NITROGEN PRODUCTS. 
Se 
The question of over-production is not regarded as likely to con- 
» stitute a serious factor in the post-war situation. Special attention 1s 
drawn to the-relative costs of synthetic and non-synthetic processes, 
and it is shown that, under favorable conditions in regard to the cost 
of power and of raw materials, the nitrogen fixation and allied pro- 
cesses, speaking broadly, stand at a very considerable advantage as 
compared with non-synthetic methods. Upon the basis of pre-war 
market prices and factory costs it is pointed out, inter alia, that 
the market price of a metric ton of combined nitrogen in the United 
Kingdom before the war (average 1911-13) was £67 and £66 in the 
forms of Chile nitrate and ammonium sulphate respectively, and that 
the synthetic processes can produce a metric ton of combined nitrogen 
at a cost, at the factory, of from £20 to £80. Further, the synthetic 
processes can produce a metric ton of concentrated (98 to 96 per cent.) 
nitric acid for about half the cost by the Chile nitrate retort process. 
Considering the international situation after the war it is pointed 
out that there will probably be ample scope in the post-war markets 
for all forms of nitrogenous fertilizers, both non-synthetic and synthetic, 
and it is thought that the industrial demand for nitric acid is likely 
to be met in the future by means of synthetic processes which show to 
considerable advantage as compared with ‘the Chile nitrate xetort 
process. The marketing of large quantities of synthetic ammonium 
sulphate and calcium cyanamide as the result of further developments 
of the Haber and cyanamide processes must influence the price of com- 
bined nitrogen and may even control it. Consequently the Chilean 
nitrate industry, in order to hold its position against the cheapest 
synthetic fertilizers, may be faced with the necessity of making sub-. 
stantial reductions in price, perhaps to a figure of £8 per ton, or even 
less. 5 
It is thought that the economic and financial position of Germany 
during the years succeeding the war, and the essential need of nitrate 
fertilizers for restoring her agriculture, may induce, or even compel, 
that country to resort to the manufacture of synthetic nitrates. The 
Chilean industry may thus be faced with the partial, or even total 
loss, of the German market, which was the largest individual market ~ 
before the war. ; 
In making the recommendations set out below, the Committee was 
guided by the following salient facts :— 
(a) The sources of supply of combined nitrogen in the United 
Kingdom must be increased considerably if the existing and 
prospective home demands are to be met, and the pre-war 
scale of exportation is to be maintained. 
(b) The existing sources of supply of combined nitrogen in the 
United Kingdom proved wholly imadequate for meeting 
the war demands. | : Ws ie 
(c) The risks and costs of importation during war are very serious. 
_ (d) Combined nitrogen (as cyanamide or ammonium sulphate) 
can be obtained by synthetic processes at a cost, at the fac- 
tory, which is less than half the market price of combined 
nitrogen from other sources, pre-war conditions being taken © 
as the basis in each case. pOOE “sf 
233 
