Export Britain

China

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Capital
Beijing

Largest city
Shanghai 

Administrative divisions
22 provinces

Currency
Renminbi (yuan) (¥) (CNY)

Area
8,514,877 km2

Population
(2012) 1,353,821,000

Calling code
+86

Official language
Chinese

Latest Business Opportunities

See more opportunities for China.

Ease of trading across borders

Importing a standard container of goods into China requires:

5documents
24days
£615

Introduction

The UK is one of Europe’s largest investors in China, and among the largest destinations in Europe for China’s outward investment. As of 2013, China is the world's second-largest economy. Between 2007 and 2011, China's economic growth rate was equivalent to all of the G7 countries' growth combined. China's success has been primarily due to manufacturing as a low-cost producer. This is attributed to a combination of cheap labour, good infrastructure, relatively high productivity, favourable government policy, and a possibly undervalued exchange rate.

Economic snapshot (% annual growth rate)

201120122013-16
GDP 9.3 7.7 8.5
Export of goods and services 3.9 2.5 8.1
Import of goods and services 2.7 2.5 9.1
Inflation 5.4 2.6 3.2
Short-term interest rates (%) 5.3 4.6 4.4
Exchange rate (per £) 7.80 7.03 6.19
Population 0.6 0.6 0.6
Unit labour cost 15.4 15.2 14.2
Source: Oxford Economics

Economic outlook

China's annual growth rate fell for seven straight quarters through the third quarter of 2012; however a pick up is forecasted in October-December. With the euro area still in recession and US demand sluggish, the economy faces considerable headwinds in 2013. Furthermore, the new leader Xi Jinping and other policy makers are likely to unveil aggressive stimulus this year when they hope to revive an economy seen growing at its weakest pace since 1999.

Trade outlook

Growth in Chinese exports is expected to be most rapid to other economies in Asia (excluding Japan) over the medium term. Chinese exporters will begin to target new markets for their products in other emerging economies. Export prospects amongst the developed economies appear far more restrained, with the share of exports to Europe expected to decline. The US economy continues to represent the most important market for Chinese exporters in terms of its absolute size. In terms of imports, rest of Asia (excluding Japan) remains the largest with a quarter of total Chinese imports. 


SWOT analysis

Strengths
World's second largest economy
High population
World's second-largest trading power
Weaknesses
Corruption
Political risk
Opportunities
Consumption boom
Middle class population growth
Govt planning to make renewables constitute 30% of China's total energy production by 2050
Threats
Ageing population
Currency manipulation allegations
High inflation

China's trade with the UK

Sector segmentation growth

Sectors to watch:
  • Iron and Steel
  • Utilities
  • Telecommunications equipment

Manufacturing

  • Electronic components
  • Boards, paints, varnishes etc

Fastest-growing exporters into China

Rank2012
1 Malaysia
2 Vietnam
3 Argentina
4 UAE
5 Mexico
6 Canada
7 Turkey
8 Indonesia
9 Saudi
10 Bangladesh

Total merchandise trade - Leading import partners

Total merchandise trade - leading import partners
Opportunities for UK businesses

The Chinese Government’s 12th Five-Year Plan, adopted in March 2011, vows to continue reforming the economy. The government has recently focused on financial sector reform as well as the extension of land rights to rural areas to allow the use of land as collateral will be important to the development of China’s consumer market. The modest economic growth will help economic restructuring as Chinese firms are increasingly under pressure to move up the value chain, creating demand for imported manufactured goods in the long term. China will remain an important and viable market for a wide range of products and services. As a result China offers huge opportunities for British companies, particularly in sectors such as food and drink, renewable energy and financial services. 

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