ARTIFICIAL SILK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 20

ARTIFICIAL SILK.

RAPID INCREASE IN PRODUCTION. A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY. As the fabric known as artificial silk, made from wocd fibre, was so largely used in the manufacture of textiles during last year, the following articles by a special correspondent of tlio Financial Times of London gives figures showing the development of the industry within the last few years. He states that not many commodities can show anything like an increase of production equalling that of artificial silk since it first came into vogue about 25 years ago. Until 1885 the production of natural silk throughout the world was less than 10,000 tons yearly; since that year the production has grown to 35,000 yearly. The following figures, taken from official statistical returns, show the relative output of natural silk and artificial silk over a senes of years, tha amounts being in tons; — Natural Artificial silk. silk. 1909- 24,500 7,500 1922 „ 52,500 • 55,500 1923/ 34.000 44,000 Since 1913 natural silk has increased 24 per , cent, m output. In the same period the output of artificial silk has increased by 109 per cent. The estimated increase, by New York, Italian, and Gorman experts, is 50 per cent, increase for 1925 over 1934. Since 1922 the United States has produced at an increased rate of 30 per cent.; Italy has doubled her output in that time, and Germany’s increase is 28 per cent. The total estimate of production for 1925 is placed by the soundest experts at 70,000 tons. In support of this estimate it may bo said that the great Italian (Turin) company, the “Snia-Viscosa,” has within the past few weeks increased its capital from 600,000,000 lire (£24.000,000 par) to 1,000,000,000 lire (£40,000,000 par). On a called-up capital of 350,000,000 lire (£14,000,000 par), it showed last (year a profit of 28,000,000 lire (£1,120.000 par). The following graduated increases in output are shown by this company during the past five years:— 1920, 1,079,0701 b; 1921, 1,836,286 lb; 1922. 3 359,4301 b; 1923, 5,988,5481 b; 1924, 10.603,9441 b. In a speech delivered at the recent meeting of shareholders the president of the company estimated the production of artificial silk for 1925 at 70,000 tons, distributed as follows, the figures in parentheses showing the estimate in tons made by United States experts United States, 21,000 (25 000); Italy, 12.500 (14,000); Germany, 9000 (10,000); Britain, 7300 (7000); France, 6300 (7000); Belgium, 4000 (4500); Switzerland, 2700 (3000). The Italian expert did not give figures relating to other countries, but ff&ve a total of 2700 tons for tho roraaimhg countries which produced. Iho American experts gave tho following figures (in thousands of tons) for tho countries named:-Holland, 7; Spain, 5; Austria, 2; Czocho-Slovalda, U: Poland, In addition to tho above-mentioned producing countries, additional factories have within reoact months boon established for (he production of artificial silk m Alsace, in Bavaria, in Holland, in Belgium. In the last-mentioned country. “La Seta —a Brussels company—has doubled its capital from 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 francs (£520,000 par) with a view to extending its operations. How the profits work out over the past two years, in millions of sterling, may be seen from the following official statistics; — 1923. 1924. £ £ United States 35 41 Britain 17 20 Germany _l3 14 Italy 10 13 France 8 10 Belgium 6? 7 Switzerland 3| 4 Holland 2 2.5 ; Other countries ... 4 5 Totals The value of Britain’s imports and exports over two years read, in millions sterling : 1923. 1924. Imports 4 5 Exports 3j 4i Tho chief Gorman authority on tho statistics and production of artificial silk. Dr Deyes, states that tho price of artificial silk is now ono-third less than that ,of natural silk. He holds that tho artificial material will remain at its present level until about 1927. when it will again drop, ns it has dropped within tho last four years. By 1927, he calculates, tho great factories at present being built will all bo working at their full capacity. Hia advice to the great producing firms is to come to terma in fixing an international rate, else (be says) the fate of the cotton fabrics may overtake them. He advises the stabilisation of prices as the surest wav of instilling confidence in dealers, and concludes that the heavy fall in the price of natural silk since 1921 should prove a warning to the artificial gilk producers to stabihse t'mir own rates.