BULGARIAN FOREIGN TRADE IN 1954

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700260056-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 7, 2011
• Sequence Number: 56
• Publication Date: September 20, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

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HULGARIAlf FOREIGft TRADE Ilf 1954
[Comment: The Sollawinp, is the full tart o1 an article by Fran-
tisek Schubert, which was published in Zahr'anicni Obchod (Foreign
Trade), IIo 7-8, July-August 1955,-issued by the Csechoslovakia Min-
istry of Foreign Trade, in Prague. According to a footnote, this
article xaa prepared oa the basin of information contained in an ar-
ticle by A, Branichev, published in Vunshae turgoviye, fto 2, 1955,
Soria. )
The development of the Hulgerinn national economy has been accompanied by
a development of Bulgaria's foreign trade. The 1954 plan Sor imports was ex-
ceeded by 2 percent, while the plan of exports for the name year was exceeded
by 4 percent. The continual growth of Bulgaria's foreign trade is related to
the rapid development of the nation's productive strength which has resulted
from the rapid development of heavy industry, electrification, and other aec-
tora, and the socialist rebuilding of the nation's agricultural sector.
As in previous years, Bulgarian foreign trade in 1954 wan directed toward
strengthening and expanding economic relations among the nations of the demo-
cratic camp, and with all other nations which strive for international coopera-
tion on the basin of equality and mutual benefit.
In 1954, Bulgaria conducted trade with 40 nations, including 9 democratic
and 31 capitalist nations. Among these were the USSR, Czechoslovakia, the GDR,
Poland, Hungary, Rumania, Albania, China, Korea, Auatris, Great Britain, Weat
Germany, France, Belgium, the ftetherlanda, Italy, Switzerland, ftoriray, Den-
mark, Finland, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Leba-
non, India, the US, Canada, V?~ezuela, kden, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Argentina,
Indonesia, Morocco, and others.
Bulgaria had trade agreements with 26 of the afore-mentioned nations. In
1954, 13 trade agreements were renewed and txo new trade agreements, those
with Israel and Indonesia, were concluded.
Of the total turnover of goods in Bulgarian foreign trade in 1954, 87.44
percent was involved in trade with the USSR and the People's Democracies and
12.56 percent in trade with capitalist nations.
The participation of various nations in Bulgarian foreign trade in recent
years is indicated in the folla?aing table (in percent of total value of foreign
trade):
1946
93.40
8
6.60
7.55
12.45
1947
82.20
17
80
1948
74.44
.
25
56
1949
82.06
.
17.94
1950
87.36
12.64
1951
93.04
6' ~
1952
89.83
10.17
1953
86.46
13.54
1954
87.44
12.56
?rne 1945-iy4ci trade with German,}. is listed entirely under the capitalist
nations.
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Tha table indicates that in the early yams follaring World War II, 1945
to 1948, the volume of trade ~dth the capitalist nations was an the increase.
Ia 1948, it nceoimted for one fourth of Bulgaria's total foreign trade. How-
ever, sines 1949, the volume of trade with cnpitnl.det nations declined as n
result of discrimination against nations of the democratic temp by capitalist
notions on the instigation of American monopolists.
In recent years, there has been a certain increase is the volume of trade
with capitalist nations. There has been n continual and rapid increase in
Bulgaria's trade with other nations of the democratic camp. The dynamic de-
velopment of Bulgaria's foreign trade is evident in the follaring review of
the increase in the volume of foreign trade (in percent with 1949 ns 100):
1~
152
Increase with members of
Council of llitunl Economic Assistance
105
166
195
Including: USSR
106
194
199
GDR
101
251
552
Czechoslovakia
100
117
127
Poland
87
76
84
Rumania
125
116
366
Hungary
120
166
280
A1banla
31
116
168
Increase with capitalist nations
69
87
131
Total increase
98
153
187
The tempo of the development of Bulgaria's foreign trade with the demo-
cratic world since 1949 difiera considerably from the tempo of the increase is
tha exchange of goods with the capitalist world market. The exchange with
democratic nations increased from txofold to fivefold.
The rapid advancement in industrialization expanded the kinds of Bul-
garian exports. Instead of the 140 types of primarily agricultural products
The data given indicate that each year the Bulgarian exchange of goods
increases. For example, between 1952 and 1954, Bulgarian imports increased 16
percent and exports increased 28 percent.
The penetrating changes which occurred in Bulgaria altered her import and
export structure from its very foundations. Up to 1939, over 90 percent of
Bulgaria's exports were food products and industrial raw materiels thus re-
vealing the backwardness of the nation. Moat of the nation's imports were iia-
iahed products of light industry. Industrial equipment accounted for afar
smaller portion of the nation's imports. Thus the import structure reflected
which were exported in 1939, Bulgaria now exports over 500 products of various
types. Y~It~
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other nations. The part played by individual social
ist nations is the ex
-
change of goods with Bulgaria in selected years is i
table (in percent of total trade):
ndicated in the follo
wing
1~
1951
1~4
USSR
48.15
60.48
51.41
Csechoalovskia
15.00
14.44
10.20
GDR
3.73
6.58
11.04
Poland
9.76
5.74
4.37
Hungary
3.G2
3.39
4.53
Rumania
1.84
2.11
3.60
China end Korea
--
--
1.78
Albania
0.56
0.30
0.51
Tobacco occupies first place among Bulgarian exports, and is followed by
various ores end conceatratea, fresh and preserved fruits and vegetables,
meat, eggs, live and dressed poultry, nonferrous metals, minerals, nitrogen-
tertilizers, cement, aulfUric acid, glycerin, metal-working machines, elec-
tric motors, transformers, insulation materials, wool and cotton fabrics,
parquets, furniture, glass, veneer wood, calcinated soda, plywood, and others.
Exchange of goods in 1954 reflected the efforts to strengthen economic
relations with nations of the socialist camp as well ae to expand trade with
The USSR playa the mayor role in Bulgaria's exchange of goods. Imports
frcm the USSR serve as the foundation for the building of socialism is Bul-
garia. Among the goods imported from the USSR are the following: complete
(industrial] plants, machinery and equipment for heavy i~uatry, tractors, cam-
binea sad other agricultural implements, automobiles, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, superphoaphates [fertilizers], India rubber, petroleum products, and
other goods.
Between 1949 and 1954, the exchange of goods with the USSR has almost
doubled. Trade with the USSR lncreased not only in volume, but also in va-
riety, creating the opportunity for even greater exchange. Ia 1950, Bulgaria
exported only 18 types of products to the USSR, but in 1954, this had increased
to 76 different types of products. Capital goods ouch as machinery, investment
equipment, and other equipment, are very important to the development of Bul-
garia's means of production. The USSR'is also an important market for Bulgarian
products. The Bulgarian-USSR exchange and payments agreement and the long-
range (trade] agreement between the two nations, both of which were concluded
in 1954, ae well as supplementary deliveries made in 1954 contributed to the
rapid development of the Bulgarian national econoagr.
products. A large volume of common consumer items is also exchanged between
the two nations.
Trade with other aatione of the democratic camp likewise increases year
by year. With 1952 ea the base year of 100, trade with the democratic aationa
increased 139 percent in 1953, and 147 percent in 1954. Exchange of goods with
the GDR is particularly important. As of 1953, the GDR is second only to the
U33R in the exchange of goods with the [remaining] democratic nations. Bul-
garia exports a great volume of agricultural products to the GDR. Ea fact,
eAricultural praducta account for 70 percent of Bulgaria's exports to the GDR..
Bulgarian imports from the GDR include primarily machinery, chemicals, and other
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Czechoslovakia occupies the third position in the exchange of goods with
nations of the democratic camp. Czechoslovakia imports Bulgarian ores and
concentrates, fertilizers, tobacco, rose end mint oil, agricultural products,
and other goods. Bulgaria imports Czechoslovak machinery, electrical appli-
ances, repair parts, tractors, trucks, aniline dyes, cellulose,. paper, drugs,
automobile tires, and other goods.
Poland imports ~Bulgerian) ores and concentrates, tobacco, tomati:~s,
pepper, apples, grapes, [wood?) pulp, dried fruits, meat, eggs, and toma'~~
puree, and exports (to Bulgaria] mobile cranes, mining machinery, pumps,
compressors, machinery for the food industry, agricultural implements, rail-
road cars, paper, aniline dyes, and other goods. In 1954, Poland occupied
the fourth position in the exchange of goods with Bulgaria.
In 1954, Bulgaria imported Hungarian combines, trucks, petroleum products,
metals, locomotives, fertilizers, drugs, tanning supplies, and various valu-
able machinery. Aungery imports Bulgarian tobacco, cigars, meet, timber, fer-
tilizers, lamb hides, ores, concentrates, and other goods.
Bulgaria's trade with Rumania increased particularly in 1954, and was
double that of 1953? Bulgaria primarily imported P,umanian petroleum products,
mining equipment, agricultural implements, paper, end drugs.
Trade with the People's Republic of China le continually increasing.
Bulgaria imports Chinese tin, asbestos, natural India rubber, and other goods.
Each year Bulgaria's trade with Albania increases. To expand the ex-
change of goods between the two nations, Bulgaria granted long-term credit to
Albania in 1954.
The over-all exchange of goods between Bulgaria and capitalist nations
was ]over in 1954 than in 1953? Thia decrease uas brought about by Bulgaria's
decision to liquidate the debit balance (pasivni salda) with capitalist nations.
As of 31 December 1954, the balance had been paid.
P.ustria, West Germany, and Crest Britai^ account for the mayor portion of
Bulgaria's trade with capitalist nations. These nations accounted for 63.78
percent of Bulgaria's total trade with capitalist nations is 1952, 53.36 percent
in 1953, and 66.57 percent in 1954. Bulgaria's exports to the capitalist world
include the following: anthracite, fertilizers, cement, plywood, parquets,
hides and skins, rose end mint o11, tobacco, seed, tomatoes, pepper, tomato
puree, grapes, applies, fruit pulp, eggs, poultry, rugs, leather products,
cigars, stained beech, and other products.
Bulgaria imports the following products from capitalist nations: various
types of machinery, pumps, compressors, vehicles for the Bulgarian transporta-
tion system, railway equipment, metals, tanning supplies, aniline dyes, ferti-
lizers, synthetic India rubber, cellulose, paper, cotton, drugs, copper sul-
phate, and other products.
The exchange of goods with some capitalist nations showed a tendency to
decline during 1954, as a result of conditions present within these nations.
Among these nations were France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, and the Near
Eastern nations, which do not show any great willingness to buy Bulgarian prod-
ucts, even though these ere ofi'ered to them under the same conditions as to
other capitalist nations. Bulgaria imports a number of industrial products
and common consumer items from those capitalist nations which purchase her
products, as is the case with West Germany, Austria, and Great Britain.
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In 1954, a great effort wns made to develop and expand the exchange of
goods with nations which have not thuP far had commercial relations with
Bulgaria, end to conclude appropriate trade agreements with such nations.
This was accomplished in the cages of Israel and Indonesia.
Another index to tY,e expansion of commercial contacts is the number of
foreign commercial delegations end individual businessmen who visited in
Bulgaria in 1954, and the number of Bulgarian delegations abroad. In 1954,
three times as many i'oreign businessmen visited Bulgaria es in 1953? In
1953, Bui~yari!+ =gut 13 delegations abroad snd received eight foreign dele-
gations. Zn 1954, she sent ten delegations abroad, and received 21 foreign
delegations to Bulgaria.
During 1954, Bulgaria participated in a number of international trade
fairs, including those in Milan, Paris, Leipzig, Vienna, and Damascus, as
well es the Food Fair in London. Bulgaria participates in the work of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and its committees. Since
1953, Bulgaria has had a permanent representative on this commission.
The close economic ties between Bulgaria and the USSR as well as the
people's democratic nations have promoted rapid industrialization, intro-
duction of (modern] agricultural technology, and building of materiel and
cultural foundations of socialism.
As a result of satisfactory fulfillment of the 1954 plan for the im-
port of machinery, equipment, raw materials, and other supplies, it was
possible to put into operati;n a number of ma,Jor enterprises, such ae the
"Karl Marks" Soda Plant, a penicillin plant, and the "Vulko Chervenkov"
Thermal Electric Power Plant. The "Aleksandur Stemboliyski" Dam, the
"Rositsa" Hydroelectric Power Plant, the "Georgi Dimitrov" Dam, and the
"Koprinka" Hydroelectric Power Plant were among those enlarged in 1954?
The "Pasarel" Hydroelectric Power Plant, the Stara Zagora" Hydroelectric
Power Plant, and a lead and zinc plant were almost completely equipped with
new machinery. New equipment was added at the "Stalin" Thermal Electric
Power Plant end others.
During 1954, Bulgaria was supplied at the proper time with ores, cables,
uoo1, synthetic fibers, synthetic cellulose wool, copper sulphate, caustic
soda, fertilizers, and other products. Timely delivery of mining machinery,
(miningl] equipment, raw materials, end other supplies was also made in
1954, thus permitting the satisfactory fulfillment of the 1954 national eco-
nomic plan.
It is anticipated that the turnover of goods in Bulgaria's foreign
trade in 1957 will be 180 percent that of the First Five-Year Plan. During
the first 2 years of Bulgaria's Second Five-Year Plan (1953 and 1954), the
turnover in her foreign trade was already 79 percent of what it was during
the entire First Five-Year Plan.
The continually increasing needs fcr imports for socialist building
demands a systematic Increase in exports. This increase in exports demands
the solution pf a number of new problems. It is essential that Bulgaria's
participation in her traditional markets be expanded, because her products
have established an excellent reputation on these markets. It is essential
that markets be found for new products produced by socialist industry. Grater
efforts must be exerted to expand trade with nations of the Near East where
Bulgarian products can be well utilized. Export production must be stand-
ardized, and particular attention must be devoted to the quality and peckag-
ing Of 2xpvrt gui,do.
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Workers of the Bulgarian foreign trade sector are faced with great tasks
in 1955? This will be solved on the basis of lessons learned in 1954, and
thelr solution will permit the fulfillment of the main task assigned by the
Sixth Congress oP the Bulgarian Communist Party, namely, the continued satis-
faction of the increasing needs of the workers.
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