Nov.,
I
1920
T E E J U U R N A L OF I N B U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY AND TRADE OF SWEDEN
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1
By 0.P.Hopkins 1824 BELMONT ROAD,WASHINGTON, D.
Weighing all the disadvantages of her position during the war against the advantages, it must be admitted t h a t Sweden’s industries have been greatly strengthened since 1914. She has sold her products t o both belligerents a t handsome profits and has received the highest returns from her shipping in spite of losses by submarines. Sweden’s sources of wealth lie in her forests, in her iron mines, in her waterpower, and in her shipping facilities. Agriculture is also of first importance, onehalf the population devoting itself to t h a t branch of industry, although agricultural products do not figure largely in the country’s international trade. One-half of the land is covered with forests, and before the war the income from t h a t source was $ ~ o o , o o o , o o oa year. Eighty per cent of the total exports are derived from forest and mine. Waterpower is so abundant and cheap t h a t electric current is the power used for more than half of the manufactured products of the country. I t is estimated t h a t the potential waterpower is 6,000,000 turbine horsepower, of which something more than I,OOO,OOO horsepower is now utilized. Sweden has never occupied the place in the estimation of American business men t h a t its wealth and good will toward America deserve. More attention has been given t o Swedish facilities for handling trade between America and other countries than t o its own trade. During the war, however, the United States entered into closer and more extensive business relations. American goods are very well liked, and the old good will toward America, t h e natural result of having so many sons living and prospering in this country, has not been altered. FOREST PRODUCTS
Swedish forest products have a world-wide reputation. The timber is sold in many markets, often in competition with the American article, and while some varieties are admittedly inferior t o corresponding American timber in quality, this is more t h a n offset in many cases b y t h e care with which i t is prepared t o meet the requirements of the foreign buyer. The wood pulp manufactured in Sweden has a deservedly high reputation everywhere and is produced t o the extent of considerably more than a million tons a year, of which the finest chemical pulp is largely exported, while much of the cheaper pulp is manufactured into paper in the country. The difficulty of getting sulfur during the war had a depressing effect on the chemical-pulp industry, although some of the plants managed t o get along with Norwegian pyrites. The pre-war importation of sulfur was about 40,000 tons a year, the principal source of supply being Italy. Considerable quantities have since been obtained from the United States. Some 350,000 tons of paper and cardboard are produced in Sweden annually, and the newspapers of
c.
Europe are pretty much dependent upon this source of supply. The finest grades of paper are imported. Wood-distillation products are a n important factor in any consideration of the Swedish chemical industry. I n the order of quantity produced, these products are t a r and tar oil, rosin, turpentine, acetate of lime, pitch! and pitch oil, methanol, formalin, wood oil, and creosote. Charcoal is still used extensively in iron smelting, but most of i t is made in kilns rather t h a n ovens. Rapid strides have recently been made in the manufacture of spirits from the residual lye of the sulfitepulp factories. It is estimated t h a t the potential yield from the residue now available is not less than 36,000,000 liters of IOO per cent spirits a year. The actual production is said t o be about 12,000,000liters. P R O D U C T I O N O F METALS
The Swedish iron and steel industry is not in the front rank in point of quantity produced, but for quality its reputation is unexcelled. The ores are of excellent quality, and the smelting, formerly with charcoal and latterly largely with electric current, has given t o the world a wonderfully fine iron. The increasing use of electricity in the manufacture of steel has also set a high standard in t h a t line. Swedish steel is liked in ehis country for safety-razor blades, and Swedish ball bearings find their way into all countries. The production of iron ore totals some 7,000,000 tons a year, and makes up more than 95 per cent of the metalliferous ores mined. The production of ferro-alloys is important, and has kept pace with the growth of the steel industry. A war development was the revival of copper production, which once was a n important feature of Swedish industry. I t is not expected t h a t the industry will grow t o large proportions, but i t is likely t h a t the success of electrolytic refining of copper will insure the continuance of a domestic supply of refined copper. ELECTROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY
Hydroelectric power has not been ‘developed in Sweden on quite so grand a scale as in Norway, nor is i t used in the same proportions for the various industries, but it is a mighty factor in the country’s prosperity. As in Norway, the development has taken place t o offset the lack of coal. I n the electrochemical industry, the chief use of current is for the manufacture of pig iron, ferro-alloys, and calcium carbide. T h e fixation of atmospheric nitrogen is comparatively unimportant when the extent of this industry in Norway is recalled. Arranged in the order of power used, the various Swedish electrochemical industries are as follows: Pig iron, go,ooo horsepower; ferro-alloys, 60,000 horsepower; calcium carbide, 40,000 horsepower; atmospheric nitrogen, 16,000 horsepower; steel, 10,000horse-
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power; caustic soda and bleaching powder, 3,000 horsepower; potash salts, 2 , 7 0 0 horsepower; graphite, 2,000 horsepower; phosphorus, I ,j oo horsepower. The figures are estimates for 1918. As in other countries where waterpower is available, the development of hydroelectric plants was greatly stimulated by the war. FERTILIZERS
Although the agricultural products of Sweden do not enter largely into international trade, t h e fact remains that half the population is engaged in farming, and fertilizers are an important item in the Swedish chemical market. Before the war there were heavy importations of the following artificial fertilizers, in the order of quantity: potash salts, from Germany; raw phosphate, from the United States, England, Germany, Australia, and Tunis; sodium nitrate, originating in Chile, but imported from Germany; Thomas phosphate and slag, from England and Belgium; and superphosphate, from Belgium and the Netherlands. As Sweden was in a position t o trade with Germany during the war, i t was natural t h a t the imports of potash should increase after hostilities commenced. I t was just as natural t h a t the imports of phosphate should fall t o a low figure, t h a t the imports of sodium nitrate should be cut in half, and t h a t outside supplies of superphosphate and Thomas phosphate should be cut off entirely. Calcium nitrate has been imported from Norway since the war searted. The domestic manufacture of fertilizers cannot meet the home demand, but i t has grown t b great proportions. With normal supplies of phosphate there is a thriving export business in superphosphate, Norwegian and Swedish pyrites being used for the manufacture of the necessary sulfuric acid. The imports of superphosphate mentioned above form only a small part of the consumption. Cyanamide is a product of the electrochemical industry. Swedish iron ores are rich in apatite and yield a rich Thomas slag. Animal waste and bone meal are important domestic items, and the production of fish guano is in normal times a feature of the herring industry, although i t practically disappeared during the war. There was the same shortage of fertilizers during t h e war as in other countries, as shown by the production and trade statistics included in this article. PRODUCTION
O F XATCHES
Judging from the latest production figures available, the manufacture of Swedish safety matches was stimulated by the war, as the output was increased from 73,000,ooo lbs. in 1913 t o 114,000,000lbs. in 1917. I t does not appear from the statistics, however, t h a t all of the increased production went into foreign trade, for the export returns are 61,000,000 lbs. for 1913;85,000,000lbs. for 1917;63,000,000lbs. for 1918; and 61,000,000 lbs. for 1919. Later production figures would probably show a falling output. Swedish safety matches need no introduction t o the outside world, as they were standard for years before the war. They failed t o reach t h e United
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NO. I I
States during the war, and the character of t h e substitutes offered, especially by Japan, is still well remembered. It is also common knowledge t h a t t h e American product was improved, until i t is now generally accepted as quite satisfactory. The efforts of the Swedish manufacturers t o regain the lost ground will be watched with interest. The Swedish industry has unlimited supplies of match wood t o draw from, both a t home and in Finland, most of the material in the past coming from th_e latter country. The home supplies are in rather inaccessible parts of the country, but these have been opened up t o some extent since communication with Finland became uncertain. Phosphorus is now produced by an electric smelting method t h a t promises t o supply the needs of t h e match industry. Potassium chlorate has been manufactured in Sweden for many years, and the production is not only sufficient for the match industry, but supplies a surplus for export. Potassium chloride, the raw material, is imported from Germany. Machinery for making and packing matches has been developed t o a s t a t e of extraordinary efficiency. STATISTICS OF PRODUCTION
A comparison of production statistics for 1913 and 1917will reveal the proportions of the Swedish chemical industry and the effect of war conditions on outputthe stimulating effect of war prices, and the depressing effect of decreased imports of raw materials. The table has been compiled from official figures published by the Swedish Department of Commerce, of the Board of Trade. PRODUCTION OF
CHEXICALS AND ALLIEDPRODUCTS 1913 1916 1917 Pounds Pounds Pounds
CHEMICALS,DRUGS,ETC.: Acids: 1 610 675 Acetic. Nitric.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:188:380 5,434,167 Hydrochloric. Phosphoric. 1,222,2 16 Sulfuric.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185,040,128 Aluminium compounds (hydrate, sulfate, etc.). ...... 12,730,118 Ammonia, liquid.. 8,080,382 Ammonium: 1,675,480 Caustic.. 1,431,408 Nitrate, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sulfate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,035,0!4 Calcium carbide. . . . . . . . . . . . 70,441,632 Carborundum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chloride of lime.. . . . . . . . . . . I , iii,O64 Chrome alum.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Coal t a r and products: Asphaltic, mastic, and similar preparations. . . . . . . . 15,738,869 Benzene products. . . . . . . . ( 1) Coal t a r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,728,900 2,552,953 Other coal-tar products. Copper: Scales and oxide.. . . . . . . . 942,586 Sulfate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cosmetics and toilet prepara$801,610 tions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,294,571 Fertilizers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587,339,974 Animal waste Bone meal. 12,832,516 1,287,543 Fish guano.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,460,315 Nitrogen carbide.. 406,221,652 Superphosphate. 13,779,958 Thomas phosphate.. ..... 40,463,419 Other. 12,397,112 706,030 Ferrous sulfate. Glauber's salts.. Glycerol; Raw .................... 321,500 Purified.. 1,071,898 Nitrobenzene. Perfumes,. ................ $Iv6,?55 PhosDhorus.. Potash: Caustic. 3 10,356 Chlorates and perchlorates 7,955,011 NitraYe. Yellow Drussiate. iGi08 3 N o t given separately.
................. ........... .............
977,488 4,205,442 2,362,958 963,949 168,127,363
973,004 3,051,519 3,030,077 662,242 121,750,874
.........
38,744,978 13,081,175
36,426,976 8,945,455
...............
2,526,036 1,508,193 2,954,827 80,153,528 110,231 3,408,346
2,575,142 1,420,083 2,874,902 76,437,825
14,884,316 1,506,432 35,269,646 4,637,747
9,649,873 1,636,057 27,006,529 3,295,429
192,212 2,795,351
154,227 2,106,517
$980,212 456,088,200 72,015,148
81,223,650 338,027,823 85,365 11,812,889 ,50 1
17,714,720 223,119 58,222,143 270,652,594 29,227,776
31,195 165,280,410 38,830,208
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..
....
............ ............. ....... ......... .................. ............ ...........
............... ............. ..............
................ ................ ........
....
....
8,032,700 616,170 9,196,14 1
3,886,i95 15,400
26,836,449 9,871 171 11,232,681 322:470
1284065 1:327:919 263,126 $251,104
648,322 369,395 251,214 $410 508 2223005
507,063 9,289,935 400,381
282,716 10,929,096 373,862
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....
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Nov.,
1920
T H E JOURNAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS A N D ALLIED PRODUCTS (Continued) 1913 1916 1917 Pounds Pounds Pounds CHEMICALS, DRUGS,ETC.(Concluded): snag. 5,869,385 5,746,511 Bisulfate. 1,353,171 1,629,029 Caiistic, iiO,425 14,965,911 8,122,724 Crystals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,418,289 13,182,737 14,19 1,426 Tanning materials, vegetable 6,261,127 2,741,329 1,943,317 Water glass.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,956,487 GUMS AND RESINS: 1,642,834 1,177,564 Dextrin and preparations.. 796,149 Elastic glue for printing cyl518,086 299,659 inders.. 1,862,004 2,610,855 Liquid glue and gum.. 940,428 5,430,924 4,500,367 Marine glue and gelatin.. 4,207,682 191,114 726,480 137,789 Rosin., 2,002,397 496,327 Rosin glue.. 2,764,407 WOOD-~)ISTILLATION PRODUCTS 2,449,395 1,799,532 Acetate of lime.. 60,252 108,778 Acetone 54,509 15,609 .... Creosote. 408,651 676,111 278,658 Formalin. 1,161,289 1,304,559 989,212 Methanol ................. 397,848 727,126 1,763,559 Pitch and pitch oil.. ....... 5,313,857 6,619,383 1,747,853 Rosin, liquid. 14,553,776 17,177,663 14,639,054 T a r and t a r oil.. 1,387,446 4,267,637 4,535,608 Turpentine oil.. 376,488 455,863 430,752 Wood oil .................. 726.076 1.492.346 Other (including creosote oil) Metric Tons Metric Tons Metric’Tons ORES, ICTC.: 13,895 13,579 Copper. ................... 5,458 320 211 250 Graphite. 910 Gypsum. 6,988,740 6,22O,j38 7,4;9,j93 Iron 8,894 19,873 4,001 Manganese. 154 73 154 Manganese, pulverized.. .... 3 137 .... Molybdenum. 3,561 4,991 .... Nickel. 3,707 3,222 3,709 Silver-lead Sulfur pyrites and manganese 97,848 142,366 34,3191 pyrites. 60,700 51,312 50,752 Zinc 33,853 48,221 9,727 Zincblende Pounds Pounds Pounds PAINTSAND VARNISHES: 106,042 192,067 Bone-black 132,277 38,308 35,949 Bronze p a i n t . . 40,371 43,398 185,519 Butter and cheese coloring.. 166,109 2,390,438 1,990,703 Earth colors., 1,766,317 1,061,591 1,680,826 Inks. Drintinx.. ............ 1.916.152 . . 751,743 428,343 Lacq&r and enamels. . . . . . . 1,480,322 1,053,810 i , i i 3 ,‘8oo Lampblack. ............... 4,479,887 2,713,618 4,549,739 Ocher, r e d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,788,833 2,770,132 1,629,593 Oil paints.. 711,535 513,754 685,159 P u t t y paint ............... 3,819,392 3,422,306 3,438,424 Varnishes. 1,870,876 221 529 Other colors.. 695 889 $70 280 $55’172 Other similar preparations., $24:553 $2,1281364 $3,102: 177 To?*AI,, paints and varnishes $927,707 OILS, FATS,AND WAXES: 150,338 877,677 274,286 A n i m d oils.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,729,193 2,391,224 1,805,566 Bone f a t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 951,085 2,943,901 Candles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,351,743 5,997,312 2,304,174 Greases, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,824,17 1 1,243,857 45 1,798 640,560 Leather oils and greases.. . . . 20,815,356 Linsecsd oil.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,294,931 1,7’is’,i 02 691,903 Linseed-oil substitute. . . . . . . 2,177,852 2,461,‘006 1,932,199 Machine and axle grease. 0ilcak:e: ’ 44,603,263 Linseed cake and meal.. .. 4 1,466,995 678,406 1,118,846 Rapeseed c a k e . . . . . . . . . . . 2,278,389 1,053,111 2,
