NORTH VIETNAM, CURRENT EVAULATION OFANTERACITE COAL EXPORTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T02095R000900020003-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: August 2, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

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norm VIETWAMi cvnirnT EVAIDATION OY
cakinzAmr.m
-The EXport Problem
U.S. airstrikes, carried out on Magna in April 1966, caused very
significant damage to the coal vashing and -geading plant at that port eity.
Vire:Willy all of North Vletnem's anthracite exports are seaborne, 0.n 90
percent of these normally flowed through the Cam Pha eacillties. As a
result of the strekee, aborne wrports, which averacd 127,000 tons a
month in the first quarter of 1966, wore cut to only 42,500 tons bj acne,
even though coal processing facilities at Z04 Gey, tho locationo the only
Other plant processing exports, hava been used 0.1ch more in.onsively.
Gay's capacity is deverely limited by the shallew draft of its harbor. (See
Table 1).
North Vietnam has attempted to mnintaie anthracite exports to Japan by
. virtually eliminating shipaents to other consumers, particularly to Communist
China. Even eo, shipments to japan have been erratic ad well below the
monthly aversee of 1965. (See Table 2).
showed that the plant may be en parise opera-101mi,
but there were no signo of repairs being uede to the extensively damaged
parts of the facility. Eence? the qeality of North Vietnamese anthracite
hate probably declined as stocks of washed and seeded coal have dwindled toward
exhaustion.
Alternate Sources oLhmtlins112152:29Es
When properly pro ed, North Vietnmm's anthracite meets the highest
standardo of quality in terms of heat value and law ash content. Much of
the current export no longer meets these standard*, And presumably would
not in the future if the Cam Pha facility veee to be kept neutralieed.
Alternate sources of high quality anthracite exist however, including South
Africa, the 'United States, and the Soviet Union. North Vietnam traditionally
is a favored source by japan In part because of low shipping costs. In 1965,
nine countries shipped significant quantities of anthracite to Japan, with.
North Vietnam accounting for about 37 percent of the total. (See Table 3).
If Japan were to meet her teport requirements entirely from supplierg other
than North Vietnam, an increase in shipping costs would result. We have been
unable to quantify the precise cost differential to Japan, but it could rue
a toe or more.
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tostAsp Exchange Earn from Anthraci rta
In 1965, North Vietnam earned about 46 million froesits shipments
of anthracite to Japan, and About $1.3 million free other Free World
salsa, largely mods to France. In 1966, earnings from anthracite exports
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this Will he fram Japan.
North Vietnam uses it4 haTd MrrrinCy earnings to traport capital and
consumer goods./
foodstuffs and machinery and equipment 'are age .i.arzest thxee
from a dollar value Standpoint. ?
2 August 1966
CTAtriD1/01111
Chatticktia I
catesories
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Table 2
M'rt h Vietnams Seaborne Mxportm
Antbramite Coal by testinatidn
Vimmand Netrie elkms
JlaatEr
2.2_62
First quarter 1966
ArrIl
32.")
12.112
Juna
Clumaist ChInog
12,D
3.7
494;.1
256.0
55.1
Jars5
443.1
74.5
'915
2.9
atbor
211. 9
S.:5
/?
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Tabie 3
Japan; Sources of AnthraCite Coal Imports in 1965
Supplier
Per_ ctxx,,_tf
North Vietnam
36.7
South Korea
13.5,
South Africa
15.6
Canada
10.5
Communist China
9.0
USSR
5.4
Australia
1.4
North Korea
1.2
Other
0.7
Total
100.0
1,2/
a. Total volume of imports of anthracite: 1,165,000 metric tons.
b. Components do not add to total because of rounding.
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