China’s imports from Japan fell 16.2pc in December. Imports from
Taiwan fell 6.2pc.
The Shanghai Container Freight Index fell 1.4pc to a record low of
919.44 in November, after sliding relentlessly for several
months.
The Baltic Dry Index measuring freight rates for ores, grains, and
bulk goods, has fallen 44pc over the last year. Kasper Moller from
Maersk in Beijing said weak Chinese demand for iron ore was the key
culprit.
Rail, road, river and air freight volume for the whole of China
fell to 31780m tons in November (latest data), from 32340m tons in
October.
Chinese electricity use was flat in over the Autumn, with a sharp
fall in the (year-on-year) growth rates from 8.9pc in September, to
8pc in October, and 7.7pc in December.
Residential investment has been contracting on a monthly basis,
property prices falling in all but two of China’s 70 largest
cities.
So how did China pull off an economic growth rate of 8.9pc in the
fourth quarter?