(in millions of tons)
1,112 2,677 212
“This is all the more remarkable since Japan imports 81% of its iron ore (unquestionably under favourable conditions in view of the deterioration in terms of exchange between manufactured products and raw materials). Thus the United States furnishes coal at a low price (in face of the threat of Chinese competition), while Japan buys iron ore from the underdeveloped countries at a low price: 21,778,000 tons of ore, including 6,360,000 tons from Malaysia, 4,420,000 tons from India, 2,960,000 tons from Chile, 2,450,000 tons from Peru. and 1,450,000. tons from Canada.
“Since 1956, Japan has led the world in shipbuilding. Launching 28% of the world’s total tonnage in 1963 placed her far ahead of Western Germany and Great Britain. She already possesses, in number of units, the fourth largest fieet. She is second in the world in the production of trucks and is moving ahead ceaselessly in the production of automobiles. In the field of electronics and optics, Japan’s present position is quite remarkable. In 1963 she was the world’s top producer of television sets, the figure being 5,000,000, The production of 15,000,000 transistors was enough to build millions of transistor radio sets the same year, and she also stood in first place in still cameras (2,000,000) and movie cameras (700,000). Japan stands third in the world in production of cement and among the first five in fertilizer,
5.426 18,439 20,436
paper and petrochemicals. Her per
capita production of synthetic fibres
is 13.2 lbs., equal to Germany and
ahead of the United States.”
The following figures, offered by
Analyses et Documents, indicate the
rate of growth: