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imports. Sugar production is barely suffi-
value, of Guatemala's total exports, but their
cient to satisfy domestic demand.
value is greatly exceeded by the value of im-
C. Forest Products.
ports of the same category.
There are few large cattle herds, and pure-
Chicle. Chicle ranks first in importance
bred stock raising is limited to a few dairy
among the country's forest products and in
herds in the vicinity of the capital. Farmers
1947 provided about 8 percent, by value, of the
in many sections raise cattle and other stock
total exports (36,695 quintals valued at
for meat, and meat cattle are also occasionally
$2,740,197). The producing area comprises
imported from Honduras and El Salvador.
the great forested regions of the Petén,
Sheep raising is a fairly important industry
throughout which the chicle-yielding trees are
in the western highland section of Guatemala,
scattered. All chicle shipments from Guate-
particularly in the Departments of Hueheu-
mala were made to the United States by the
tenango, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Toto-
Chicle Development Corporation and the
nicapan, and Quiche. The better grades of
Wrigley Export Company, until June 1949,
when these companies ceased operations in
wool are used mainly by two factories making
woolen suitings; most of the remainder is
Guatemala. A Guatemalan company, organ-
used by local weavers, on whose hand looms
ized with government aid, has now taken over
are produced most of the country's woolen
chicle buying and selling.
Lumber. Combined, cabinet and other
goods. These products (mainly blankets,
shawls, and rugs) are manufactured chiefly
woods represented about 1 percent, by value,
for the immediate local market.
of Guatemala's total exports in 1948 (3,666,000
board ft. valued at $516,972). Most impor-
Fishing is of local importance only, and
tant are mahogany, Spanish cedar, lignum
contributes little to the national economy.
vitae, primavera, balsa, and pine. Most of
e. Mining.
Guatemala's mahogany, from the Department
Although a large variety of minerals are
of El Petén, is normally exported through
known to exist in Guatemala, the only miner-
Belize.
als mined commercially are chromite and
Rubber. Rubber is of no consequence as an
small amounts of gold, lead, iron, silver, zinc,
export, and production is negligible. Castilloa
limestone, salt, and sulphur. Other known
plantations, which once supplied 100 to 200
minerals include mica, marble, gypsum,
metric tons annually, were virtually aban-
graphite, coal, copper, titanium, mercury, an-
doned after the development of Far Eastern
timony, and molybdenum. Most Guatemalan
hevea plantations. During the recent war,
mineral resources have not been developed be-
Guatemala's estimated 250,000 castilloa trees
cause of inaccessibility, inadequate transpor-
supplied about 360,000 pounds of rubber an-
tation facilities or excessive transportation
nually. Under United States direction, about
costs, and also, in the case of petroleum (the
1,500 acres (on 39 properties) were planted
existence of which is not yet proved defini-
with some 300,000 hevea trees. It is estimated
tively), the inability of foreign companies and
that these will produce about 1,800,000 pounds
the Guatemalan Government to reach satis-
of rubber annually, thereby raising the total
factory agreements concerning exploitation of
to about 2,160,000 pounds.
the deposits.
Minor Forest Products. Guatemala's for-
The lead and zinc shortages resulting from
ests also produce dyewoods, tannin woods, va-
the war have served to stimulate the produc-
nilla, sarsaparilla, camphor, cinnamon, spices,
tion of these minerals, which have been ex-
palm oil, and other minor products.
ploited on a small scale in Guatemala for
d. Animal Husbandry.
many years. The most important mining
Livestock are raised throughout Guate-
operation at present is that being undertaken
mala, and most domestic requirements for
by the US-backed Companía Minera de Gua-
animal products are met by domestic produc-
temala, in the Cobán region of Alta Verapaz.
tion. Animal products, mainly cattle hides
Two other US-owned companies are planning
and fresh beef, constitute about 1 percent, by
lead or lead-zinc mining operations: the Com-
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"ocrText": "26\nSECRET\nimports. Sugar production is barely suffi-\nvalue, of Guatemala's total exports, but their\ncient to satisfy domestic demand.\nvalue is greatly exceeded by the value of im-\nC. Forest Products.\nports of the same category.\nThere are few large cattle herds, and pure-\nChicle. Chicle ranks first in importance\nbred stock raising is limited to a few dairy\namong the country's forest products and in\nherds in the vicinity of the capital. Farmers\n1947 provided about 8 percent, by value, of the\nin many sections raise cattle and other stock\ntotal exports (36,695 quintals valued at\nfor meat, and meat cattle are also occasionally\n$2,740,197). The producing area comprises\nimported from Honduras and El Salvador.\nthe great forested regions of the Petén,\nSheep raising is a fairly important industry\nthroughout which the chicle-yielding trees are\nin the western highland section of Guatemala,\nscattered. All chicle shipments from Guate-\nparticularly in the Departments of Hueheu-\nmala were made to the United States by the\ntenango, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Toto-\nChicle Development Corporation and the\nnicapan, and Quiche. The better grades of\nWrigley Export Company, until June 1949,\nwhen these companies ceased operations in\nwool are used mainly by two factories making\nwoolen suitings; most of the remainder is\nGuatemala. A Guatemalan company, organ-\nused by local weavers, on whose hand looms\nized with government aid, has now taken over\nare produced most of the country's woolen\nchicle buying and selling.\nLumber. Combined, cabinet and other\ngoods. These products (mainly blankets,\nshawls, and rugs) are manufactured chiefly\nwoods represented about 1 percent, by value,\nfor the immediate local market.\nof Guatemala's total exports in 1948 (3,666,000\nboard ft. valued at $516,972). Most impor-\nFishing is of local importance only, and\ntant are mahogany, Spanish cedar, lignum\ncontributes little to the national economy.\nvitae, primavera, balsa, and pine. Most of\ne. Mining.\nGuatemala's mahogany, from the Department\nAlthough a large variety of minerals are\nof El Petén, is normally exported through\nknown to exist in Guatemala, the only miner-\nBelize.\nals mined commercially are chromite and\nRubber. Rubber is of no consequence as an\nsmall amounts of gold, lead, iron, silver, zinc,\nexport, and production is negligible. Castilloa\nlimestone, salt, and sulphur. Other known\nplantations, which once supplied 100 to 200\nminerals include mica, marble, gypsum,\nmetric tons annually, were virtually aban-\ngraphite, coal, copper, titanium, mercury, an-\ndoned after the development of Far Eastern\ntimony, and molybdenum. Most Guatemalan\nhevea plantations. During the recent war,\nmineral resources have not been developed be-\nGuatemala's estimated 250,000 castilloa trees\ncause of inaccessibility, inadequate transpor-\nsupplied about 360,000 pounds of rubber an-\ntation facilities or excessive transportation\nnually. Under United States direction, about\ncosts, and also, in the case of petroleum (the\n1,500 acres (on 39 properties) were planted\nexistence of which is not yet proved defini-\nwith some 300,000 hevea trees. It is estimated\ntively), the inability of foreign companies and\nthat these will produce about 1,800,000 pounds\nthe Guatemalan Government to reach satis-\nof rubber annually, thereby raising the total\nfactory agreements concerning exploitation of\nto about 2,160,000 pounds.\nthe deposits.\nMinor Forest Products. Guatemala's for-\nThe lead and zinc shortages resulting from\nests also produce dyewoods, tannin woods, va-\nthe war have served to stimulate the produc-\nnilla, sarsaparilla, camphor, cinnamon, spices,\ntion of these minerals, which have been ex-\npalm oil, and other minor products.\nploited on a small scale in Guatemala for\nd. Animal Husbandry.\nmany years. The most important mining\nLivestock are raised throughout Guate-\noperation at present is that being undertaken\nmala, and most domestic requirements for\nby the US-backed Companía Minera de Gua-\nanimal products are met by domestic produc-\ntemala, in the Cobán region of Alta Verapaz.\ntion. Animal products, mainly cattle hides\nTwo other US-owned companies are planning\nand fresh beef, constitute about 1 percent, by\nlead or lead-zinc mining operations: the Com-\nSECRET"
}