In Latvia ethyl spirit was produced from potatoes, melasse and corn (wheat and rye). In 1938 alcohol was produced by 61 enterprises with the amount of production reaching up to 12 million litres, of which 4.55 million. litres were used in the production of alcoholic beverages and 4.25 million litres as an additive to fuel. The amount of beer produced in 1936 was 8.2 million litres. Starch was produced from potatoes and wheat flour. Part of potato starch was hydrolyzed and turned into syrup. In 1938 Latvia had 26 factories of potato starch and syrup, which employed 214 workers. In 1938/39 Latvian sugar factories processed 234 100 t of sugar beet producing 33 300 t of sugar. The number of the employed in sugar factories was 1100.