Manufacture more than kept pace with this increase, having risen from 80 tons in 1956 to 97 tons in 1957 and to 100 tons in 1958. Excess production was added to stock. Consumption which rose from 6.2 tons in 1956 to 7.1 tons in 1957, fell back to 6.4 tons in 1958, whereas the quantities manufactured were 5.5 tons, 7.4 tons and 7.8 tons respectively. Other derivatives of opium alkaloids . Except for hydromorphone and dihydromorphine, the demand for all these narcotic drugs has risen appreciably since 1954.
Production shows a similar though less regular trend.
In 1958 it was about the same as consumption. 1,078 kg were produced in 1958. The consumption of methadone has been declining from 570 kg in 1954 to 445 kg in 1958. Racemoramide, dextromoramide and levomoramide . In view of this apparendy low yield it must be presumed that the manufacturing process was not completed by the end of 1958.