BRITISH COAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 14

BRITISH COAL

INCREASED EXPORTS LARGE FOREIGN CONTRACTS LONDON, August 18. The last few months have seen a striking improvement in British coal exports. During the quarter ended June 30 last a total of 10,250,000 tons were sent abroad from the United Kingdom, compared with 8.225,000 tons in the first three months of the year and 8,943,000 tons in the corresponding quarter of 1938. This volume was, in fact, the largest for the corresponding peribd of any year since 1932. This upward tendency also held good over the first six months of the year, during which period British exports of coal were distinguished by heavier shipments to Holland (433,000 tons), Italy (407,000 tons), Denmark (401,000 tons), and Germany (345,000 tons). ’ A number of important foreign contracts have been placed lately with British suppliers. The French State Railways, who originally inquired for their usual quantities of about 220,000 tons over the next three months, have increased their order to 416.000 tons. Canada is taking larger supplies than normally, while business to Italy, South America and Egypt is also improving. ■ An .additional 100,000 tons of coal have recently been released to meet Swedish requirements. Welsh exporters are making a bid to recapture lost ground in Portugal, where the State Railways have invited tenders for 445,000 tons. With regard to coke, the cartel have recently released an additional 100,000 tons to meet Swedish requirements. Denmark’s imports in this department have lately risen by one-third and Norway is taking large supplies for stocking purposes. Italian demands for coke are good. It is interesting to note that in the first six months of the year over half a million tons of coke have been shipped from the Tyne district alone, whereas in the corresponding period of 1913 the total was only 148,000 tons.