Evening star., 1950-08-06
Russians Slow Export
OF Strategic Materials
To u. ). 10 a TrickIe

The Russians have demonstrated
that they know how to use export
controls, too.
When the United States in
March, 1948. instituted a ban OF
quantitative restriction on some
1890 commodities for shipment
behind the Iron Curtain. there
was no immediate reaction by
Russia.
There were only two strategic
materials we normally had i'm
ported from Russia-manganese
and chrome ore-but they were
extremely important. Both are
essential to the production of stee
and are being stockpiled.
In 1948 Russia exported 427,0O(
tons of manganese ore-some oi
the richest in the world with 9
content of about 35 per cent. Thai
was an increase of $4,000 tons over
their 1947 shipments.
Russia Reacts Sharply.
The picture was about the same
for chrome ore. In 1948 the
U.S.S.R. exported 351,755 tons tt
the United States, compared with
236, 500 tons in 1947.
Last year the Russians reacted
sharply. While not banning en-.
tirely the sale of the two vita.
metals. they cut down sharply
The 1949 figures were 81 500 tons
Of manganese ore and 1858 tons
of chrome ore.
So far this year there has been
only the faintest trickle. In fact
last week the first 1850 shiploao
Of chrome ore from the Soviet
arrived in Baltimore-6,7O0 tons
Of it. Only $500 tons of man.
ganese has been received, with
seven months of the year elapsed
The United States produces
less than 10 per cent of the man.
ganese it consumes and this Il
low grade. Last year our output
was 10000 tons. We consumed
l 1,360,042. The bulk of what we
now get comes from India, the
Gold Coast, Brazil and the Union
of South Africa.
Transport Is Problem.
officials say there is plenty OF
manganese in the ground in these
places. but that the problem o1
transportation from the mine
head to the seacoast is the stun
bling block.
United States steel companies
repeatedly are pouring money into
Brazil in an effort to step ur
production. and American trans
portation experts have been work
ing in India to improve the situa.
ton there. Once this is done the
United States won't have to worry
about manganese, whether fo1
war or peace, it is said.
AS for chrome, American pro-
duction is negligible. Last year the
output was 433 tons. Our total
consumption was 1,204,344 tons
Government spokesmen say, how
ever, that chrome is no problem
either for current needs or stock
pile purposes. In fact, stockpile
requirements of one grade (re-
fractory) already have been met
Our principal sources are Turkey
Southern Rhodesia. South Africa,
Cuba and the Philippines.
Furs Are Big Item.
Furs made up more than halt
the Soviet exports to the United
States last year, as they usually
do, and are the biggest dollar
Garner for the U.S.S.R. We bought
$24 million worth in 1949 wher
our total imports from Russia
totaled $42 million.
Can ECA official. commenting
on this, said it was ironic that
furs-a luxury item for cap
italist America-help finance
the Communist Party here per-
haps as much as any other
one item.)
Metals and manufactures took
second place among Russian ex-
ports to the United States in 1949
totaling So million. Neither man.
ganese nor chrome. the principal
items in this category, may be sent