Foreign Policy Blogs

Today's News: Declining Exports; Economic Recovery; Increased Oil Imports

International Business Daily, a Chinese-language newspaper, cited an unidentified official who is expecting a decline in exports in March of at least 10 percent from a year earlier. Although double-digit, the decline is lower than the drop in exports in February of more than 25 percent.

The World Bank’s mid-year report forecasts China’s economic recovery within this year. Mainly fueled by the country’s economic stimulus measures, the recovery will start in the second half of this year and take full hold in 2010. The World Bank forecast is based on a number of positive indicators, including loans, imports, purchasing managers’ index (PMI) and industrial value-added.

Continuing its strategy of piling up commodities while global prices are on a seven-year low, China increased its crude oil imports in March compared with the previous two months. While crude oil imports fell in January and February this year, China is now boosting its inventories of strategic commodities.

 

Author

Andreas Seitz

Andreas Seitz holds a MS with Highest Honors in International Management for China from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. During his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Cologne (Germany), Dalian (China) and London (UK) he focussed on macro- and microeconomic issues in China. He has worked as a China consultant in Germany, China and the United States with a special concentration on market entry strategies, small- and medium-sized enterprises and human resource management.

Areas of Focus:
Economy; Trade; Diplomacy

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