Synthetic resins and their raw materials / A survey of the types and uses of synthetic resins, the organization of the industry, and the trade in resins and raw materials, with particular references to factors essential to tariff consideration. Under the general provisions of section 332, title III, part II, Tariff act of 1930.

by United States Tariff Commission

Table 45.—Crude naphthalene (solidifying under 79° C.): United States imports for consumption from principal sources, in specified years

Source	1929	1931	1933	1934	1935	1936	19371
	Quantity in thousands of pounds
Germany	21,931	17,444	20,797	22,219	15,742	2,712	12,129
Belgium	2,531	253	4,970	7,314	2,388	2,025	1,995
United Kingdom	8,096	11,339	15,704	6,968	10,689	16,301	17,594
Poland and Danzig				5,766	5,075	1,969	2,312
Canada	1,488	331	223	1,073	76	255	734
Netherlands	44	937	1,092	621	1,344	3,794	3,359
Czechoslovakia				2,984	6,960	6,595	6,414
U. S. S. R.				1,050	6,158	5,145	7,091
All other countries	918	667			22	1,010	1,038
Total	35,007	30,971	42,786	47,995	48,455	39,806	52,664
	Value
Germany	$382,078	$170,463	$242,501	$326,607	$230,820	$75,314	$287,901
Belgium	48,508	2,506	57,243	90,424	31,375	55,503	51,227
United Kingdom	124,427	123,890	135,853	78,968	123,545	273,964	340,760
Poland and Danzig				89,002	63,992	35,439	55,184
Canada	23,344	3,808	2,729	18,703	1,169	4,093	7,941
Netherlands	614	11,837	12,693	8,739	19,724	105,404	93,045
Czechoslovakia				44,371	98,099	120,529	128,197
U. S. S. R.				12,569	74,354	97,815	146,331
All other countries	19,747	6,074			171	17,335	22,571
Total	598,718	318,578	451,019	669,383	643,249	785,396	1,133,157
	Value per pound
Germany	$0.017	$0.010	$0.012	$0.015	$0.015	$0.028	$0.024
Belgium	.019	.010	.012	.012	.013	.027	.026
United Kingdom	.015	.011	.009	.011	.012	.017	.019
Poland and Danzig				.015	.013	.018	.024
Canada	.016	.011	.012	.017	.015	.016	.011
Netherlands	.014	.013	.012	.014	.015	.028	.028
Czechoslovakia				.015	.014	.018	.020
U. S. S. R.				.012	.012	.019	.021
All other countries	.022	.009			.008	.017	.022
Average	.017	.010	.011	.014	.013	.020	.022
	Percent of total quantity
Germany	62.7	56.3	48.6	46.3	32.5	6.8	23.0
Belgium	7.2	.8	11.6	15.3	14.9	5.1	3.8
United Kingdom	23.1	36.6	36.7	14.5	22.0	41.0	33.4
Poland and Danzig				12.0	10.5	5.0	4.4
Canada	4.3	1.1	.5	2.2	.2	.6	1.4
Netherlands	.1	3.0	2.6	1.3	2.8	9.5	6.4
Czechoslovakia				6.2	14.4	16.6	12.2
U. S. S. R.				2.2	12.7	12.9	13.4
All other countries	2.6	2.2				2.5	2.0
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

¹ Preliminary.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the United States Department of Commerce.

United States exports.

Exports are not shown separately; it is doubtful if any naphthalene is exported. Demand in the United States has exceeded domestic production.

Competitive conditions.

The commercial development and widespread application of surface coatings and finishes made from alkyd resins, in which phthalic anhydride and glycerin are the principal components, has resulted in a world-wide shortage of naphthalene, which is a raw material used in making phthalic anhydride. In recent years about one-half of domestic requirements of crude naphthalene have been imported (see table [46]) from Europe, principally Germany and the United Kingdom. Increased demand for the same purposes, in these countries, has so reduced the quantities available for export as to create a serious shortage in the United States. Germany placed an embargo on exports late in 1935 and continued it until late in 1937.

Table 46.—Crude naphthalene: United States production, imports, and apparent consumption in specified years