CHINESE PRODUCTION OF BASIC CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IN 1957-58

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61S00527A000200120039-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2005
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: March 3, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For F,,ease 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP61 S00527Ay000200120039-1
CSM No. 560 NOFORN Copy No.
7 3
3 March 1958
CURRENT SUPPORT MEMORANDUM
CHINESE PRODUCTION OF BASIC CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS IN 1957-58
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This report represents the immediate views of the
originating intelligence components of the Office
of Research and Reports. Comments are solicited.
This document contains information affecting the national defense of
the United States, within the meaning of the espionage laws, Title 18
USC, Sections 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which
in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
Approved For Release 2005/04 1 : - DP61 SO0527A000200120039-1
 Approved For Fe lease 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP61S00527AW000200120039-1
CHINESE PRODUCTION OF BASXC CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS IN 1957-58
Recent Peiping announcements indicate that the construction
materials industry in 1957 achieved goals more than triple the
best pre-1945 production. In 1958 Communist China plans to produce
as much cement as did the USSR in 1948 1/ and as many bricks as did
the USSR in 1952. The 1958 planned production of construction
materials appears to be within the capability of the Chinese Com-
munist construction materials industry.
1957 Actual and 1958 Planned Production of Selected
Construction Materials in Communist China.
1957
1958
Quantity
Percent o
USSR
Quantity
Percent of
USSR
Cement (Million tons)
6.7
24
7.6
22
Brick (Billion Units)
14.0
58
14.0
52
Roof tile (Billion Units)
2.7
471
2.7
433
Flat Glass (Million m2)
46.1
33
47.9
37
Timber* (Million m3)
26.6
6
29.1
N.A.
By 1957 cement production in Communist China had increased to
a level four times the 1942 production of 1.9 million tons 4/, the
highest annual production of the pre-1949 period. Brick isTa very
important construction material in China, and the Chinese Communists
have stated that most new housing units are constructed of this
material. The Chinese estimate that the 19+57 brick production is
sufficient for 56 million square meters of floor space. 5/ It is
reasonable to expect brick production to increase as housing and
other construction increases.
The large quantity of ceramic roof tiles produced and the
absence of information on an alternative roofing material indicate
that tile remains the basic roofing material used in China. The
2.7 billion roof tiles produced in 1957 are estimated by the Chinese
to be sufficient for 68 million square meters. of roofing. 6/ This is
probably indicative of the approximate area of roofing to Fe con
structed or rebuilt in 1957.
. The Peiping annoucements indicate that production of flat glass
has increased more than 2.5 times since 1951, when 18 million square
meters were produced. 7/ Lastly, timber production in China, which,
though small in comparison to Soviet production, has increased to
about 2.5 times the 1952 production of 9.5 million cubic meters. 8/
-*A .harge, but unknown, proportion of the cut timber is sawn into
lumber for construction purposes.
3 March 1958.. CURRENT SUPPORT MEMORANDUM 560 Page 2
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 Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP61 SO0527A000200120039-1
Analyst:
25X1A9A
3 March 1958 CURRENT SUPPORT MEMORANDUM 560 Page 3
Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP61 SO0527A000200120039-1