Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 06 April 1903

The Hull Coal Trade

A 30,000 Tons Decrease

The return furnished by the Hull Chamber of Commerce and Shipping of last month’s traffic between the collieries contributing and the port, unlike the preceding two months of the year, shows a decrease as compared with the corresponding month of last year. In all, 160 collieries sent supplies, and the total amount received at Hull was 214,784 tons, as against 245,872 in March of last year, a decrease of 31,088 tons, which worked out at slightly over twelve per cent.

So far as the quarter is concerned, however, the present year stands in a favourable position, with an advance of 29,520 tons, the respective totals being, Jan. to March, 1903, 730,016 tons; ditto, 1902, 700,496 tons. This increase is more than accounted for by the amount of trade which has been done between the Humber and the United States, in fact, had it not been for the “boom” in the American trade, the present year’s figures would have shown a considerable decline when placed by the side of those for the corresponding period twelve months back.

These export returns are extremely interesting, when considered along with the figures already given. The total exports for the quarter just ended amounted to 341,934 tons; last year the total was 218,632 tons, a difference of 123,572 tons, or 56 per cent. With the exception of 11,696 tons, the whole of this increase is accounted for by the Yankee trade, which for the quarter reaches the total of 112,446 tons, as against 567 tons last year.

In March the tonnage amounted to 17,968—the lowest of the three monthly returns against 574 tons a year ago. Germany is also taking considerably more than a year ago, the tonnage for last month being 13,054 tons, against 9,293 tons, and for the quarter 43,288 tons, against 23,736 tons; and a similar state of things exists with regard to Sweden, which has increased (for the month) from 15,187 tons last year to 22,465 tons this year. Italy increased from 749 tons to 5,332 tons, and smaller increases are notified in regard to several other places.

The decreases which reach four figures are in regard to California, Denmark, Holland, Malta, Roumania, and North Russia. The coastwise exports for the month amounted to 23,232 tons, the three months’ total being 64,318 tons. Of these three totals, London accounted for 16,833 and 44,436 tons respectively.

The greatest individual contribution came from Shirebrook, which sent 14,720 tons, Kilnhurst and Thrybergh came second, with 13,977 tons; Aldwarke Main third, 13,768 tons. Manvers Main have 11,424 tons registered, and Hickleton 11,088 tons. No other pit sent a five-figure tonnage. Some of the contributions were:—