INCREASED SALES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 49, Issue 2888, 31 January 1940, Page 6

INCREASED SALES

BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY

GERMAN MARKETS CAPTURED

“Old King Coal” is helping Britainto pay for the war toy providing a valuable export to set against imports of war materials.

The coal industry is capturing the trade which the Allied sea blockade has forced. Germany to relinquish, and to meet the demands of overseas customers as well as Britain’s own increased requirements, seams and collieries which have been idle for years are being opened again, reabsorbing about 50,000 miners in an effort to increase the annual output of 230,000,000 tons by a further 30,000,000 tons. “ Publication of the amount now being shipped to the Mediterranean would create astonishment in some quarters and alarm in others,” said an official of the industry. '“The Italians, with heavy bookings, are in the market for still more, and their total purchases for 193’9 will be well over 2,000,000’ tons.” Spain will soon be taking British coal again, for the first time since the civil war; Greek -buyers are enquiring for Welsh coal, and big ship.ments are being made to Egypt and the Near East generally.

Other markets coming into the picture include Portugal and South American countries, where British and U.S.A, coals are taking the place of German supplies. Priority is, of course, given to French orders, and early in October the French State Railways bought about 100,000 tons .of Durham and Northumberland coals.