -30/ 26/ -26/6 Western-valleys 29/ -30/ 28/ -29/ 25/ -26/ Eastern-valleys 28/ -30/ 27/ -28/ 24/ -25/ Inferior do 26/ -28/ 24/ -27/ 23/ -24/ Bituminous coals:— Best house coals (at pit) 25/6-26/6 25/6-26/6 .23/ -24/ Second qualities (at pit) 23/6-24/6 23/6-24/6 21/6-22/6 No. 3 Rhondda— Bituminous large 28/ -30/ 28/ -30/ 24/ -25/ Through-and-through 22/ -23/ 22/ -23/ 21/ -22/■ Small 18/ -20/ 18/ -20/ 19/6-20/6 No. 2 Rhondda— Large 27/ -28/ 27/ -28/ 20/-21/ Through-and-through 21/ -23/ 20/ -23/ 16/ -17/ Small 18/ -20/ 17/ -19/ 13/6-14/6 Best patent fuel ............. 35/ -36/ 36/ -37/6 24/ -25/■ Seconds 34/ -35/ - 35/ -36/ 22/ -23/ Special foundry coke 62/6-67/6 62/6-67/6 42/ -45/ Ordinary do. 55/ -60/ 55/ -60/ 38/ -40/ Furnace coke 47/6-52/6 47/6-52/6 32/ -35/ Pitwood (ex-ship) 52/ -53/ 49/ -50/ 52/ -53/ * Nominal. Anthracite:— Best malting large (hand picked) ........ Secondary do. Big Vein Valley large... Red Vein large ....... Machine-made cobbles Paris nuts .........__ French do..........___ Stove do............__ Beans ......__......... Machine - made large peas ______............... Do. fine peas __... Rubbly culm..........____ Duff.................. Steam coals Best large ......__.... Seconds ______............ Bunker throughs __..... Small ______.............. Bituminous coals No. 3 Rhondda— Large_________.............. Thro’-and-thro’..... Small _______........__ Patent fuel .......______ Current prices. 30/ -32/ 27/ -29/ 24/ -27/ 22/ -25/ 37/6-40/ 37/6-40/ 36/6-39/ 27/6-29/ 20/ -22/ 12/ -12/6 6/ - 6/6 27/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 20/ -24/ 12/ -18/ 28/ -30/ 18/ -20/ 34/ -35/ L’stweek’s Last year’s prices. prices. 30/ -32/ 27/ -29/ 24/ -27/ 22/ -25/ 37/6-40/ 37/6-40/ 36/6-39/ 27/6-29/ 33/6-35/ 31/ -34/ 30/ -32/ I 29/ -31/. 1 43/ -45/ 47/ -49/6 44/ -47/6 32/ -34/6 20/ -22/ — ; I 12/ -12/6 j . 6/ - 6/6 j 27/ -28/ 25/ -26/ 20/ -24/ . 12/ -18/ 18/6-19/6 6/ - 9/ 2/ - 2/6 21/ -24/ 17/6-20/ 14/ -16/6 6/ 8/ Llanelly. COAL. The tonnage position continues unsatisfactory, and the tone of the market is therefore not firm. Anthracite large qualities are very weak and concessions in price are made for prompt shipments. The machine-made kinds are also not very firm,‘but as the collieries are working short time through lack of empties the. make of these qualities is rather limited, and this helps to keep prices at a more uniform level. The steam coal market is also affected by lack of tonnage and values are easy. Large steams, are, however, in better demand, whilst manufacturing fuels are going very well with local works taking practically all available supplies. This week’s quotations are approxi- mately as follows : — Prices f.o.b. •Anthracite :~ . Best malting large ...... , Secondary do. ____ Big,Vein large.....__ Red Vein do.........,. Machine-made cobbles... Stove nuts.......__..... French do. __________.............. Paris do........__....__ Machine-made beans ... Do. peas...... Culm ............................. Duff............._______ Other sorts:— Large steam coal__...... Thr ough-and-thr ough... Small ................. Bituminous small coal... THE LOHDOH COAL TRADE. Thursday, January 4. The market has been well attended since the resumption of work after the holidays, and the trade continues exceed- ingly brisk. The delay in bringing the loaded wagons for- ward has created a keen enquiry for every available truck of coal invoiced. Unfortunately, the stoppage for the holi- days tended to lessen the output considerably, and the transport difficulties and the disorganisation of the traffic made the coal on offer very sparse. Milder weather, and the general tendency to pick up the stocks on the ground with the turn of the year, have somewhat affected the market, but the limited quantity available keeps the pressure still strong. Many collieries are suffering from shortage of empties, and the railway companies are heavily congested, with traffic. Hard steam coals, are very difficult to’obtain, but unscreened gas coals have been coming forward in large quantities. House coal has been slightly more plentiful, but the serious condition of cartage arrangements has increased, and on all sides merchants are finding it exceedingly difficult to get the coal delivered. Small nuts are entirely absorbed by the electric works, and the pressure during the week has been unusually strong. Slacks are plentiful, and the cheaper qualities are heavilv congesting the barging stations. The better dualities are moving freely, but fine slacks are stationary. The alteration in the train service from New Year’s Day has had a marked effect on the London Coal Exchange. Many of the coal owners and colliery represen- tatives are in the habit of travelling up from the Midlands, and returning in the evening, but the alterations . in the times and the camcelment of many of the popular trains made it impossible to do the double journey in one day; and a special meeting was called on Monday, and Mir. G. A. Warren (the chairman of the Coal .Merchants’ Society) laid the matter before the members assembled. It was decided that the attendance for the future should begin at 2 o’clock prompt,, and the market should close at 3.30. None of the Yorkshire representatives put in an appearance on Monday last, and those from Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Leicester had great difficulty in returning the same day; but the supreme difficulty appears to be the rigid closing of so many of the suburban stations for passenger traffic. The seaborne market has been well supplied during the week; 40 vessels were reported as 'arriving in the River Thames for Friday’s market, 37 on Monday, and seven on Wednesday, but all were loaded with contract coals. The heavy arrivals are doubtless due to the accumulation of vessels at the various shinning ports during the Christmas holidays. This extra quantity has made the shortage of labour at the various wharves and depots only.the more noticeable. Prices are unaltered, but no free coal is offering. The shipping trade is slowly recovering, but the want of coal at the various ports has delayed some of the vessels, especially as the munition works and the large industrial concerns are pushing for extra supplies by rail. . . r From Messrs. Dinham Fawcus and Company’s Report. Friday, December 29.—The seaborne house coal market to-day had still a holiday appearance, and no business reported done, but a fair enquiry was noticeable. Cargoes, 40. Monday, January 1.—There was a fine enquiry for sea- borne house coal at to-day’s market, but no cargoes on offer. Cargoes, 37. Wednesday, January 3.—The seaborne house coal market was quiet to-day, and no sales reported. Cargoes, 7. ___________________________________________ THE IRISH COAL TRADE. Thursday, January 4. ___________________________________________ Dublin. Business has been active since the Christmas holidays, and demand for coal for all purposes is unabated, there being no ■further change in prices with the new year. City prices are as follow :—Best Orrell, 44s. per ton net; Yorkshire brights, 43s.; best Wigan, 42s.; best slack, 36s.; retail price, 2s. lOd. to 3s. per sack of 10 st.; best coke, '44s. per ton; steam coal, from about 40s. per ton. Irish coals from, the Wolf- hill Collieries, Queen’s County, are :—Malting, gas, and house coal, 45s. per ton; steam coal, 20s. to 40s.; culm, 12s. to 15s. per ton—all f.o.r. Athy, the nearest railway connec- tion with the mines. The coal vessels arriving in the. port last week numbered 35, the total quantity of coal discharged upon the quays being only 14,262 tons, as compared with 23,043 tons the week previously. Belfast. Prices of all qualities of coal are steady, at late rates, and business generally is rather quiet, both locally and in the inland districts. Supplies are about normal. It is stated that the shortage o>f railway wagons for the conveyance of coal inland has caused' much inconvenience during the past year, but, on the other hand, the trade locally has been greatly facilitated by the introduction of the new electric cranes by the Belfast Harbour •Commissioners. From August last year to the end of November the trade is described as dull as at midsummer, owing to the abnormal demand during the first seven months of the year, and the large stocks then laid in. In some of the inland districts the prices of coal are still up as high as 50s. per ton. Local prices of household coals are :—Best Arley, 43s. fid. per ton; Orrell nuts, 42s. fid.; English house, 41s. 6d.; Scotch house, 39s. 6d.; Orrell slack, 39s. 6d. Freights from Garston to Belfast are from 10s. to Ils. 6d. per ton; and from Ayr from 5s. to 5s. fid. per ton. Current L’st week’s Last year’s ___________________________ prices.1 -29/6-32/ 27/6-30/ 25/6-28/ 24/ -25/ 37/6-40/ 37/6-39/6 38/ -40/ 37/ -39/ 28/6-29/6 20/ -22/ 10/6-11/6 6/ - 6/6 prices. 29/6-32/ ! 27/6-30/ 25/6-28/ 24/ -25/ 37/6-40/ 37/6-39/6 38/ -40/ 37/ -39/ 28/6-29/6 20/ -22/ 10/6-11/6 6/ - 6/6 ! prices. i 33/ -35/ ; 32/ —34/ 301 -32/ 29/ -31/ 43/6-45/ 44/6-47/ 47/6-49/ 44/6-47/ 32/- -34/ 19/ -20/ 6/3- 9/ 2/ - 2/6 27/ -28/6 19/6-22/ 13/6-17/ 17/ -19/6 27/ -28/6 19/6-22/ 13/6-17/ 17/ -19/6 22/ -24/ 15/6-17/ ■’7/6- 9/ 15/6-16/6 THE TIH-PLATE TRADE. Liverpool. Business has been quiet the last few days, but prices are firm, with an upward tendency. The new regulations in regard to stock plates has had an unsettling effect, and merchant holders of spot lots have had no difficulty in obtaining very high figures. It is now impossible to obtain anything from the works without class A or B certificate. Quotations run :—Cokes : I C 14 x 20 (112 sh. 108 lb.), 29s. to 30s. a box ; I.C 28 x 20 (112 sh. 216 1b.), 57s. fid. to fiOs. a box.. IC squares and'odd sizes, 29s. to 30s. basis for unassorted. Charcoals are firm, at 32s. fid. basis and upwards, according to tinning. .Coke wasters cannot be sold by works without a permit. The following figures would pro- bably be accepted :—C W 14 x 20 , 28s. 6d. per box;' C W 28 X 20, 57s. 6d. ; C W 14 X’18f, 29s. Of course, second- hand lots, without certificate, Would command higher figures. All f.o.b. Wales, les-s 4 per cent..