The competitive situation with respect to formaldehyde is determined largely by the output and price of the raw material, methanol. The United States produces large quantities of synthetic and natural methanol and is a net exporter of that product. Both methanol and formaldehyde are produced in many foreign countries, and foreign production is expanding. Although methanol is now the main, if not the sole, raw material utilized in making formaldehyde, plants for making the latter direct from natural gas, or from petroleum gas hydrocarbons are contemplated or actually under construction. Should such processes develop to an appreciable extent, the competitive situation of the United States may change, but in such case it is unlikely that this country would be so affected as to change its position as a moderate exporter. HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE Description and uses. Hexamethylenetetramine is a white crystalline powder made by the interaction of formaldehyde and ammonia. It is used in tar-acid resins to replace formaldehyde, though its higher cost has limited its use to small proportions as a finishing or hardening agent. Other uses are as an internal antiseptic in medicine (marketed under trade names such as Urotropin, Cystogen, Aminoform, Urisol, and Cystamin), as an accelerator in the vulcanization of rubber (a declining use), and in artificial cork. During the World War it was used in gas masks as an absorbent for phosgene. United States production. The domestic production of hexamethylenetetramine declined during the depression, but has been increasing in the last few years. Production in 1937, however, was still below that of 1929. Statistics of production are shown in table 86. TABLE 86.—_Hexamethylenetetramine: United States production and sales, 1923, and 1925-37_ -------+----------+----------------------------- |Production| Sales Year |(quantity)+---------+--------+---------- | | Quantity| Value |Unit value -------+----------+---------+--------+---------- | _Pounds_ | _Pounds_| | 1923 | 1,381,073|1,155,083|$974,877| $0.84 1925 | 1,657,993|1,506,286| 994,458| .66 1926 | 1,495,220| ([1]) | ([1]) | 1927 | 1,315,213| ([1]) | ([1]) | 1928 | 1,661,645| ([1]) | ([1]) | 1929 | 2,368,020| ([1]) | ([1]) | 1930 | 1,871,690| ([1]) | ([1]) | 1931 | ([2]) | | ([2]) | 1932 | ([2]) | | ([2]) | 1933-37| ([1]) | | ([1]) | -------+----------+---------+--------+---------- [1] Not publishable; figures would disclose operations of individual firms. [2] Not available. Source: Compiled from annual reports of the Tariff Commission on dyes and other synthetic organic chemicals in the United States.