J M M J S N J M M J S N J H H J S N J M M J S N
--- ---i ; , i : : , . I ~ ■ . ——— ” ~ —
:t'I"± o ± ]
c o a l a g e b a r o m e t e rnil r~~
_ J O F __________
B IT U M IN O U S COAL PRO D U CTIO N ---N o rm a /
p ro d u ctio n
P revio u s .y e a r
A d ju s te d fo r secu la r tre n d a n d s e a s o n a l v a ria tio n
-1 9 3 0
1928 1929
JFMAMJJA SONDJFM AMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND 1930
CONSUMPTION OF BITUMINOUS COAL B Y 5 T E A M R A IL R O A D S
' (Interstate Commerce Commission Census Bureau) '
=10000
192.fi 1929
JFM AMJJASO N D JFMAMJJASO ND JF H AM JJAS O N P 1930 r r o T m - i rvi ■ ■ • ' ' i i ■
CONSUM PTION OF BITUMINOUS COAL BY CEN TRA L ELECTRIC PO W ER PLAN TS
(G eo lo a ica i S u rv e y Census B u rea u )
£3,000
r\
£ 5,600
£3,400
1926 1929
JFM A M J J A S O N D JFM A M JJ A S O N D JFM A M JJ A S O U D 1930
80000-„
10,000*5£o60,000
P R O D U C T IO N OF B IT U M IN O U S C O A L
" (.Bureau ofMines.Census Bureau)
1928 1929 1930
«9,000 c 6,000
« 1,000
JFM AHJJAS0N D1JFM AM JJ AS0ND[JFMAMJ JASOND _ PRODUCTION OF A N TH R A C ITE COAL
— ( Bureau ofM ines Census[Bureau) Previous
y e a r
° 6,000
>-.5,000 c 4,000 V5 3,000
MARKETS
thermometer had a considerable influence on the state of business at any one time, domestic and industrial demand, with few exceptions, continued at a high rate throughout the month. Prices increased production of prepared sizes, producers, especially in the Middle West and in the Rocky Mountain region, were plagued with an excess of screenings, which depressed the price and, quite frequently, carried the mine-run reali
zation down with it. Buying in general still continued to be of the hand-to- mouth variety, but some disposition to replenish stockpiles was evident, though it was not translated into a great amount of tonnage.
January coal production is estimated by the U. S. Bureau of Mines at 49,-750,000 net tons, an increase of 3,550,000 net tons over December, 1929, and a de
responding weighted average prices were as follows: $1.89, Jan. 4, 11 and
Conditions in the anthracite markets of the country were, in January, largely during January quickened the de
mand for all coals in the Chicago cold spells, seasonable temperatures prevailed, except in the first ten days of the month, when business lagged badly. Curtailed production, however, kept most of the operators from storing
up embarrassing reserves of tonnage.
“No-bills” accumulated at Illinois, Indiana, and western Kentucky mines in the first half of the month, but were increased production of domestic sizes.
Secondary grades of screenings, how
ever, were weak and slow. Industries
mium high-volatile grades enjoyed a fair demand. Smokeless lump dragged, but egg and stove were active and mine- run moved well on dealer contracts.
Of the Eastern high volatile coals, well-known brands, without especial regard to quality, enjoyed the best de
mand. Ordinary grades were slow.
Screenings, both high- and low-volatile, were scarce and tight, with Chicago retailers paying a premium of 10c.@;
15c. on spot buys.
Toward the last of the month, both retailers and industrial consumers tight
ened up on their buying, taking only enough for immediate requirements.
New smokeless contract prices for
Feb-Current Quotations— Spot Prices, Anthracite— Gross Tons, F.O .B. Mines
-Week E
Company Independent Company Independent Company Independent Company
$8.20@S8.50 $8.20® $8.50 i8 .2 0 @ t8 .5 0 $ 8 .20@S8.5(fe
8.40 $8.40@$8.50 8.40 S8*. 40®$8 . 50 8.40 jfMOffl i&.'so 8.40
8.70 8.60(5) 8.70 8.70 8.60® 8.70 8.70 8.60® 8.70 8.70
7.77 7.77 7.77 7.77 7.77 7.77 7.77
5.00 4.75@ 5.00 5.00 4.75® 5.00 5.00 4.75® 5.00 5.00 ’
ruary reflected the slack demand for pre
pared sizes and the fair call for mine- run. Standard producers reduced lump 50c.@75c. and egg 25c.@50c., and ad
vanced stove and nut 25c. in order to even up for the loss on mine-run. Quo
tations on mine-run and slack were un
changed at $2.25 and $1.50, respectively.
Anthracite demand was a negligible quantity, and regular contract deliveries were barely maintained.
The increased production of prepared sizes adversely affected the screenings market, however, and accumulations forced several mines to shut down.
Prices on prepared sizes were un
changed. Screenings, however, went off 25c.@35c.
Heavy shipments from the Docks at the Head of the Lakes during January and the light stocks in dealers’ and in
dustrial consumers’ bins lead dock oper
ators to believe that the shipments of
ritory than in previous years. Large ton
nages of Pocahontas coal and Kentucky and West Virginia high-volatile vari
eties moved from the docks to the Twin Cities, replacing the strongly
competi-tive all-rail coal. Stocks of bituminous and anthracite coal on the docks on Feb
ruary 1 were 4,800,000 tons and 400,000 tons, respectively. Anthracite demand was active, with dealers in that fuel
$4.75; screenings, $3.85; Youghiogheny block, lump and egg, $5.75; stove, $5.40;
S
EVERE weather in the Southwestern region in January improved the demand for coal, but also interferred with production, especially of the Kansas shovel varieties. Shovel lump advanced 25c. to $3.25. Kansas deep-shaft lump was firm, selling largely at $4, with some few lots going as low as $3.50.
Sub-zero weather throughout most of the Rocky Mountain and Missouri ter were, however, somewhat difficult to move. Lignite producers advanced prices 50c. on Jan. 27, because of the scarcity brought on by the large demand.
Current Q uotations— Spot Prices, Bituminous Coal—
N e t Tons, F.O .B. Mines
Smokeless lum p ... Cincinnati Smokeless m ine-run Cincinnati Smokeless screenings. . . . Cincinnati
♦Smokeless m ine-run. . . . Boston Clearfield m ine-run Boston Cambria m in e -ru n Boston
Somerset m ine-run Boston
Pool 1 (Navy Standard) New York Pool 1 (Navy Standard) Philadelphia Pool 9 (super, low vol.).. New York Pool 9 (super, low vol.) -. Philadelphia Pool 10 (h. gr. low. vol.).. New Y o r k ...
Pool 10 (h. gr. low. vol.).. Philadelphia Pool 11 (low v ol.) New York Pool 11 (low. vol.) Philadelphia
HIGH-VOLATILE, EA STERN 1.506S 1.75 1.506i> 1.75 1.406& 1.65 1.4069 1.65 1.006S 1.10 1.006a 1.10 1.006a l . i o .9064 1.00
mixed washed chestnut, $3.25; Trinidad coking lump, $3.75; nut, $3.50; chestnut,
Unusually severe winter weather re
sulted in a good demand in the Louis
Eastern Kentucky quotations were as follows: 4-in. and 6-in. block, $2.25@
$2.75, with some specialty varieties at
$3.50; lump, $1.75@$2; egg, $1.60@
$1.90; mine-run, $1.35@$1.75; screen
ings, 80c.@$1.15. In western Kentucky, block sold at $2@$2.25; lump and egg,
$1.75@$2; nut, $1.15@$1.75; mine-run, 90c.@$1.25, and screenings, 40c.@60c.
The effort of that part of the smoke market. Smokeless screenings, which were in good demand at $1.50@$1.60,
creased the supply. Mine-run contin
ued in its accustomed groove. Retailers voiced the complaint that public interest in higher priced coals had slackened.
This fact, however, was of considerable benefit to cheaper grades and steam sizes.
Conditions in the Columbus market in January, especially the domestic divi
sion, were controlled largely by the vagaries of the weather, with good busi
ness in periods of low temperatures and poor business when the thermometer rose. Prices at the mines fluctuated in response to the demand, registering, however, a decrease of 25c.@35c. in the general level. The end of the month
130 C O A L A G E — Vol.35, N o .2
was characterized by a trend toward higher prices and a bright outlook for February.
Steam business was fairly good throughout the month, with screenings attracting the most attention. A slight through the Columbus gateway to north
ern Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan was usual level, despite the fact that January and February are the replacement months. Prices weakened during the month to $2.25@$2.40, and even at the lower figure, showed little signs of strength. Industrial and railroad de
mand was under par. Mine-run and in mercury stimulating production and strengthening the price trend, and a rise having the opposite effect. Prices were practically unchanged during the month, the latest quotations being as follows: prices in January, although these classi
fications sagged somewhat at the Vir
ginia terminals in the last week. An advance in marine freights offset the reduction, however. Nut-and-slack was quoted at $4.10, though the base price
sylvania bituminous was absorbed, though the territory within reach of trade back to normal. Consumers, how
ever, seemed disposed more to the use of stocks, with the exception of the rail
roads, which came into the market for more liberal supplies. With favorable reports on business activity, it is ex
pected that a good tonnage will be moved until April. Prices showed no change from the unsatisfactory level extending over the past three months. Tidewater business was good, with bright pros
pects of its continuance.
January proved to be the best month for domestic sales the Birmingham trade has enjoyed all winter. Heavy snows, intermittent cold and rain helped to maintain a continuous demand for house
hold fuel and, though users bought con
servatively, dealers enjoyed a good business. The active retail market also stimulated wholesale buying, though the total was not enough to keep mine tracks clear of loads. Domestic prices were as follows: Montevallo-Aldrich lump and egg, $5.75@$6; nut, weak, though railroads are gradually increasing their takings to normal quotas. Spot sales showed no change,
washed, $1.85@$2.25; screenings, $1.25
@$1.65. buckwheat for domestic use. Conse
quently, this size was scarce at all times, controlling factor in the Phila
delphia anthracite market. After a market were satisfactory and, because of the growing use of buckwheat in do
mestic furnaces, all sizes enjoyed a good movement.
Exports of bituminous and anthracite coal from the United States in De
cember, the latest month for which figures are available, were 1,083,996 and 313,088 gross tons, respectively, as compared to 1,093,685 and 258,637 gross tons in 1928.
Imports of anthracite and bituminous coal during the month of December were 39,818 gross tons and 49,206 gross tons, respectively, as compared to 55,153 gross tons and 71,795 gross tons in the same month in 1928.
Current Q uotations— Spot Prices, Bituminous Coal- N e t Tons, F.O .B. Mines