US Dollar Exchange Rates of
25th
February 2014
China Yuan 6.1246
Report from China
2013 statistical overview
A statistical communiqu¨¦ on 2013 economic and social
development has been issued by the National Bureau of
Statistics of China.
See:
http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/201402/t201
40224_515103.html
Real estate developments during 2013
In 2013, investment in real estate development was yuan
8,601.3 billion, up by 19.8% on 2012. Of this total,
investment in residential buildings was up 19.4% while
investment in office buildings expanded over 38% on
2012.
Investment in other commercial buildings also expanded
in 2013 and was up by 28.3% on 2012.
In 2013, construction of affordable housing in urban areas
amounted to 6.66 million units. A summary of the changes
in real estate growth in 2013 is provided below.
The real estate market is a cornerstone of the Chinese
economy and while 2013 figures are encouraging some
media reports are suggesting that while demand remains
firm in Beijing and Shanghai, there are signs that demand
may be weakening in some other major cities.
The Securities Times newspaper has reported that in
Hangzhou some developers have cut sales prices by
almost 20% on about 120,000 newly built apartments and
that the stock unsold units is more than last year.
As if to underscore the fragility of the market a recent
university study says demand is weak in Harbin, Wenzhou
and Sanya. It is reported that new-home prices have fallen
every month for the last two years in Wenzhou.
Imports and exports 2009-2013 (100 mi. US$)
Both imports and exports increased in 2013. The total
value of international trade in goods during 2013 reached
yuan 25,826.7 billion (approx. 4,160.0 billion US dollars)
and expanded by 7.6% on 2012 levels.
Of this total, the value of goods exported increased by
7.9% while the value of goods imported was up by 7.3%
maintaining a healthy balance.
China‟s export to ASEAN member countries grew 26%
since the free trade agreement was signed. Demand in the
US has improved and China‟s exports to the US grew by
6% last year, on the other hand trade (import and export)
with Russia fell 3% to US$5 billion last year.
Imports fell 7% mainly because of a reduction in timber
imports from Russia. in contrast, China‟s exports to Russia
increased 7%. In 2013 China‟s exports to the EU and
Japan were largely unchanged from a year earlier.
In 2013 China‟s timber imports grew substantially, log
imports rose 19% 45.16 million cubic metres while
sawnwood imports rose 16% to 24.04 million cubic
metres.
Rural and urban incomes continue to rise
The income of urban and rural residents continued to rise
in 2013 such that the annual per capita net income of rural
households was yuan 8,896, (up 12.4%) which equates to
a real increase of 9.3% year on year.
The annual per capita disposable income of urban
households was yuan 26,955 in 2013, up by 9.7%, a real
increase of 7.0%. The median per capita disposable
income of urban households was yuan 24,200, (up by
10.1%).
According to the results of an integrated survey of rural
and urban households conducted in the fourth quarter of
2012, the annual per capita disposable income nationwide
was yuan 18,311, up by 10.9 percent, or a real rise of 8.1%
year on year.
Food expenditure accounted for 37.7% of expenditure in
the rural households and 35.0% in the urban households,
down by 1.6 and 1.2 percent respectively.
Inspection and quarantine fees eliminated
Recently the Ministry of Finance advised that
commodities exported from China, while still being
subject to inspection, will be exempted from the inspection
and quarantine fee.
The aim of this revision to the fee structure is to reduce the
burden on exporters so as to promote a stable growth of
exports.
China‟s forestry ¡°go global¡± accelerating
The pattern of overseas investment and cooperation by
Chinese timber enterprises is evolving rapidly.
Chinese forestry enterprises have invested around US$1.3
billion in some 20 countries mainly for timber harvesting,
primary processing as well as a growing interest in wood
product manufacturing.
In addition to a diversification of target investment there
has been an evolution in the type of enterprises involved
which now includes private as well as state enterprises.
In the past most overseas ventures involved direct
investment but this is now changing and more deals to
purchase or lease woodland are being made and more of
these business arrangements involve share acquisitions,
joint ventures, capital injections and other forms of
strategic alliances.
As Chinese overseas investment expands it must mature
and the government has been assisting through providing
guidance and in building collaboration between
government, banks and the enterprises.
However, the government admits challenges still exist.
Firstly, government regulations need to be more focused
and timber association support to overseas investors needs
to be strengthened.
Secondly, the inexperience of Chinese enterprises to
assess and deal with risks in the international market need
to be addressed.
To enhance the ¡°Go Global¡± initiative the government
intends to foster greater international competitiveness and
strengthen management in Chinese enterprises to
encourage the creation of respected multinational
companies with an international reputation and influence.
One key area of concern of government is the
strengthening of industry self-regulation. In the process of
fighting against illegal logging and associated trade,
enterprises are key players and the government and
industry associations need to strengthen their guidance and
emphasise integrity and social responsibility.
It is recognized that there needs to be more effort put into
raising an awareness of global issues and a sense of
responsibility in enterprises.
China Forest Certification Scheme endorsed by PEFC
The latest newsletter from INDUFOR reports the PEFC
Council has endorsed China‟s certification scheme after an
evaluation of the scheme development and implementation
by INDUFOR.
INDUFOR determined that China‟ scheme succeeds in
setting practical requirement levels that are compatible
with PEFC Council requirements for forest management,
third-party certification and chain of custody that provides
evidence of the origin of the timber and related products.
For more see:
http://www.indufor.fi/en/news/?id=100
 
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