Title in original language: Exportné siete vývozu železnej rudy zo spišsko-gemerskej banskej oblasti do stredoeurópskych železiarní v rokoch 1867–1914
Author: Lukáš Patera
Title in English: Export network of iron ore export from the Spiš-Gemer mining area to the central european ironworks in the years 1867–1914
Journal: Česko-slovenská historická ročenka, 26, 1, 2024, pp. 11-30
Abstract: This paper focuses on the export of iron ore from Hungary to ironworks in Silesia and north-eastern Moravia from the Austro-Hungarian Compromise to the beginning of World War I. The origins of ore exports date back to the mid-19th century, but it was not until the last third of the 19th century that excessive ore exports became a serious problem that preoccupied the Hungarian government, institutions and professional economic circles. The largest exporters of iron ore from Hungarian territory included Prussian and Austrian companies operating large ironworks in the coalfields of Upper Silesia and Austrian Silesia. All the measures taken by the Hungarian government against the excessive export of iron ores met with great dissatisfaction from these foreign companies, which owned a large part of the most profitable mines in Spiš (Szepes), and were vitally dependent on regular supplies of high-quality Hungarian ore. On the other hand, these Austrian and Prussian companies also mined and produced the coal and coke which the Hungarian industry was heavily dependent on, and by threatening to stop their supplies they forced the Hungarian government to abolish measures against the export of ore, which included in particular increased fare for its transport on state railways and the Košice-Bohumín railway. This stalemate lasted until World War I, when all companies involved in mining and ironworking ran into more serious difficulties related to the economic problems (not only) in the Hungarian economy.
Keywords: Mining, Iron Ore, Export, Zips, Gemer, Ironworks