By John Richardson
WHAT a week it’s been when, of course, politics has trumped everything else and has challenged the view of those who believe that demand will take care of itself.
Demand did take care of itself during the Supercycle, …
Tag Archives | China leadership transition
China’s Risky New Lending Surge
By John Richardson
BANK lending is once again surging in China as politicians try to shore up their support ahead of the leadership transition.
“The central government has approved up to 7 trillion yuan ($1.2bn) for infrastructure investments since May …
US Set To Adopt A Golden Rule
By John Richardson
ONE of the golden rules of petrochemicals is “always run hard if you have the feedstock advantage”. As a result, the US is said to have been a little frustrated by a series of operating problems that have constrained their average …
China Reformer Sidelined
By John Richardson
AN assumption is that economic reformers will win control of China’s Politburo after the once-in-a-decade leadership transition is out of the way (China’s new set of leaders are set to be announced during the 18th Party Congress, …
China PE Imports Rise On Recovery Theory
By John Richardson
A SURGE in polyethylene (PE) shipments to China has exerted further stress on a market that continues to perform exceptionally badly.
Total PE imports in August (the latest figures availabe) rose to 817,277 tonnes from 681,100 tonnes in …
China GDP Growth 4-5% in 2013-2020
Canton Trade Fair. Source of picture: http://www.vatti-china.com/News/83.htm
By John Richardson
IT would be nice to believe that the improved mood at this week’s Canton Trade Fair represents a long-term turnaround in China’s economic direction.
This reflects a 9.9% increase …
China-Japan Dispute Worsens
By John Richardson
THE collapse in Japanese auto sales in China, a result of the East China Island dispute, is just the first phase in what could be a very damaging economic war, the blog understands.
Phase two could be …
Foxconn And China Demographics
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/23/foxconn-taiyuan-riot/
By John Richardson
THE riots and a strike at Foxconn factories in China point to demographic changes that have major implications for the country’s economy.
China’s one-child policy means that it can no longer depend on a …
No More Of This…
By John Richardson
THE big hope is that once China returns from its National Holidays (1-7 October), petrochemicals markets will enjoy a big and sustainable recovery.
It is not going to happen.
Throughout this year, the hope has been that the …
Asia Faces More Asset Bubbles
Marc Faber
Source of picture: http://www.cliffkule.com/2011_06_26_archive.html
By John Richardson
RECENT action by Western central banks will result in more hot money flowing into Asia, creating further asset-price bubbles.
Last week, the Fed launched QE3 and the previous week, the European …