HC Deb 23 June 1921 vol 143 cc1534-6
80. Sir WALTER de FRECE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the present average pit-head price of coal in the chief coal producing countries of the world apart from our own?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

As the answer is long, and involves a number of figures, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer: —

The available information regarding the pit-head price of coal in other countries is not sufficient to enable average prices for all coal raised to be determined, but the particulars below give some representative price quotations for U.S.A., France, Belgium, and Germany. It should be borne in mind that published market prices cover a great variety of grades, the relative importance of which is not fully known, and such prices do not usually include coal actually delivered under contract.

The various currencies are converted at the average rate of exchange in London for the period concerned.

United States of America. April, 1921.

Anthracite, stove, f.o.r. mine, 37s. 9d. to 41s. 6d. per ton.

Bituminous "run of mine," f.o.r. mine, Fairmont, West Virginia, 9s. 6d. to 11s. 6d. per ton.

(From "Commerce Monthly" issued by New York National Bank of Commerce.)

France. June, 1921.

Prices in the Nord and Pas de Calais districts, free on wagon at mine, are given at from 30s. to 60s. per ton avoirdupois, according to grade. A representative "run of mine" variety is quoted at 38s. —("Le Bulletin" newspaper, 12th Jane, 1921.)

Belgium. June, 1921.

Prices in the Mons district range from 28s. 6d. to 51s. per ton avoirdupois, according to grade. A representative "run of mine" variety "40 per cent. large" is quoted at 39s.—("L'exportateur Beige," 19th June, 1921.)

Germany. May, 1921.

The official maximum prices prescribed by the National Coal Union include for the Rhenish Westphalian district:

Anthracite best nuts, 21s. 6d. per ton avoirdupois.

Gas coal, 21s. 6d. per ton avoirdupois. Factory coal, 23s. 8d. per ton avoirdupois.

These prices include coal tax on turnover. It is understood that an increase in the rate of the coal tax above that in force when the report was made from which this information is derived has now been announced.

For the purpose of conversion to sterling the mark has been taken at 260 to the £.—(German "Official Gazette.")