ELEKTROCHEMISCHES KOMBINAT BITTERFELD: DIFFICULTIES IN MARKETING FERROALLOYS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006500800003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: April 25, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/03/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006500800003-2
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
S-E_C-L-I-T
COUNTRY East Germany
SUBJECT Lektrochemisohes Kombinat Bitterfeld:
Difficulties in Marketing Ferroalloys
Thin material contain information affecting the Na-
tional the Ae of the LUnited 8tat" aws, Title 11{, thin the seas. mean-
ing of the 1epiaoaIe
and 794, the tranamirlan or revelation of which in
any manner to an unautbcrived person is prohibited
by law.
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
25 April 1955
1. The Elektrochemisches Rombinat Bitterfeld is experiencing difficulties in marketing
its ferroalloys. As a result of this situation, the proposal has been made in the
East German Ministry for Heavy Industry that either the State Reserve take over a
certain amount from each plan position, or that the ferroalloys be offered for ex-
port, (The latter suggestion however, cannot apply to ferrochrome, which foreign
customers have refused; nor to ferrotungsten, which cannot be exported profitably.)
In either event, an alteration of Bitterfeid's quarterly plan is considered ab-
solutely necessary.
2. With ferrochr-ome (Plan Position 13.7300), Bitterfeld has a planned production for
the 1st quarter of 1955 of 295 tons but orders on hand for only 35 tons. There is
no market as yet for the additional 260 tons. Customers, for the most part, refuse
to take the Bitterfeld produo:ti.on. In addition, the Karl Marx Jerk, Magdeburg (be-
longing to the Ministry for Machine Constr~uk::tion) has a surplus stock on hand of 200
tons from 1954 which it will process during the course of 1955. .As a result the
plant will require only about 55 tons during 1955.
3. Ferrotungsten production (Plan Position 1317910) at Bitterfeld is planned at 80 tons
for the 1st quarter of 1955, buc only 1.7 tons have been contracted for. Thus, 78.3
tons are yet to be ma keted in the lot quarter; 43.5 tons of ferrotungsten oripinall,y
designated for Doehlen were
the CFinowpRoince llingoMillno ohad to rdered alter its
high-speed steelrbillets
ducuctior completely, , because
(Schnellstahlknueppel).
4. P uduotion of Terromolybdenlszri (Plan Tosition 1317920) ,was planned in the amount of 37
tons for the 1st quarter of i"55, but orders are on hand for only 5.6 tons; 31.4 tons
remain unmarketed. Meanwhile the State Committee for Material Procurement allocated
1;2 tons of fe::rromolybden' :m to the Ministry for Heavy Industry and 25 tons to the Min-
istry for Machine Construction for the lot quarter of 1955, although these two minis-
tr!E had ordered only 2.6 and 3 tone., respectively, These a1l;cat ~~.Flater hadito be
r,l angad sp4 boot ght more into line with the ministries' re' uirements.
ARMY NAVY X AIR
ORR
(NOTE: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
Approved For Release 2008/03/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006500800003-2
 Approved For Release 2008/03/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006500800003-2
5. Ferrovanadium (Plan Position 1317930) production was set at 12 tons for the 1st
quarter of 1955, but contracts for only 2.9 tons exist. The total production for
the 1st quarter was designated for the Ministry for Heavy Industry. However,
Doehien cancelled its orders because of the changes in its own planned production
(no production of high-speed steel wire billets for the Finow Mill), so there are
no orders for Bitterfeld's remaining 9.1 tons. Despite this, the 1955 plan calls
for the importing of 20 tons of ferrovanadium during each quarter of 1955.
6. Production of ferrotitanium (Plan Position 1317940)4 is planned for the lot quar-
ter of 1955 at 37 tons, although only 4.925 tons have been ordered; 32.075 tons
remain to be marketed. Allocations for the lot quarter of 1955 give the Ministry
for Heavy Industry 12 tons and the Ministry for Machine Construction 25 tons.
However, the Ministry for Heavy Industry has ordered only 4.925 tons and the
Machine Construction Ministry none at all.
Approved For Release 2008/03/21 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006500800003-2