Ports, coal, and exports from the Argentine Pampas region. An evaluation of the institutional actors related to coal circulation in the agro-export period (1860-1930)

DE MARCO, MIGUEL ÁNGEL (H); JOFRÉ, JOSÉ LUIS; PRIETO, SANTIAGO; WEISSEL, MARCELO

París

Congreso; XIX World Economic History Congress; 2022

We propose a historical view of the reception and circulation of mineral coal through Argentine ports during the agro-export period (1860-1930). We come to an initial overall portrayal of the impact that the coal economy had in the history of Argentine ports, comprising their local, regional, and global connections.Our starting point is considering the regional port cities as actors in international relations. Following, we will observe the logistical revolution that meant the introduction of the railway in the national territory; and the railway’s correlation with the interaction of the ports and their agro-export hinterlands. Subsequently, we will address three cases: we will study the word carbonero and its derivatives to explore the complexity of the social fabric of the port of Buenos Aires, and we will give a description of the possible historical sources used to address the coaling business in that port. We will also provide an economic analysis of the port of La Plata on the supply of imported coal in connection with the export of agricultural products. Lastly, we will analyse the impact of coal through the difficulties raised by journalism in the city of Santa Fe regarding the international conflicts taking place at the beginning of the twentieth century.