The development of export trade in furs from Northeastern Siberia by firms with large capital in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries

The article is devoted to the investigation of the organization of export trade in furs from Northeastern Siberia by firms with large capital in the period of modernization of the Russian economy. The process of exporting Siberian furs was significantly influenced by the economic, political and geographical factors of the Russian Empire. The pre-war and post-war periods in the organization of foreign trade operations with furs enterprises with large capital are outlined. In the pre-war period, one of the main directions of foreign trade was Western Europe. The main partner in export transactions with Siberian furs was Germany. Transactions with German merchants were commissioned by large companies from Northeastern Siberia in Moscow. The leading firm in the export of Siberian furs to Germany was the trading house N.D. Everstov. The cost of export transactions of N.D. Everstov with German companies reached 1.5 million rubles. At the end of the 19th century, the steady demand for furs from Northeastern Siberia from China was formed. Leaders in the export of high-quality furs to China were the trading houses A. and M. Molchanov and Bykov and A.V. Shvetsov and Sons. The firms had their own representations in Calgan, Beijing, Hankow, Shanghai, and supplied furs for the higher bourgeoisie of China. During the war, the United States of America became one of the main export destinations for furs from Northeastern Siberia. The main feature of the organization of export transactions was the existence of agreements between large firms on the joint supply of furs in exchange for food and consumer goods. Under the agreements, export operations were carried out by the trading houses G. V. Nikiforov, M.A. Kokovin and I.A. Basov, Heirs of A.M. Kushnarev, the joint-stock company of the Match and Fur Factory N.P. Rylov and F.P. Lesnikov. The development of this direction of fur export was facilitated by the presence of large firms' own transport enterprises, as well as the organization of subsidized sea flights of the Marine Ministry. Transit centers for Siberian furs export trade with the United States of America were Harbin and Tokyo. In 1914-1918, the volume of annual export operations with furs from Northeastern Siberia of large firms to North American markets ranged from 950 thousand to 1 million rubles. In conclusion, it is noted that in the pre-war period the main direction of fur exports from Northeastern Siberia was Germany, while the position of large firms in the Asian direction was strengthening. Stimulating the development of exports of Siberian furs to the United States occurred during the First World War, when most of the European channels for Siberian furs were lost due to military actions. The economic potential of large firms made it possible to create an export trade structure for Siberian furs, the profit of which was an important item of the state's income in the conditions of military operations.

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