Show PROBABLE DEMAND FOR SPELTER boston news bureau little if any apprehension is felt in the spelter trade over the course of prices in the immediate future spelter is the only important metal that since the entrance of the united states into the war has not been selling at a premium this was due to the previous overnight collapse of the galvanizing van izing demand a demand that consumed over 60 per cent of the total spelter output of this country and this was occasioned by the government practically commandeering the sheet metal output of american steel mills cutting off supplies to the gal vani with the cessation of hostilities has come a marked revival in this galvanizing demand those that have not already been allotted a portion of their sheet metal requirements have at least been told that they will be accommodated at an early date this has resulted in an increasingly large inquiry for prime western with a consequent hardening in the price during the period the armistice was under consideration and shortly thereafter spelter declined somewhat but renewal of demand has caused it to advance to slightly above its level of the previous month or cents per pound in st louis at the time galvani were forced to withdraw from the market s spelter began to accumulate this culminated in surplus stocks of grade C and grade D covering prime western and brass special amounting to tons on march last for the week ended november ath united states geological survey figures show this surplus has been cut to tons spelter producers expect a brisk demand from europe when commercial conditions become right germany is not looked upon as being able to become a zinc smelting smelling sm elting factor for many months and belgium in all probability faces the complete rebuilding of her industry then too australian and south african ores that formerly were shipped into europe will not be forthcoming for a long time as cargo space will be needed for more important commodities therefore the american producers expect to be in the immediate future at least in a preferential position in international spelter trade and steps are being taken to care for an export demand expected to be of large proportions however while present indications seem to warrant what seem firm prices for the metal in comparison with pre prewar war levels spelter is still selling at a loss to miners and smelters shelters sm elters and so long as wages and prices of materials remain at present levels there is no reason to expect lower quotations to have spelter sell at all in proportion to prices for other metals would mean that it should sell at not less than 10 cents per pound and even then producers and smelters shelters sm elters will not reap great riches ten cents permits but a reasonable profit |