INTERNATIONAL
WORLD WIDE
CHEMISTRY
Outlook uncertain for European exports in chemical field after large gains in 1951 . . . Israel pharmaceutical industry given boost by American capital fTpHE principal chemicals-producing coun•*· tries of Europe entered 1952 with ambitious programs for further expansion of sales abroad but reports from leading exporters in the chemical field suggest that exports in the first three months of the year did little to fulfill the high hopes entertained by official and private quarters. Great Britain, despite the rapid headway made by Germany still the largest exporter of chemicals anywhere in Europe, for the first two months of the current year, recorded shipments abroad of chemicals, drugs, dyes, and colors one tenth above the 1951 average but this increase is explained easily by the rise in prices; the volume of British chemical exports in the early part of this year w a s not higher than in 1951, and the imposition of import restrictions by Australia and other Commonwealth countries threatens to interfere with the steady flow of British chemical products to sterling markets. Exporters in Continental Europe fear that import retrenchment in Great Britain
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and France will more than counterbalance the advantage accruing to them from the European Payments Union and specific measures of intra-European trade liberalization. Moreover, many German firms, having been held back by shortage of coal during the winter, now find that lack of reserve plant capacity is a serious hindrance to expansion of exports. Generally it is reported that in the case of products with an unsatisfied world demand, such as fertilizers, lack of plant capacity, electric power, and coal prevents a speedy expansion of foreign shipments while products which could be supplied in larger quantities, such as dyestufFs, colors, and certain groups of pharmaceuticals, meet with a more hesitant reception by foreign buyers w h o have had ample opportunity to replenish their stocks since the outbreak of the Korean conflict and do not wish to add to their stock commitments at present. Exports of chemicals, including dyes, drugs, colors, plastics, cosmetics, and specialties for use in industry and agriculture, from the principal European exporting countries in 1951 were as follows: Great Britain $510,874,000 (increase over 1950, 3 7 . 6 % ) , West Germany $349,460,000 (-f-85.7%), France $311,306,000 ( 4-36.4% ) , Switzerland $185,690,000 ( 4-38.6% ) , Belgium—December estim a t e d - ^ 133,840,000 ( 4 - 7 7 . 8 % ) , Norway $43,130,920 ( + 1 6 . 8 % ) . These figures based on official returns, have been adjusted to obtain comparable values. They show striking gains by German exporters who continued the comeback staged since 1949 but have still not regained their relative prewar position, and also on the part of the Belgian industry which benefited from its concentration on heavy organic and inorganic chemicals and chemical fertilizers. Norway, on the other hand, whicl. d ) e s not really belong to the top groui· of European chemical exporters, suffered from plant, electricity, and fuel shortages to a particular degree. European chemical shipments to the U. S. A. profited last year from the wellknown factors which led to a heavy expansion, especially benzene and coal-tar oils. A fairly large proportion of chemical exports from West European countries, however, go to other W e s t European countries. Although British, German, French, and Swiss exporters compete with each other in many overseas markets, they also depend on a ready sale for their surplus production in adjoining countries. Hence the importance of such arrangements as the European Payments Union for the export business of European chemical producers. This part of the European export trade
CHEMICAL
which is of no direct importance for nonEuropean commerce has been adversely affected by the business recession in major chemicals consuming industries, especially the textile trade.
Americans Invest in I s r a e l P h a r m a c e u t i c a l Industry Expansion of the pharmaceutical industry in Israel is expected to result from American investment in the firm o w n e d by the Pharmacists Association of Israel, Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Haifa. An American group of physicians, dentists, and businessmen has founded American Taro, Inc., with a registered capital of $250,000, of which $50,000 will be invested in machinery and equipment, and $100,000 in raw materials. T h e American investment is matched by corresponding investments by Israel pharmacists. The Taro factory will manufacture all galenical products and, it is hoped, will branch out into patent medicines for domestic and export markets. Among machinery and equipment on order from the U. S. are highly modern tabletting, ointment, and ampoule machines, ultraviolet sterilization equipment, and air conditioning unit. The n e w w i n g of the plant is expected to open in July.
P h a r m a c e u t i c a l Firm Plans Foreign Expansion Parke, Davis & Co. is investigating the possibility of establishing n e w manufacturing plants in Japan and the Philippines. Harry J. Loynd, president, w h o recently made trips to t h e Far East and Latin America, disclosed at the recent annual stockholders meeting that t w o executives would leave in the near future to draw up plans for the expansion in Japan. Loynd said Parke Davis hoped to b e "in a position to manufacture a number of specialties in Japan in three or four m o n t h s / ' It has not yet been decided whether the firm will take over an existing plant, or build new facilities in the Philippines. T h e firm now has overseas branches and laboratories in London, Bombay, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Havana, Colon ( P a n a m a ) , Rio d e Janeiro, and Sydney.
Swiss Introduce C e r a m i c C e m e n t A Swiss chemical company has developed a n e w type of ethoxyline-resin cement, according to Foreign Commerce Weekly. T h e cement comes either liquid or solid. It is said to be especially useful for cementing ceramics and metals. T h e solid forms are used w h e n cementing can be done at high temperatures and the liquid at room temperature. One of the product's most desirable properties is its very low vapor pressure, w h i c h makes it adapted to cementing parts of accelerating tube columns, Geiger counting tubes, and other scientific apparatus. C&EN Foreign Correspondent Contributing to This Issue: G. A B R A H A M S O N ,
AND
Europe
ENGINEERING
NEWS
