Foreign Raw Materials Research Articles

Assessing business activity of the Russian industry

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that, despite the difficult economic and political situation for the Russian industry and the economy as a whole, there are problems not only with the arrival of foreign raw materials and goods in the domestic market, but also with the smooth operation of industry. It is necessary to develop and form new, more essential approaches to the industrial development strategy in the conditions of forced modernization of the industry. The factors that have the greatest and the least influence on the business activity of enterprises have been identified. The directions for forming new ways of domestic industry effective development through assessing the entrepreneurial confidence index on the part of enterprises of extractive and manufacturing industries have been analyzed. As the index evaluation result, the author concludes that the level of enterprises’ business activity has jumping values, in the course of which the factors that have a negative impact on industrial production development have been identified.

THE IMPACT OF EXCHANGE RATE VOLATILITY AND INFLATION ON THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

In African countries, exchange rate volatility, inflation, and economic growth relationships remain debatable, especially in Nigeria, because of the historical homogeneity of the monetary macroeconomic variables among the member countries. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among exchange rate volatility, inflation, and economic growth in Nigeria from 1985 to 2022. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) estimation technique of analysis was employed in achieving the objective of the study. We employed GARCH (1, 1) to obtain the volatility of the exchange rate data. Results indicated that exchange rate volatility and inflation adversely influenced the growth of the Nigerian economy. Further analysis reveals a negative impact when the interaction of exchange rate volatility and inflation is tested on growth. Also, the result revealed that gross capital formation promotes the growth of the Nigerian economy. This result confirms the positive evidence ascertained in the literature on the investment growth nexus. It is therefore recommended that policies that focus on improving local currency should be the top priority of the government. Also, policies that would reduce overdependence on foreign raw materials for production should be encouraged.

Electric power industry in the conditions of foreign companies exit

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that there are problems with supply of foreign raw materials and goods to the Russian market for the uninterrupted operation of the energy system as a whole caused by modern complicated economic conditions and current international situation. Besides, there is need to develop and form new conceptual approaches to the strategy of energy systems development amid forced modernisation of the industry. The conducted research is aimed at identifying and analysing existing and new directions in the formation of these original conceptual approaches in conditions of efficient functioning of the Russian industry. Based on the conducted work, the materials of scientists who have studied this problem were examined, and according to the results of the assessment, the following conclusions were formulated. To begin with, non-standard approaches to the management component of the energy systems development within the frame-work of forced modernisation were named. Finally, the potential possibility of rational use of all factors through the synchronisation of processes in diversification production played the role of socio-economic orientation.

Is environmental regulation keeping e-waste under control? Evidence from e-waste exports in the European Union

Waste generated from electrical and electronic equipment, known as e-waste, is increasing worldwide. Developed countries like those in Europe produce the most significant proportion of e-waste worldwide and, therefore, rely on exporting it to other countries for waste disposal. As Europe is transiting towards a Circular Economy and tackling environmental-related problems, there has been an increase in environmental policies and regulations in this area. This paper presents empirical evidence of how European Union regulations have affected the exports of e-waste. Yearly data from 2010 to 2018 for a panel of 18 European Union countries were analysed using the PCSE (Panel-Corrected Standard Error) estimator. In order to measure environmental regulation, Environmental Tax Revenues from the manufacture of computers, electronic, and optical products were selected. The findings of this paper suggest that taxation is ineffective in reducing e-waste exports, with a tax on manufacturers actually increasing them. Also, high dependence and sub-standard e-waste collection systems increase e-waste exportation. Given that countries often depend on foreign raw materials, a sensible approach would be to invest in collection points for e-waste to take economic advantage of this waste's vital elements.

STRUCTURE OF TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESH

This study discovers a clear separation between the domestic and export sectors of the Bangladesh textile and garment industry within the industry structure. The existence of such a dual structure is notable. Both of the domestic and export sectors consist of almost similar networks and stages, but they differ from each other in raw material usage, product types, product quality, manufacturing technology, manufacturers, marketers, and target customers. The domestic sector structure is less visible, unorganized, and mostly informal. But, the export sector structure is formal and organized. The export sector is more vulnerable to external threats compared to the domestic sector. The dependency on tailoring system, mass use of traditional garments, use of local ingredients, and manufacturing lower quality cheap garment products characterizes the domestic sector structure of the industry. The domestic sector has to depend partly on foreign raw materials and intermediate goods, but local enterprises perform almost all the tasks of the production and marketing networks. In contrast, the export sector is totally dependent on foreign raw materials. The foreign enterprises also control the marketing of the export sector’s products. Moreover, the export sector mostly depends on foreign parties for the tasks of intermediate good and export networks. However, the manufacturing network related tasks of the sector are accomplished by the domestic firms.

The usefulness of extended input\u2013output tables incorporating firm heterogeneity

This study examines the usefulness of an extended input–output table (EIOT) incorporating the heterogeneity of Japanese firms based on differences in ratios of imported intermediate goods to total output. Using an EIOT, the vertical specialization indicator of Japan was calculated, which corresponds to the foreign value added included in exports. In this process, differences in intermediate input ratios were measured examining different types of firms using firm-level microdata from the Basic Survey of Japanese Business Structure and Activities. The results indicate that distinguishing between exporting and non-exporting firms is relevant for assembly industries such as electronics and automobiles, as widely discussed in the literature. In contrast, for primary materials industries, such as paper, chemical, and metal industries, other distinctions appear to be more relevant. For example, for the chemical industry, wherein firms tend to have large, integrated manufacturing plants, the differences in intermediate import ratios are largest when distinguishing large firms from small and medium firms. For paper and metal industries, which rely on foreign raw materials, the difference is largest when distinguishing between firms with and without foreign affiliates. By incorporating such heterogeneity, the vertical specification indicator increases by 70%; thus, the EIOT captures the foreign value added more comprehensively.

The Waste of the Ferroalloy Production in Russia


 
 
 Ferroalloys are used to change the composition and properties of ferrous and non- ferrous metals. Therefore, the volume of ferroalloy smelting corresponds to the amount of steel and other alloys produced. Currently world steel production is approximately 1630 million tons, and about 40 million tons of various ferroalloys are produced (2.5%). The structure of ferroalloy production in different countries mainly depends not on the needs of industrial enterprises, but on ore reserves. Excessive amounts of ferroalloys produced are exported, and the missing alloys are imported. In Russia silicon alloys that have no restrictions in the raw material base (44%) are the most produced, then manganese (25%) and chromium (23%) ferroalloys. The remaining ferroalloys account for 8% of production. About half of the manganese ferroalloys needed for consumption are bought abroad, and half are produced in the Russian Federation from foreign raw materials (Kazakhstan, South Africa, Gabon). The Russian Federation provides itself with chromium ferroalloys completely, and sells ∼ 80%, and for their production mainly imported raw materials (∼ 65%) from Kazakhstan are used.
 Keywords: ferroalloy, ferrochrome, slags, production of ferroalloy
 
 

Analysis of the current state of molybdenum mineral and raw material base, mining and processing of molybdenum-containing ores

Molybdenum has a complex of practically significant properties and is widely used for alloying steels and cast irons, in the composition of alloys of various purposes, as well as a structural material in pure form. Molybdenum belongs to the group of rare metals, which causes the relevance of analytical research of the modern state of the mineral- raw material base of molybdenum, extraction and processing of molybdenum-containing ores. The results of analysis of the mineral-raw material base of molybdenum of foreign countries and Russia, assessment of prospects of its expansion are presented. The confirmed world molybdenum resources amount to 12 million tons, including domestic – 2 million tons. 75% of molybdenum reserves are concentrated in the USA, China, Chile, Peru and Canada. Description of the types of deposits of molybdenum, copper-molybdenum and molybdenum-tungsten ores, the main types of molybdenum minerals has been quoted. Methods of ore concentration of various composition for production of molybdenum concentrates, additional enrichment of molybdenum concentrate and industrial practice of molybdenum concentrate processing are considered. In terms of ore quality domestic and foreign raw material base of molybdenum are comparable. 63% of domestic production of molybdenum-containing ores is provided by OJSC “Sorsky GOK”, 33% – OJSC “Zhirekenskiy GOK”. These enterprises produce molybdenum concentrates of grades КМФ-5, КМФ-6, КМФ-7. Their production capacity is about 12 thousand tons of concentrate per year. Molybdenum concentrates are processed by pyro- and hydrometallurgical methods and are an industrial product for production of ferromolybdenum and its chemical compounds. The total capacity of molybdenum concentrate processing plants is 300 thousand tons per year.

Palm Kernel De-Oiled Cake: A Potential Source of Cellulose for the Production of Carboxylmethyl Cellulose for Industrial Uses

The problem of over dependence on foreign raw materials such as Carboxylmethyl cellulose for Nigerian industries has been a big threat to the country’s economy. In order to curtail the menace, this work aims at the production of Carboxylmethyl cellulose which serves as a thickening agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, extender etc. from palm kernel de-oiled cake. Palm kernel de-oiled cake was converted to Carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC), a derivative of cellulose by two reaction steps, mercerization and etherification. Some quality control parameters were assayed on the produced CMC. Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to characterize the produced Carboxylmethyl cellulose and the commercial grade CMC as control. Paint formed using CMC was assessed in terms of viscosity, pH, and compared with paint formed using commercial CMC. Carboxylmethyl cellulose is a highly specific substrate for the endo-acting cellulase and its catalytic product (glucose) was assayed using a simple reducing sugar assay such as 3,5-dinitrosalycylic assay. The results of the CMC at the first etherification gave a degree of substitution and kinematic viscosity of 0.65 ± 0.02 and 70.46 ± 1.20, while at second etherification, the values obtained were 1.0 ± 0.01 and 80.0 ± 1.00 against the values obtained from the commercial grade which were given as 1.7 ± 0.05 and 95.0 ± 0.04 respectively. The result of the FT-IR of the CMC (test) and the commercial CMC shows similarities at a wavelength of 600 - 4000 cm?1 with slight differences. The presence of CMC was quantitatively confirmed by the activity of cellulase enzyme on the product which was estimated by colour development using 3, 5-dinitrosalicyclic acid and read at 540 nm. The results of the CMC showed no significant differences with the commercial grade using a one-way test (ANOVA) p > 0.05. The results showed that palm kernel cake can be a better source of cellulose for the production of CMC which would find many applications in food, drug, paint, paper and allied industries.

Determinant Factors Influencing Honey Consumption Trends in Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia

Beekeeping in Ethiopia contributed to foreign earnings, employment, food, and industrial raw materials. The study aimed to investigate factors influencing the choice of consumption and quantity consumed in Mekelle City, where there was no information on present quantity consumed and factors influencing the choice for honey consumption. Specifically, the study was determined the present quantity consumes and investigates factors influencing the choice for honey consumption in the study area. Kedamay weyane, Hawelti, Adihaki and Hadnet were purposely selected in Mekelle City due to availability of honey market. Clustering and simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting 398 households. Both descriptive and quantitative statistics were used. The result shows that total annual quantity of honey consumption per household were 3kg in study area. Binary logistic regression was used in modeling the choice for honey consumption. Binary logistic regression results show that, income, household size, education, availability, quality, price, and policy issues were significant at 5% (P<0.05) influencing the honey consumption in the study area. The study concluded that honey was consumed in low level in Mekelle and recommended awareness creation on the benefits of honey, develop mechanism for traceability and promote beekeeping, increase availability of honey, manage and control price of honey through government and other stockholders.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ СУЧАСНИХ ПРОБЛЕМ УКРАЇНСЬКОГО РИНКУ ЦЕЛЮЛОЗНО-ПАПЕРОВОЇ ПРОДУКЦІЇ

Мета. Визначення проблем розвитку ринку целюлозно-паперової продукції,окреслення шляхів їх вирішення.Результати. Встановлено, що ринок целюлозно-паперової продукції активнорозвивається. Целюлозно-паперова промисловість є важливою галуззю економіки України.Україна є експортером такої продукції на європейський ринок, а, отже, вітчизнянапродукція є конкурентоспроможною та якісною. Проте існує імпортозалежність відзакордонної сировини, яка є дороговартісною. Маючи хороші промислові потужності звиробництва паперової продукції, слід шукати альтернативні джерела власної рослинноїсировини, аби даний ринок розвивався потужніше. В Україні функціонує понад 20підприємств, що виробляють паперову продукцію в Україні, проте матеріально-технічнабаза їх застаріла.Найважливішими видами продукції целюлозно-паперової промисловості є целюлоза,папір, картон. За обсягами виробництва паперу провідні місця у світі традиційнозаймають розвинуті країни: США, Японія, Канада, Німеччина. Найбільшимиекспортерами її є Канада, та деякі європейські країни – Швеція, Фінляндія, Норвегія,Австрія, а імпортерами – США, великі європейські країни, Японія.Вагомим фактором зміни імпортозалежності від закордонної сировини є пошукальтернативних джерел власної вітчизняної сировини для виготовлення целюлознопаперової продукції, проведення наукових досліджень щодо технологій переробки такоїпродукції та активне впровадження у виробництво.Наукова новизна. Встановлено динаміку експорту-імпорту целюлозно-паперової продукції Україною.Практична значимість. Зважаючи на проведений аналіз українського ринкуцелюлозно-паперової продукції, можна зробити висновок про перспективність йогорозвитку, адже промислові потужності в нашій країні є, існує сформована нормативнотехнічна база, проте є проблема із недостатністю вітчизняної сировини, адже основнимматеріалом для її виробництва є макулатура. Вагомим фактором зміниімпортозалежності від закордонної сировини є пошук альтернативних джерел власноївітчизняної сировини для виготовлення целюлозно-паперової продукції, проведеннянаукових досліджень щодо технологій переробки такої продукції та активневпровадження у виробництво. &#x0D;

Revamping the Nigerian Manufacturing Sub-Sector as a Panacea for Economic Progress: Lessons from South Korea

Abstract The study focuses on repositioning the manufacturing sub-sector in order to revive Nigeria from the problem of “growthelessness”. The expository study examined the situation of the Nigerian economy and overview of the industrial policies employed to encourage development since after independence. Many challenges such as lack of indigenous technology, excessive reliance on foreign raw materials and manpower, inconsistence regarding policies and programmes, lack of linkages of production with domestic inputs among others were articulated to be responsible for the inability of the country to establish a reliable manufacturing sub-sector that is capable of harnessing idle resources, reduce unemployment and develop the economy. The study also examined an overview of industrial policies employed by South Korea which gave the country its success story. Lessons considered to play significant role to change Nigerian manufacturing sub-sector were drawn there from, among which include: reviving the economic environment with infrastructure and public service system so as to make the country industrial production compliance; consistent, persistent and perseverance on the part of resource controllers in spite of all odds toward goal attainment, adoption of appropriate indigenous technology, monitoring, evaluation and restrategising to improve the sector. This study has shown that Nigerian situation is capable of changing for better if what worked in South Korea manufacturing sub-sector is applied in Nigeria.

Explorando las órbitas tecnológicas de dos rostros de mosaico de piedra verde de Tikal, Petén, Guatemala

Besides the undeniable political and ideological relevance materialized in two greenstone mosaic faces discovered in a sumptuous funerary precinct belonging to an ancient Maya ruler of Tikal, buried sometime between A.D. 350 and 378, this study seeks to identify the patterns of manufacture recorded on these insignias. Using non-destructive methods and high-definition microscopic approaches, sectors of select tesserae that form the two greenstone mosaic faces were analyzed. Based on the obtained results, we suggest that the tools used to manufacture the tesserae were made using local and foreign raw materials. Moreover, the technological patterns recorded on the tesserae seem to be similar during the final stages of manufacture, whereas during the earlier stages they seem to be meaningfully distinct.

Situation and Development of Ferroalloy Metallurgy in Russia

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Chaquiras en el Gran Chaco: apropiaciones y negociaciones

Between different ethnic groups in the South American Gran Chaco, it has been produced and used, and they are currently produced and used, various types of objects and embroidery with glass beads, from colonial and national societies. In museums collections, most of them collected during the first half of the XX century, are registered these objects related with body “ornament” and clothing, mostly attributed to Pilaga, Toba-pilaga, East Toba (Qom) Maka, Nivacle and Lengua groups.This paper attempts to think the processes of change and continuity involved in the production, use and circulation of them and their participation in processes of meaning of ethnic identities in specific historical contexts. Our study has focused on different aspects of the materiality of these objects (textile structures, formats, designs and colors); the associated addressing of them, considering the foreign raw material (glass beads), can account the processes of appropriation and negotiation in the use of such kinds of beads, in which ethnic groups are active participants in the construction of their cultures and identities.

Estado actual de las investigaciones de la cerámica indígena del norte de Mendoza. Tecnología, cronología y distribución

Análisis tecno-tipológicos sobre cerámica arqueológica del norte de la provincia de Mendoza permitieron definir la variabilidad en la producción local en un lapso de casi mil años, entre aproximadamente los ca. 1200-1300 años AP. A los tipos cerámicos más conocidos y ampliamente distribuidos, Agrelo y Viluco, se sumaron otros grupos cerámicos: Gris/Marrón, Anarajado Rojizo y Viluco Colonial. Además, los tipos locales conocidos para los tambos incaicos de Uspallata se hallaron en sitios de precordillera y piedemonte alto, y también se encontraron tiestos de cerámica foránea, como los tipos Tocota, Diaguita y Copiapó Negro sobre Rojo en los diversos ambientes del área. Las dataciones absolutas permitieron ajustar las cronologías y a partir del análisis petrográfico se detectó la correspondencia de las inclusiones con la geología local y la presencia de materias primas foráneas, lo que se interpreta como movilidad y/o intercambio con áreas vecinas.

Procedencia de la mica de Teotihuacan: control de los recursos suntuarios foráneos por las élites gobernantes

This article describes the provenance and contexts in which mica (phlogopite or biotite) has been found, as a foreign raw material imported from the Valley of Oaxaca, in the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in Central Mexico, during the Classic period (first 6 centuries CE). More than 90% of the mica found in the Classic city is concentrated in two compounds at Teotihuacan: the Xalla Palace, to the north of the Sun Pyramid, and the Viking Group, to the south of the Sun Pyramid, both sites that were related to the city's governing elite. In contrast to the large amount of mica in these contexts is the small amount (measured in grams) found in multi-ethnic neighborhood centers such as Teopancazco, which were also excavated by this project.The approximately 37kg of sheet mica found in Xalla during the project “Teotihuacan. Elite and government” (Linda R. Manzanilla, 1997-2016) occurs as cut plaques, triangles, trapezoidal figures, rectangles and circles, as well as flake mica and dust. At Xalla, they were used on the lower part of the walls; as circles incorporated as “eyes” in theater-type censers found in Oztoyahualco 15B; and as disks and angular geometric figures in important burials at Teopancazco.Through archaeometric studies (X-ray diffraction, scan electron microscopy, neutron activation), mica from Xalla and Teopancazco is characterized and compared with sources of mica in the Valley of Oaxaca (Las Trancas near San Francisco Telixtlahuaca, Paraje Loma Gorda near Cuilapan, Loma Yaguín near Santo Tomás Jalieza, the modern mine of Minerales de Antequera S.A. in Ocotlán de Morelos) and with Prehispanic mica from the archaeological sites of Monte Albán, Cerro de las Minas, and Huamelulpan in Oaxaca. Most of the Prehispanic mica may have come from the area of the modern mine of Minerales de Antequera S.A. in Ejutla.

Technological Analysis of the Calcite Beads from the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan

ABSTRACTIn the Great Temple at Tenochtitlan, the archaeologists found more than 150 offerings with thousands of pieces, most of them made on foreign raw materials to the Basin of Mexico. Among these votive contexts, the Chamber III of stage IVa (AD 1440-1469), buried during the government of Moctezuma I, is one of the most richness offerings of the temple. Inside this context, the quantity of greenstone beads is huge, and among them, there is a group of translucent appearance that resembles the green calcite objects from the Huastec region. The purpose of this research is to confirm or discard this probable cultural origin and technological manufacture of these beads. To do that, we perform different analysis with neither non-destructive nor invasive techniques like X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Optic Microscopy (OM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). By this way we could confirm the similarities among Huastec pieces and these beads, both at mineralogical and technological levels. Based on that, and supported with some written sources from the Colonial period, we propose that these pieces could be war prizes and looted objects by pillage during the Aztec campaigns against Huastec sites; furthermore some of these goods were deposited as victory´s gifts to the gods at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan.

The introduction of electric vehicles in Brazil: Impacts on oil and electricity consumption

The aim of this article is to measure the impact on energy consumption of the introduction of electric vehicles on to the Brazilian market. To this end, a demand forecast model was used under four different scenarios, each scenario pre-supposing a given level of penetration of the hybrid vehicles in the market. It is shown that with the use of electricity for individual transport, a reduction in the consumption of gasoline, in 2030, of 40.7% would be accompanied by an increase in electricity consumption of 31.3% in relation to official projections, which means a reduction of 28.9% in total energy consumption by the national fleet, or approximately 24.6×106toe/year. Since one of the main obstacles to the introduction of electric cars in Brazil is the competition with the biofuels program, particularly ethanol, we sought to demonstrate here that electricity could act not as a substitute, but rather a complement for ethanol and gasoline. Despite the significant potential domestic production of fossil fuels in Brazil as a result of the discoveries in the pre-salt, the ethanol and the electricity produced in the country come from renewable sources. This circumstance, together with the fact that their domestic production takes place with minimal dependence on foreign raw materials and lesser price oscillation as compared to petroleum derivatives, makes electrical vehicles an attractive alternative.

FROM RESOURCE TO MARKET: POSTWAR SPATIAL CHANGES IN A SWEDISH FOREST COMPANY

Despite the wealth of empirical and theoretical literature on transnational corporations, little has been written about the spatial consequences of changes in the ownership of forest-based industries. These types of tnc embrace a broad range of activities, formerly based solely upon forest raw material, comprising sawmilling and pulp and paper manufacturing. In Sweden, these industries were mostly located near raw material supplies and concentrated on export production for the European market. During recent decades forest companies such as sca (Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget) have invested in or acquired production and sales units in most of the traditional market countries. This has involved a substantial increase in the numbers of foreign employees, new commodities and raw materials, and a shift in the centre of gravity of production and employment. The aim of this article is to investigate and model the locational changes in sca's ownership (of production, sales, and administrative units) and in its organizational structure within and outside Sweden, from the 1950s to the present.