Chapter 9 THE PERUVIAN ODYSSEY rey Less than a month later the first of many leased transport ships arrived to receive the inaugural load of ore. To mark the event, Marcona officials arranged a lavish opening ceremony during the first week of May 1953. Even the president of Peru, General Manuel Odria, attended. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. “They cranked up the conveyor belt,” Littlefield recalled, “the ore went up the conveyor belt and down the elephant trunk and into the hold of the ship and everybody cheered and then adjourned to the clubhouse ... to celebrate, and the damned thing broke down and we couldn’t ship anything for two to three weeks.” Eventually that first ship embarked from San Juan loaded with Peruvian ore bound for the United States. In the short span of five months, Marcona had begun to fulfill successfully its agreement with U. S. Steel. Company leaders realized, however, that although the fulfillment of the contract with U. S. Steel constituted a notable achievement for Marcona, it nevertheless provided only a temporary market for the company’s product. The ultimate success of the Peruvian adventure depended upon the company’s ability to establish stable, permanent marketing outlets. So they moved swiftly, turning to markets Utah had previously cultivated in Japan, which was rapidly rebuilding its shattered economy and refurbishing its steel industry. In addition to the potentially lucrative Japanese market, other opportunities existed for Marcona in Western Europe, where similar reconstruction efforts were underway. To oversee and maintain the successful penetration of these markets, Marcona officials organized Compania San Juan, S.A. (Inc.), in 1953, with a $250,000 investment. Formed initially to purchase all Marcona ore except that reserved for Peru and to charter ships to deliver ore to customers, a Panama-based corporation with ownership similar to Marcona, Compania (Cia.) San Juan took title to the ore at the departure port. The Marcona group, which included Cia. San Juan, earned in excess of $2.5 million during its first fiscal year of operation. During the same period the mining enterprise alone reported earnings of $1,652,178. Beyond that first year the situation only improved. U. S. Steel remained a customer longer than Utah had anticipated, and when that contract expired, Bethlehem Steel agreed to purchase Marcona ore. Littlefield later appraised the entire process, from the