XN000022-1974-01-14 — Page 2

Monday, January 14, 1974

QUOTA CONTROLS ON POLYPROPYLENE

Export quota controls are to be introduced by the Commerce and

Industry Department regulating the export and re-export of polypropylene

one of the basic raw materials used in the plastics industry.

A department spokesmen said teday that polypropylene was among the 55 items of plastic raw materials which were made subject to export

licensing as a precautionary measure on January 1 this year.

The object of licensing is to enable the department to monitor

the export and re-export of plastic raw materials in view of the potential

threat to our supplies caused by reduced oil production.

"In case of polypropylene, which is used extensively in the

manufacture of household plastic products, the quantities licensed for

export since January 1 are substantially in excess of the monthly average for

1973.

"We are introducing export quota controls for this item, therefore,

in order to retain the traditional pattern of supplies for use in the local.

plastics industry."

The spokesman said that details of the quota system would be

circulated to the trade in the next few days. In the meantime the issue of

export licences for polypropylene has been suspended with effect from today.

Export quotas will he based on shipment returns for 1972 and

1973 already supplied by exporters to the Commerce and Industry Department.

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