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I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEXRING C H E M I S T R Y
Vol. 15, No. 7
CANADIAN LETTER By S. J. COOK,140 Broadway ,4ve., Ottawa, Canada
PRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS DURING
1922
Statistics recently issued indicate that the production of Chemicals and allied products in Canada during 1922 reached a total value of $99,575,000 as compared with $87,185,102 in the preceding year. Imports statistics reflected improved conditions in international trade, and the exports of Canadian chemicals and allied products showed a marked advance over the preceding year. Production records in almost every industrial field during the past three years showed the effect of post-war influences. In 1919, as a result of the large-scale production during the war years, the accumulation of stocks was considerably in excess of current requirements, with the result that production was much curtailed. Most of these stocks were disposed of in 1919, with the result that in the early part of 1920 an appreciable advance in prices occurred, which reached a maximum about the middle of the year. This advance in prices was followed by increased production, and in many industries 1920 was a banner year. During the closing months, however, demands from consumers for lower prices became more insistent, and in 1921 a nationwide reduction of inventories and deflation in prices occurred. At the close of that year, although prices were a t a much lower level than a t the beginning, conditions throughout the industry were much improved and the prospects for conservative and consistent progress were much better than a t any time since the close of the war. Substantial progress was made in 1922, and 1923 opened with conditions distinctly favorable for a marked advance in production reports. I n certain well-defined fields, the production of chemicals in Canada has attained world-trade importance. I n many other lines, production in competition with imported chemicals is being carried on successfully, and the manufacture of specific commodities for which there is a definite and continuous demand has proved an attractive field for small concerns. Several plants have been established, each of which specializes in the production of one or more of these necessities for the chemical trade. A study of the imports statistics shows that many such opportunities exist. The distillation of tar in Canada has been carried on as a separate industry by several plants for a number of years, and as an adjunct to the production of composition roofing by several other concerns. The products include creosote oils, naphthalene, pitch, benzene, naphtha, toluene, and road tars. The manufacture of disinfectants composed principally of coal has also been undertaken with considerable success. The manufacture of heavy chemicals in Canada has been carried on for a great many years. The production of mineral acids was one of the earliest chemical industries to be established, and it has always shown great stability and strength. During 1922 the products made by the firms under the grouping acids, alkalies, salts, and compressed gases, reached a total value of nearly $17,600,000, an increase of more than $4,000,000 over the value of the 1921 output. The production of sulfuric acid alone increased more than 20,000 tons, to a total of 67,280 tons valued a t $1,390,000. Calcium carbide, calcium and sodium cyanides, and soda ash were produced in increasingly large quantities during the year. The manufacture of compressed gases, including oxygen, acetylene, carbon dioxide, anhydrous ammonia and hydrogen, continued on about the same scale as in the two preceding years, the total production being valued at $2,000,000. There was a considerable increase in the production of explosives during 1922, and the production of ammunition including safety cartridges, detonators, electric detonators, and primers, was well maintained. In the manufacture OF matches two new plants were put in operation during 1922, one by the Canadian Match Company, of Pembroke, where formerly splints only had been manufactured, and the other by The Match Company, a t Berthierville. The production of fertilizers in Canada was carried on by sixteen plants, and the value of the output in 1922 was estimated a t $2,400,000, in addition to the production of such materials by the industries classified in other groups, Conditions in the fertilizer trade during the past few years have been rather difficult, and the value of the output has consequently declined. On the other hand, imported fertilizer materials, such as muriate
and sulfate of potash and nitrate of soda, have become available in greater quantity and a t a lower price. As a consequence of this considerable quantities have been imported. The selling value of the products made in the medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations industry was slightly less than the value credited t o the output of these concerns in 1921, but in general it may be said that the industry maintained its established position. The manufacture of paints, pigments, and varnishes continued to be Canada’s leading chemical industry, and in 1922 the output of the plants in this group was estimated to be worth $23,960,000, a t which figure a gain of nearly $6,000,000 in output valuation was attained. The figures for 1922 did not come up to the values established for 1920, but they indicated that a very considerable advance had been made by the industry. The manufacture of soaps, washing compounds, and toilet preparations contributed products valued a t $15,570,000, and at this figure the group ranked third among the chemical industries. Canada still imports more than $1,000,000 worth of soaps annually, mostly from the United States, nearly all of which comes under the headings “common laundry soap” and “toilet soap.” On the other hand, the exports of Canadian soap go principally to the United Kingdom. The total value of the export trade is in the neighborhood of $200,000. The manufacture of washing compounds in Canada is one of the industries in which decided progress has been made. Three new plants were established in 1921. The ease of manufacture and the ready market for these useful preparations probably account for the increased prosperity. While considerable quantities of perfumes, cosmetics, and toilet preparations are made as minor products of several other industries, the manufacture of these commodities as principal products has been carried on in Canada for a number of years, and the industry has become recognized as one of no mean importance. The manufacture of printing inks continued t o be the principal item of production in the inks, dyes, and colors group. The value of the group output in 1922, estimated a t $2,200,000, was practically unchanged from the previous year. The production of wood distillation products in 1922 continued on an even more modest scale than in the preceding year, which was one of the dullest in the history of the industry. The manufacture of chemicals and allied products which do not naturally fall in any one of the groups previously considered, and including such commodities as adhesives, artificial abrasives, boiler compounds, flavoring extracts and jelly powders, polishes and dressings, sweeping compounds, baking powders, insecticides, and chemical products not elsewhere specified, was carried on by about one hundred and ten firms in Canada, and the value of their combined outputs in 1922 was estimated a t $9,260,000, an increase of more than $1,000,000 over the totals for 1921. The total importations of chemicals and allied products into Canada during the calendar year 1922 were valued a t $25,689,000, an increase of $675,000 over the amount reported in the preceding year. There was a very considerable increase in the quantities of sulfuric and hydrochloric acid imported into Canada during 1922, but the imports of nitric acid were slightly less. Oxalic acid importations were less, while the quantities of stearic, tannic, tartaric, and boric acids were greater than in 1921. May 2 5 , 1923
The Canadian Institute of Chemistry and the Canadian section of the Society of Chemical Industry held a joint meeting a t the University of Toronto, May 29, 30, and 31. S. J. Cook, of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, who was one of the principal speakers, gave statistics on the production, export, and import of chemicals and allied products in Canada. Election of officers resulted as follows: President: A. C. NEISE Queens University, Kingston of Saskatchewan, SaskaVice Presidents: T. T K ~ R W A L DUniversity SEN A. T. CHARRON, Provincial Chkmist, Quebec; C. E. WALLIN,Sydney,
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Secrelary: I,. E. WESTMANToronto Trcasuver: J. WATSONB A ~ NUniversity , of Toronto, Toronto.
