A Survey of Palestinian Industry: The Chemical Industry in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 526. Chapter XIII: Section 4

CHAPTER XIII.

(vii) Miscellaneous. A miscellaneous group of enterprises such as the recovery of pure tin from tinplate clippings; electroplating with silver, nickel and chrome as the main materials ; the case hardening of metals; the reconditioning of files; all these assisted in integrating various branches of the metal industry.

149. A considerable decrease in the scope of metal industries appears inevitable as soon as sizeable imports from overseas are available. But the extensive builcling programme on which the country must embark during the next few years may serve to keep mechanical workshops well occupied.

TV. THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY.

150. The chemical industry, though well established in pre-war days, as far as potash and its allied products were concerned, was, during recent years, thrust to the forefront of Palestine industry, reflecting, in part, the stimulus from war conditions.

151. The following table contains details of production and employment in the main branches of the chemical industry for the years 1939 and 1942.

Soap and toothpaste

Coamerioe and toilet preperstions Phermaceutica

Paints, colours, varnishes and ink Disinfectants and insecticides Essential oila

Other chemicals including potash and bromide

I £P. No. £P-.--No.

355,965 467 983,047 560

H,992 48 226,726 259

31,615 95 231,781 313

34,497 54 151,459 120

9,977 19 155,543 132

27,794 84 82,871 78

ss1,111 I i.ess 11.s14,421 1 s.sss

Total 1,056,557 1 2,345 3,405,854 ~

(i) Potash. The most important producer of chemicals in the country is the Palestine Potash Co. Ltd., which operates two plants situated at the northern and southern ends of the Dead Sea, where the salt concentration is eight times greater than that usually obtaining in any other sea waters. The main products are potash, bromine, chlorine, chlorate of potash, caustic soda and caustic potash. During the war Palestine constituted the sole source within the Empire for potash and bromide.

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