Tracking China's economy and commodity needs is getting harder
1 week, 3 days ago

Tracking China's economy and commodity needs is getting harder

The Hindu  

Gavin Maguire Until 2020, commodities traders and economists needed only a handful of data points to gauge the health and direction of China's economy, and the volumes of raw materials needed to fuel the world's largest trading partner and goods producer. Old timers In the good old days, commodity traders needed only a quick glance at China's imports of crude oil and iron ore to discern the health of its overall economy. Within the current decade, however, two important trends have collided to render oil and iron ore import data significantly less pertinent: the electrification of China's vehicle fleets and the debt crisis within its property sector. China's output of cement, crude steel, insulating glass and welded steel pipes has also trended lower since 2020 as the broader construction sector downshifted. Shipping out China's exports of key manufactured items have also scaled new highs within the past year, but may face stiffer headwinds going forward under the new tariff regime set by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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History of this topic

Chinese economy on shaky ground in first two months of 2025, data shows
1 week, 6 days ago

Chinese economy on shaky ground in first two months of 2025, data shows

Firstpost  

Data also showed that unemployment rose, while housing prices continued to fall in most major cities. File image/AFP China’s economy charted an uneven trajectory in the first two months of the year, a slew of key indicators showed Monday, muddying Beijing’s drive to boost flagging consumption. Data from Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics on Monday offered some positive signs, showing …

China's retail sales, investment pick up pace
1 week, 6 days ago

China's retail sales, investment pick up pace

China Daily  

By Ouyang Shijia | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-03-17 10:00 China's economy continued to recover in the first two months this year as consumption and investment showed improvement, official data showed on Monday, making a steady start for 2025. China's value-added industrial output - a gauge of activity in the manufacturing, mining and utilities sectors - grew by 5.9 percent over …

China struggles to shake off disinflationary pressures as trade threats loom
3 weeks ago

China struggles to shake off disinflationary pressures as trade threats loom

Live Mint  

China’s consumer prices nosedived in February, in a sign of stubborn disinflationary pressures, ending a year’s run of tepid price growth and underscoring the challenges policymakers face in stimulating domestic demand as trade tensions intensify. China’s budgetary deficit targets imply a nominal growth target at 4.9% on year, as well as an expected gross domestic product deflator—the broadest measure of …

Chinese economy expected to rebound continuously in 2025: economist
Trending News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Chinese economy expected to rebound continuously in 2025: economist

China Daily  

The skyline of Beijing. The Chinese economy is expected to rebound continuously in 2025 despite new variables, an economist said as reported by Chinese financial news outlet Yicai on Sunday. The unprecedented popularity of the domestic cultural and travel consumption market during the Spring Festival holiday and the emergence of DeepSeek AI model have contributed to people's confidence in the …

China leads in global green and low-carbon energy transition
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

China leads in global green and low-carbon energy transition

China Daily  

A drilling platform in Kaiping South Oilfield in the South China Sea. Renewable energy has become the mainstay of electric power installation and China's petroleum consumption is projected to reach its peak in 2025, the report said citing an industrial report on domestic and international oil and gas development. In 2024, China's apparent petroleum consumption reached 756 million tons, with …

China leads in global green and low-carbon energy transition
2 months, 1 week ago

China leads in global green and low-carbon energy transition

China Daily  

By Yang Yang | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2025-01-23 17:11 A drilling platform in Kaiping South Oilfield in the South China Sea. Renewable energy has become the mainstay of electric power installation and China's petroleum consumption is projected to reach its peak in 2025, the report said citing an industrial report on domestic and international oil and gas development. In 2024, …

China's non-ferrous metal production maintains steady growth in 2024
2 months, 1 week ago

China's non-ferrous metal production maintains steady growth in 2024

China Daily  

Xinhua | Updated: 2025-01-22 11:17 A technician works on the production line of a machinery company in Luannan county, Hebei province. BEIJING -- China's production of non-ferrous metals maintained steady growth in 2024, an industrial association said Tuesday. The value-added industrial output of China's non-ferrous metal industry rose by 8.9 percent year-on-year in 2024, according to data released by the …

Nation to remain world's top steelmaker this year
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

Nation to remain world's top steelmaker this year

China Daily  

By LIU YUKUN | China Daily | Updated: 2025-01-22 09:20 Employees work at a steel production plant in Maanshan, Anhui province, in September. LUO JISHENG/FOR CHINA DAILY China is set to remain the world's top producer and consumer of steel in 2025, driven by strong demand from industries like new energy vehicles, household appliances and shipbuilding despite an expected slight …

Nation to remain world's top steelmaker this year
2 months, 1 week ago

Nation to remain world's top steelmaker this year

China Daily  

By LIU YUKUN | China Daily | Updated: 2025-01-22 09:20 Employees work at a steel production plant in Maanshan, Anhui province, in September. LUO JISHENG/FOR CHINA DAILY China is set to remain the world's top producer and consumer of steel in 2025, driven by strong demand from industries like new energy vehicles, household appliances and shipbuilding despite an expected slight …

China’s economy expands 5% in 2024, hitting target helped by strong exports, stimulus measures
2 months, 1 week ago

China’s economy expands 5% in 2024, hitting target helped by strong exports, stimulus measures

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — China’s economy expanded at a 5% annual pace in 2024, slower than the year before but in line with Beijing’s target of “around 5%” growth, thanks to strong exports and recent stimulus measures. “Particularly, with a package of incremental policies being timely rolled out, public confidence was effectively bolstered and the economy recovered remarkably,” it said. “We …

Structural shifts or price moves? China's bifurcated commodity imports
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Structural shifts or price moves? China's bifurcated commodity imports

The Hindu  

Clyde Russell China's imports of major commodities in 2024 presented a mixed bag, with record volumes of iron ore, coal and natural gas, but weakness in crude oil. It's also the case that China's steel mills weren't buying more iron ore because they were making more steel, with official data showing that crude steel output in the first 11 months …

China Sees Manufacturing Sector Expand At Muted Pace In December
2 months, 4 weeks ago

China Sees Manufacturing Sector Expand At Muted Pace In December

ABP News  

The manufacturing activity in China climbed for the third consecutive month in December, however, the pace remained marginal, an official factory survey showed on Tuesday. However, authorities remain optimistic that fiscal and monetary measures released later in the year would lead to a turnaround in the property market, which has weighed down the broader economy. An improvement in domestic demand …

China’s EV boom is starting to pinch oil producers
3 months ago

China’s EV boom is starting to pinch oil producers

Live Mint  

The country has long been the thirstiest consumer of crude. While China’s overall oil demand still appears stable, its composition is shifting gears rapidly. Gasoline and diesel demand seems to have peaked: China’s total demand for these transportation fuels in 2024 will be 3.6% lower than in 2021, according to IEA estimates. Diesel and gasoline accounted for 44% of China’s …

Nation to maintain stable coal production
3 months, 1 week ago

Nation to maintain stable coal production

China Daily  

China's coal consumption is forecast to grow moderately in 2025, with a slight increase over 2024 levels driven by higher electricity demand and stabilization in key industrial sectors, according to the China National Coal Association. Industry experts believe the expected increase in coal production is in line with the government's emphasis on ensuring energy security, particularly amid rising concerns over …

2024 turning point for country's refined oil market
3 months, 1 week ago

2024 turning point for country's refined oil market

China Daily  

A drilling platform in Kaiping South Oilfield in the South China Sea in December 2023. China's economic structural transformation and the rapid rise of renewables will make 2024 a turning point for the country's refined oil market, with demand set to shrink for the first time, industry experts say. Due to the accelerated replacement of traditional energy with renewable sources …

2024 turning point for country's refined oil market
3 months, 1 week ago

2024 turning point for country's refined oil market

China Daily  

A drilling platform in Kaiping South Oilfield in the South China Sea in December 2023. China's economic structural transformation and the rapid rise of renewables will make 2024 a turning point for the country's refined oil market, with demand set to shrink for the first time, industry experts say. Due to the accelerated replacement of traditional energy with renewable sources …

November blues: Retail slump, property woes show China’s economy not responding to Xi’s push
3 months, 2 weeks ago

November blues: Retail slump, property woes show China’s economy not responding to Xi’s push

Firstpost  

China’s economy in November has sparked concerns about its ability to boost domestic demand in a world full of uncertainties. Reports from the South China Morning Post and The Economic Times highlight mixed results in key areas like retail sales, property investments and industrial output. The South China Morning Post noted that while November’s retail figures seemed weak, combining data …

China making the most of a rapidly changing world
4 months, 1 week ago

China making the most of a rapidly changing world

China Daily  

SHI YU/CHINA DAILY The Bretton Woods institutions — the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade -have dominated global trade and development policies in the postwar era, because developed countries were at the height of their power when those policies were devised. In a rapidly changing world, the economic and political hefts of …

China’s surplus crude oil eased in October, but this is still bearish: Russell
4 months, 1 week ago

China’s surplus crude oil eased in October, but this is still bearish: Russell

Live Mint  

By Clyde Russell SYDNEY, Nov 18 - China's crude oil surplus nearly halved in October, but this was a further sign of weakness as both imports and refinery runs dipped. But there is also a structural shift underway in China's crude oil demand, with the rapid uptake of what Beijing terms new energy vehicles, which include full electric vehicles and …

China's weak oil demand may lead to global surplus of 1 mn barrels: How would crude prices react?
4 months, 2 weeks ago

China's weak oil demand may lead to global surplus of 1 mn barrels: How would crude prices react?

Firstpost  

The surplus could provide a buffer for prices against potential supply-side price shocks from conflicts in West Asia and other regions Low oil demand from China, supply-side shocks due to the conflict in West Asia, and increase in oil production by countries like US and Brazil are all important factors in determining crude oil price. The IEA forecasts that global …

Dynamic supply-demand factors to lift steel sector profits
4 months, 4 weeks ago

Dynamic supply-demand factors to lift steel sector profits

China Daily  

Mounds of iron ore at Rizhao Port, Shandong province. As China's steel industry is facing declining demand and tightening margins, a balanced approach to production and a focus on emerging consumption sectors are likely to stabilize the market and ensure sustainable growth, a top industry association said. "China's steel industry has entered a phase of 'stock optimization', with a persistent …

China's economy softens in August as Beijing continues to grapple with lagging demand
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China's economy softens in August as Beijing continues to grapple with lagging demand

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy China’s economy softened in August, …

China's industrial output, retail sales continue to rise in August
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China's industrial output, retail sales continue to rise in August

China Daily  

China reported key economic figures on Saturday showing slower growth on industrial production, consumer spending, and investments, which called for greater policy support to consolidate the country's economic recovery. Figures released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed China's value-added industrial output, a gauge of activity in the manufacturing, mining, and utilities sectors, grew by 4.5 percent in …

China's industrial output, retail sales continue to rise in August
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China's industrial output, retail sales continue to rise in August

China Daily  

China reported key economic figures on Saturday showing slower growth on industrial production, consumer spending, and investments, which called for greater policy support to consolidate the country's economic recovery. Figures released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed China's value-added industrial output, a gauge of activity in the manufacturing, mining, and utilities sectors, grew by 4.5 percent in …

China's industrial output, retail sales continue to rise in August
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China's industrial output, retail sales continue to rise in August

China Daily  

China reported key economic figures on Saturday showing slower growth on industrial production, consumer spending, and investments, which called for greater policy support to consolidate the country's economic recovery. Figures released on Saturday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed China's value-added industrial output, a gauge of activity in the manufacturing, mining, and utilities sectors, grew by 4.5 percent in …

Iron ore to China: Crushing blow to Australia's economy as our biggest export halves in value
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Iron ore to China: Crushing blow to Australia's economy as our biggest export halves in value

Daily Mail  

The price of Australia's biggest export is tipped to keep plunging - depriving governments of badly needed revenue during an economic slowdown. AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said iron ore prices could fall further if Chinese investors on the share market became nervous, with poorer risk sentiment affecting key commodity prices. The price of Australia's biggest export is tipped …

Plummeting iron ore prices on back of China's property crisis could wipe $3b from federal budget
7 months, 1 week ago

Plummeting iron ore prices on back of China's property crisis could wipe $3b from federal budget

ABC  

Plummeting iron ore prices could cost the federal government $3 billion in revenue, which is likely to push the budget further into deficit this financial year. Labor facing prospect of less revenue The Treasury often makes conservative forecasts on iron ore prices, which has meant the federal government has regularly received more revenue than it planned for. But now, with …

China’s steel industry in trouble as property market woes hit demand
7 months, 2 weeks ago

China’s steel industry in trouble as property market woes hit demand

Live Mint  

China's steel industry is facing trouble as its falling property market has affected demand, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, August 16. China's steel demand concerns: According to Kallanish, cited in the report, China's property market slowdown caused steel demand from construction activities to fall 10 per cent this year. “Steel demand is really poor,” said Wei Ying, an analyst at China …

China’s exports grow 7% in July, under forecasts, while imports gain momentum
7 months, 3 weeks ago

China’s exports grow 7% in July, under forecasts, while imports gain momentum

Associated Press  

BANGKOK — China’s exports rose 7% in July from a year earlier, below economists’ forecasts for growth closer to 10% as trade tensions and weakening growth in the United States and other major markets weighed on demand. Imports climbed 7.2% to $215.9 billion, picking up momentum on stronger trade with other Asian countries that now supply many industrial components, materials …

Industrial output of China's non-ferrous metals industry up 10.8% in H1
8 months ago

Industrial output of China's non-ferrous metals industry up 10.8% in H1

China Daily  

A technician works on the production line of a machinery company in Luannan county, Hebei province. BEIJING - The value-added industrial output of China's non-ferrous metals industry rose by 10.8 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2024, with the growth rate being 4.8 percentage points higher than the country's general value-added industrial output growth during the same period, according …

As Beijing quietly heads into economic oblivion while Washington lights up, expect tougher times ahead
8 months, 1 week ago

As Beijing quietly heads into economic oblivion while Washington lights up, expect tougher times ahead

ABC  

As the world looks on entranced at the drama playing out in Washington, an equally significant but far less visible event has been unfolding in our very own time zone. China's trade trap US presidential hopeful Donald Trump points to China's trade surplus as a deliberate attempt by Beijing to take advantage of Americans, to create a common enemy. China's …

China’s exports grow 8.6% in June, beating forecasts despite trade tensions
8 months, 2 weeks ago

China’s exports grow 8.6% in June, beating forecasts despite trade tensions

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — China’s exports beat forecasts in June, customs data showed Friday, while imports grew less than expected. Exports grew 8.6% from the same time last year to hit $307.8 billion, according to data released by Chinese customs, beating estimates of about 7.4% to 8% growth. China’s strong exports for June led to its trade surplus widening to $99 …

China’s economy grew 5.3% in first quarter, beating expectations, though weak spots remain
11 months, 2 weeks ago

China’s economy grew 5.3% in first quarter, beating expectations, though weak spots remain

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — China’s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter of the year with help from policies and stronger demand, though signs of weakness in the troubled housing market persisted. China’s economy has struggled to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic but gained momentum late last year as government policies to help the housing market and boost …

China reports 5.3% GDP growth for Q1
11 months, 2 weeks ago

China reports 5.3% GDP growth for Q1

China Daily  

By Ouyang Shijia | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2024-04-16 10:02 China's gross domestic product expanded by 5.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter after a 5.2 percent rise in the fourth quarter, official data showed on Tuesday, boding well for a steady economic recovery in the following months. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, China's GDP grew by 1.6 percent in the first …

China reports 5.3% GDP growth for Q1
11 months, 2 weeks ago

China reports 5.3% GDP growth for Q1

China Daily  

By Ouyang Shijia | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2024-04-16 10:02 China's gross domestic product expanded by 5.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter after a 5.2 percent rise in the fourth quarter, official data showed on Tuesday, boding well for a steady economic recovery in the following months. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, China's GDP grew by 1.6 percent in the first …

Is China’s economy finally bottoming out?
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Is China’s economy finally bottoming out?

Live Mint  

Better late than never: After a rough 2023 and early 2024, the first read on China’s economy in March points to a tentative rebound heading into the second quarter. Data released over the weekend showed China’s official factory purchasing managers index in March moving back above the 50-point level separating expansion from contraction for the first time since September. But …

China's economy has braved obstacles in the past, and will continue to do so
1 year ago

China's economy has braved obstacles in the past, and will continue to do so

China Daily  

JIN DING/CHINA DAILY Some Western politicians and institutions recently invented the "Peak China "theory, arguing that China's development has peaked. Despite Western countries claiming over the past decade that China's development is disappointing and will collapse, the economy has been continually developing, even under pressure, and scaling new heights. Some people believe China's total population has already peaked, and the …

Australia's iron ore miners face falling Chinese demand
1 year ago

Australia's iron ore miners face falling Chinese demand

The Hindu  

Australia’s vast iron ore mining sector is facing stark choices as its biggest customer China has likely hit a peak in its steel production and global pressures mount to decarbonise one the world’s most polluting industries. China’s rise since the late 90s allowed Australia’s iron ore miners to massively ramp up output, reap economies of scale and become hugely profitable. …

China’s economy shows signs of improvement, but its property sector is still in the doldrums
1 year ago

China’s economy shows signs of improvement, but its property sector is still in the doldrums

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — China’s manufacturing and investment improved in the first two months of the year, while weakness in the property sector weighed on the economy, the National Bureau of Statistics said Monday. The property market is “still in a state of adjustment and transition” but policies outlined at China’s annual legislative session earlier this month will promote “stable and …

China economy: All-important property market shows no sign of rebound in new year
1 year ago

China economy: All-important property market shows no sign of rebound in new year

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world. Hong Kong CNN — China’s key real estate sector hasn’t shown much improvement following a flurry of government measures taken to boost the industry, even as other parts of the economy seem to …

China's new development, world's new opportunities
1 year ago

China's new development, world's new opportunities

China Daily  

Cargo is loaded onto an SF Airlines aircraft at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Sichuan province. DING PING/FOR CHINA DAILY China injects more certainty into global industrial and supply chains China is not only the beneficiary and defender of the integrated development of global supply chains, but also the explorer and builder of a new ecology of global supply chains, …

China says economy got a strong start in 2024, sets sights on latest technology, upgrading factories
1 year ago

China says economy got a strong start in 2024, sets sights on latest technology, upgrading factories

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China has plenty of room to maneuver to attain its annual target for robust economic growth of about 5% after a strong start for the year, top economic officials said Wednesday, though they acknowledged it’s a challenge. It’s hard to fully meet needs using existing funding channels and there’s an urgent need to increase support,” he said at …

China’s metal demand takes a different shape
1 year, 1 month ago

China’s metal demand takes a different shape

Live Mint  

The realization that China’s property bust is beginning to look semi-permanent isn’t welcome for big miners, which have long fed off the country’s housing demand. Indicators of China’s copper demand growth, particularly imports of copper ore and concentrate, still look solid—no surprise given the huge EV and green-power boom. The property market made up only 27% of China’s finished steel …

China’s economy expanded 5.2% last year, hitting the government’s target despite an uneven recovery
1 year, 2 months ago

China’s economy expanded 5.2% last year, hitting the government’s target despite an uneven recovery

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — China’s economy for the October-December quarter grew at a quicker rate, allowing the Chinese government to hit its target of about 5% annual growth for 2023 even though trade data and the economic recovery remain uneven. Officials from China’s National Bureau of Statistics said that measures including “strengthened macro regulation, and redoubled efforts to expand domestic demand, …

China's economy still much better than West
1 year, 2 months ago

China's economy still much better than West

China Daily  

A view of the Lujiazui area of Pudong, East China's Shanghai. And before the global economy had recovered, it faced the COVID-19-induced recession, the trade wars initiated by the US government, the near collapse of supply chains, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the ensuing economic sanctions, all of which have slowed the rates of growth of almost all economies. This is …

China's 10 industries' outlooks for 2024
1 year, 2 months ago

China's 10 industries' outlooks for 2024

China Daily  

A customer admires gold jewelry at a boutique in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 4, 2023. NI LIFANG/FOR CHINA DAILY Non-ferrous metals The macro-economic pressure led to a decline in the prosperity of the non-ferrous metals industry in 2023. With the macro-economic environment improving, market demand rising, and global monetary policies turning in 2024, the industry is expected to experience …

China’s economy is forecast to slow sharply in 2024, the World Bank says, calling recovery ‘fragile’
1 year, 3 months ago

China’s economy is forecast to slow sharply in 2024, the World Bank says, calling recovery ‘fragile’

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — China’s economy grew at a 5.2% pace in the first three quarters of the year and showed signs of improvement in November, with factory output and retail sales rising, the government said Friday. “To further promote economic recovery, we need to overcome some difficulties and challenges.” China’s economy has the advantages of a vast market of 1.4 …

Country has cemented its place in global supply chains
1 year, 4 months ago

Country has cemented its place in global supply chains

China Daily  

Containers are loaded onto a cargo vessel in Qinzhou Port, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a transit point on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. In the first 10 months of this year, the total import and export value of China's trade in goods hit 34.32 trillion yuan, an increase of 0.03 percent year-on-year. Last year, the total value of China's …

China's economy harvests prosperity in golden autumn
1 year, 5 months ago

China's economy harvests prosperity in golden autumn

China Daily  

China's economy is enjoying a bountiful golden autumn in October with a stable positive trend boosting confidence across sectors, according to CCTV news on Sunday. China's steel production has steadily increased in 2023, with its proportion of global output growing, according to the 12th China International Steel Congress and the Global Low-Carbon Metallurgy Innovation Forum 2023 held in Shanghai. Data …

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