STEEL SUPPIES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1938, Page 6

STEEL SUPPIES

DEMAND BEING MET

(Per Press Aisociation—Copyright),

AUCKLAND, April 27

Advices received by Auckland importers from English steel works are that manufacturers are now not only -able,’ to cater for the British domestic/.demand for steel, but can export steel reds, flats, plates, and, Indeed, practically.all .types of Steel. This means that the British steel industry, or a. section. of. it, Has substantially overtaken the. .extraordinary demand caused by British'rearmar ment, which caused a. steel shortage on the world markets. The Dorninibn will still dratv most classes of steel produced in Australia from^that, country, it was explained by importers. Thev said that the British steel exporters,-;with a handicap of 25per cent, exchange, were hardly likely to be able to compete with most classes of Australian stebl on. the landed costs. Moreover, Australia- enjoved the advantage wheiyordeting slipplies of nearness to the Dominion,,: An inquiry from Canada hv. importers reveals that Canada is able.to give nrompt shipment of steel, hut the landed costs are nearly .£2 a ton more than for Australian supplies; .

Thouah the Kokerangu brought some hundreds ofttons of steeT'f rom.- APS tra- \

lia, an-acute shortage.of- steel reinforcing rods, in' the half-inch si-e, has not been relieved.' If is further stated that the acute‘steel scarcity in Auckland is . mostly;'in rods; and flats, the latter being.used in the engineering industry. The market is now fairly well supplied .with girders in the yarrdltS sizes required, by: the building-industry. There has.been a scarcity, in steel so long that fenuirements are now ordered fairlv well ahead. Orders are being suonlied from Australia within IS to *2O weeks for sections or girders, and within 40 weeks for reinforcing rods. Acute scarcities develop from time to time for different classes of steel fairly .close to the periods in which such types are rolled at the millsl. .......