The Washington herald., 1921-04-11
UNITED STATES
IS WORLD'SCHIEF
COAL EXPORTER
Present Stoppage of Coal
Activities Abroad Is
Responsible.
FORMER RANK 3RD
Prior to War England and
Germany Far Exceeded
This Country.

The growing Importance of the
United States as the worlds prin-
cipar coal producer and distributor
is made especially apparent, says
statement by the National City
Bank Of New York. by the momen-
tary suspension of coal activities in
Great Britain, which leaves US the
worlds principal coal exporter.
Prior to the war, both Great Britain
and Germany far exceeded the
United States as coal exporters, de-
spite the fact that we have over
half the worlds coal supply, while
in 1s20-1921 the United States has
taken first rank as coal exporter.
and with the temporary suspension
OF production in Great Britain, be-
comes the worlds chief reliance for
coal for export or bunker" pur-
poses.
The radical change in the coal ex-
porting situation, even before the
recent events in Great Britain, is
illustrated. adds the banks state
ment, by the fact that United
states exports in the eight months
ending with February, 1921, were in
round terms. twice as much as those
OF Great Britain, now our only i'm
portant rival in coal for interna-
tional markets. while in the period
immediately preceding the war
Great Britain was supplying to for
eign markets three times as much
coal as was the United States. Brit
ish exports of coal in the eight
months ending with February, 1921,
were only $4,000. 900 tons. and those
of the United Stares were approxi-
mately 3O.0O0,000, while in the cal
endar year 1918 British coal exports
aggregated 73.0O0.Oe0 tons against
22,Ooo.o0o exported from the United
States.
Gain In Past Year.
The increase in our coal expor-
tation during the last year has been
very great. The quantity exported
in the eight months ending with
February 1921. aggregates in round
terms 10000, 900 tons against slight
ly less than 100000 in the same
months of last year, while the value
is nearly three times! as great. The
quantity exported in the eight
months ending with February, 1921.
aggregated 3O.0OO,000 tons. valued at
$3.50. 100000 and in the correspond
ing months of the. preceding year
slightly less than 1900. 900 tons,
valued at only S9s,0OO.OO0. the
quantity exported -shaving thus
nearly doubled, and the value more
than trebled. ~.'
The average export price of the
bituminous coal exported in the
closing months of 1920 was SO per
ton against an average of IS per
ton in the corresponding months of
the preceding year, while the 1918
export price averaged only S2.52.
The average valuation of the coal
exported from Great Britain in the
eight months ending with February.
1921, was s19 per ton against 1888
per ton in the corresponding months
of 1918.
Worlds Points Included.
This increase in American coal
exports in the eight months ending
with February, 1921, occurs in the
trade with practically all parts of
the "OTlO. 10 uOZth COuH-
tries of Europe, for which details
are available, the quantity of BIZ
luminous coal exported in the seven
months ending with January. 1921.
was, in round terms, 6,5OO.000 tons
against a little over 100000 in the
same months of last year. and the
value $50 200. 900 against $4,000. 900
in the corresponding months of
last year. To Canada the quantity
Of bituminous exported is nearly
double that of the corresponding
months of the preceding year. the
total for the seven months ending
with January detailed February
figures are not yet available) hav-
ing been 11,271, 900, tons against
6.540.OO0 tons in the same months
of last year. and the value s74,151,-
900 against ;24.526.OO in the CORE
spending months of the preceding
year. Cuba took, in the seven
months ending with January, over
IS, 0OO, 900 worth against $4,000,000
worth in ther same months of the
preceding year; Argentina S16.161,-
900 worth against $2,S80, 900 worth
in the same months of last year: the
quantity for the 1921 period being
1,I92, 900 tons against $4,000 in the
corresponding months of 1920, and
only $4,000 in the same months of
1919. To Brazil the total for the
1921 period Is in value ss,44S.000
against S1,35s.000 in the same
months of the preceding year; to
chile, $4.53s.o0 against only s172.-
600, and to Uruguay s2.77S,000
against S550.000 in the correspond
ing months of the preceding year.
Lest we grow alarmed at the
possibility of exhausting our coal
supply by this heavy expectation, it
is proper to add, says the banks
statement, that the quantity of coal
taken out of the mines of the
United States in the last 100 years,
is. according to expert authorities,
only about per cent of our re-
serve, and the same authorities fes-
innate our total coal supply at
more than half that of the entire
globe. The value of coal passing
out of the country in the fiscal year
1921 will, Of we include the
bunker" coal supplied to vessels
In the foreign trade) approximate
s5oo. 900. 900, against ss2.ooo.oo0 in
a