Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1950-05-09
Norway
Manufacturing Industries

The structure of the manufac-
turing industry is determined by
the abundant power resources Of
the Norwegian waterfalls and of
the materials which the country
provides, mainly forest and fish
ing products. The total capacity
of the Norwegian waterfalls avail
able for development amounts to
about 9.2million XIV. Today LIS
million XIV have been developed,
and the annual production of cleo
trio power in 1916 was about
IL million XIV N. Is of the power
production is utilized in electro
metallurgical and electro-chemical
industries, and 1870 in other i'm
portant industries. The rest is used
for transportation purposes, street
lighting and heating and ap-
planes in the home.
Industrial development on a
large scale is found in Norway
mainly in connection with typical
export industries, electro-chemical
production, nitrate of lime and
electro-metallurgical works, pro-
ducing 40. ferro-alloys and alum
mum, all of which are entirely
dependent on hydro-electric re-
sources.
The chief products of the Nor
wegian mining industry are iron
ore, molybdenium, copper ore and
sulphur pyrites, cupriferious and
non-cupriferous. Only a trifling
amount of the raw materials is
utilized in Norwegian manufacture
ing. The main part is exported.
Other important exporting in
dustries are fish-oil and the can
ming industry, sprats in oil Chris
ling or sardines) being the chief
product.
Before the war about 24@o Of
extent they utilize imported raw
ufacturing industry were employ
ed in the above mentioned export
groups, while the production of
value amounted to $3.50 of the
total production value In 1915 the
percentage was 1870 and 27%o re-
spectively.
Other groups of the manufacture
ing industry are mainly working
for the home market. To a great
extent they utilize imported raw
materials. The most important
groups are the iron and engineer
ing industries, the production OF
textile goods and clothing, as well
as production of food stuff and
other articles of consumption lin
GLIDING grain mills, chocolate, to-
bacco and margarine factories,
breweries etc).
The production of food and other
articles of consumption nearly
covers the demand of the home
market, while production of tex
tile goods, clothing articles and
mechanical and engineering pro-
ducts cover the demand only to
a relatively small extent and only
to certain qualities. Shipbuilding
/ in Norway mainly meets the de-
! mand for boats and smaller YES
sells while larger ships for the
merchar. fleet are mostly built
abroad.
The trend of the production
volume in the manufacturing in
dustry in the years after the war
has been influenced by the alb
normally large demand for con-
sumption products and articles
for reconstruction after the war.
The total production volume is,
therefore, in the years 1916 al
higher than in the year 1888, but
the volume of production for the
export groups is lower.
The plans for the development
of the Norwegian manufacturing
industry show two distinct fea-
lures. On the one hand it is de-
sired to further the manufacturing
group working for the home
market. OF the utmost Importance
in this respect are the plans for
construction of Norwegian Iron
Works, manufacturing iron pro-
ducts with Norwegian iron as raw
materials. There are also plans