The cartel in oregrounds iron

Abstract

Many years ago, E. F. Heckscher argued that Sweden held and exploited a monopoly position as the main supplier of iron traded internationally in northern Europe. The iron was known in England as oregrounds iron and in Sweden as vallonjarn. The importance of oregrounds iron for steelmakers was established beyond doubt by the late K. C. Barraclough. Oregrounds iron was bought for the British Navy in considerable quantities. The supply of oregrounds iron was apparently already tightly controlled by 1736. The decision of the Navy Board in 1809 speaks a great deal about the improved quality of the best British iron following the introduction of Cort’s puddling and rolling process. In 1750, about 18,800 tons of iron was made in England, compared with 26,900 tons imported.