Douglas daily dispatch. [volume] (Douglas, Ariz.) 1903-1961, 1926-03-23
Weekly Copper Review

Another quiet week. is the only
characterization of the present cop
per market, fair demand, prices firm
at IA IA, little cheaper copper to
be had, domestic consumption in good
proportions, fair foreign demand and
an actual shortage of raw material
in the hands of the consumers to
fill their spring requirements.
The figures for February did not
reveal anything that materially
changes the situation. The primary
production for February was 1O7,O45
tons or 2009 tons less than January.
February exports totaled 35,464 tons,
which was 2077 tons less than jan
uary. Domestic consumption increas
ed by 2577 tons so that in February
it stood at 7O,406 tons. The total
! consumption was 500 tons in excess
of January.
The surplus stock of copper in
creased during the month to S6,354
tons, which is the highest point tn 1T
it has been since the second quar-
ter of last year. In fact there has
been a slight but steady increase
in the copper surplus for quite
number of months, the low point
being at the end of the third quar-
ter of last year when it stood at
69,O07 tons. There is nothing alarm
ing about this increase as the sur
plus is still lower than it should
be when the needs of the fabrica-
tors are taken into consideration.
Of the 35,464 tons which were
exported last month, Great Britain
took 1O,1OO, France 1904, Italy 1927,
Belgium 1856 and Germany S64S tons.
This is quite a different condition
than year ago when Germany was
taking 81 per cent of the export
copper as against 10 per cent now.
The order of Importance year ago
showed Germany q per cent, Eng
land 10 per cent, Italy IA per cent,
France IL per cent, Holland IL per
cent and Belgium eight per cent.
Holland has dropped down now to
three per cent.
While it is appreciated that there
are great obstacles in the way of
properly and accurately figuring the
cost of producing copper, the Ameri-
can bureau of metal statistics has
attempted to harmonic the various
bookkeeping methods and give some
data on that subject which is very
interesting, particularly when COM
pared with the 1918 figures as given
by the federal trade commission.
Of course it must be appreciated
that the figures given represent bare
costs of production and include moth
ing for interest on and amortization
of the immense capital investment.
The present figures are as follows:
Under 12c: Total lbs, 1926, 31S,60i;
per cent, 55.166; average, 1019c.
From IL to 1Sc: Total lbs, $685. !
1855; per cent, 22.S59; average, 1914. /
From 13 to lac: Total lbs, 33S,760, F,
952; per cent, $3.50; average, 1918.
From IA to 15c: Total lbs, 220,SS4.- |
2SO: per cent, $3.50; average, 14.S7.
over Ice: Total pounds, 61,21S, 769;
per cent, 1.511; average, 1918.
Identified, but unfigured: Total lbs, !,
91,7S6,61S; per cent, 2264.
Remainder, unfigured, 177,90O,042;
per cent. 1890.
Total: Total pounds, 4,O51, 9SS,OO0; :,
per cent, 100000.
Similarly, classified, the federal
trade commission figures of 1918 We're: ,
Under 12c: Total lbs, 122,245,O51;
per cent, Sal.
From u to 1Sc: Total lbs, 2OS,571,- /
1911; per cent, 9.24.
From 10 to lac: Total lbs, 314,55S,
III; per cent, 1898.
From Ii to 15c: Total lbs, S59,617,-
743; per cent, 1892.
over Ice: Total lbs, 1858, 24IO13;
per cent, $3.50.
Total Pounds, 2,25S,2S4,125.
There is, of course some differ
ence in the above figures in that