217

p The commodity structure of foreign trade takes shape under the influence of many factors, such as the existing international division of labour, the development level of productive forces in individual countries, their export opportunities and import requirements, and their economic policies.

The restructuring of the economy in many African countries results in a year-by-year expansion and change in the commodity range of Soviet-African trade. Yet certain characteristic features of the specialisation of the trade partners, depending on their export opportunities and import requirements, are now becoming visible (see Table 11).

Table 11 Commodity Structure of Soviet Exports to Developing African Countries I960 1976 Increase between mln mln I960 and rubles % rubles % 1976 (%) Total exports 89.8 100 549.5 100 510 including: machines, equipment and means of transport 26.3 29.5 204 37.1 680 ferrous and non-ferrous metals 7.4 8.2 12.6 2.3 70 fuel 21.0 23.4 116.2 21.1 450 sawn timber, paper-and-pulp articles 14.2 15.8 67.9 12.3 370 foodstuffs 4.1 4.6 30.8 5.8 650 consumer goods 2.9 3.2 6.3 1.1 110

p Soviet exports to Africa are mainly industrial goods, such as machines, plant, materials, and fuel. This export pattern is advantageous to both parties. African countries, which are seeking to build up independent national economies, need huge quantities of imported capital goods and are interested in obtaining them from socialist countries. The Soviet engineering, iron and steel, and fuel industries are best prepared for organising effective exports of their 218 output to independent African countries. Specifically, the export of motor vehicles and garage equipment to Africa is now especially extensive. In the 1970s, over 100,000 Sovietmade vehicles were delivered to Africa.

p There is a considerable demand for Soviet road-building equipment, tractors and other farm machinery, planes and helicopters, mining, electric welding and drilling equipment, metal-working lathes and tools. The recipient country’s climatic conditions are taken into account when making machines, equipment and means of transport. Many machines are exported in tropical versions.

p National dealer companies and organisations handle a significant part of the Soviet equipment sold to African countries. Some of them have joint firms in which Soviet foreign trade organisations and local companies participate. These promote Soviet equipment among local buyers, supply spare parts, provide maintenance, and also train local personnel. Particularly good progress was made in the 1970s in the activities of the joint Soviet-Nigerian WAATECO society, which has established branches and stations for the technical servicing and maintenance of Soviet-made machinery in the capital and major towns and increased considerably the sales of Soviet motor vehicles and other equipment. In 1974, WAATEGO participated in setting up the SovietCameroonian joint company CATECO, which sells Soviet motor vehicles and other machinery in Cameroon and neighbouring countries.

p Soviet machine and technical foreign trade associations are continually familiarising businessmen and the public in Africa with the export capacity of Soviet engineering. This is a special concern of international trade and industrial fairs held in Africa, and also of specialised exhibitions. The USSR participated in the international fairs in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Zambia, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

p The commodity structure of Soviet imports from Africa has undergone considerable changes (see Table 12).

p The share of raw textiles in Soviet imports from Africa has dropped substantially, though the USSR still buys sizable quantities of cotton and sisal. At the same time, the import of subtropical and tropical farm produce is steadily increasing. Soviet purchases of cocoa-beans, for instance, grew from 48,600 tons in 1960 to 112,400 tons in 1976, rice
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219 Table 12 Commodity Structure oj Soviet hn/iorls from Developing African Countries I960 1976 Increase between mln mln 1960 and rubles % rubles % 1970 (%) Total imports 181.4 100 659.1 100 260 including: textile raw materials 114.2 62.5 160.9 24.4 40 foodstuffs 33.1 18.2 264.3 40.1 700 fuel, minerals and non-ferrous metals 29.2 15.5 49.6 7.5 70 manufactures and semi-processed goods (except non-ferrous metals) — — 140.7 21.2
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from 4,600 tons to 50,400 tons, and oranges from 18,700 tons to 261,400 tons.

p In recent years, there has been a marked increase in Soviet imports of African manufactures, chiefly consumer goods such as cotton fabrics, footwear, and clothing. It should be noted that many imported African foodstuffs also undergo some industrial processing (for instance, wine, canned food, juices, and cocoa-based products). On the whole, the share of "manufactures and semi-processed goods" (if the produce of the food industry is also included in this category) has come close to 30 per cent in recent years.

p Some African articles account for a considerable share of the Soviet Union’s total imports. In 1975, the USSR imported from Africa 53 per cent of its total cotton purchases, 72 per cent of the cocoa-beans, some 50 per cent of the wine, almost 80 per cent of the oranges, 15 per cent of the rice, and 63 per cent of the cotton yarn.

p This export-import policy is in the interests of the Soviet Union and also promotes the development of the national economies of African countries. As Alexei Kosygiri stressed in June 1975, "our diverse ties with the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America are growing 220 stronger. We are cooperating closely with most of these countries in strengthening peace and safeguarding the freedom and independence of peoples. Together with them, we are working towards delivering international economic relations from all the injustices and colonial attitudes that had been implanted and are still being cultivated by the capitalist monopolies. We fully support the desire of the developing countries to consolidate their sovereign right to the natural riches they own.”  [220•4 

All this creates the prerequisites for a further considerable growth of the trade and economic relations between the USSR and the developing world, including African countries.