Although China’s real estate industry has slowed considerably in the last few years, its heavy industries production has seen little reduction. The result of this slow in growth yet continued over-production is having world-wide impacts. The European Union Chamber of Commerce recently reported that the effect of this “completely untethered” overcapacity is having “far-reaching” effects on the world. Although Beijing has laid out plans on dealing with this over-production, heavy industries around the world, particularly those located in Asian and European countries continue to raise concerns.
According to the European Chamber, Asia manufactures more steel than the next four largest producers combined (Japan, India, the United States of America, and Russia). The Chamber further reported that in just two years, Asia produced the same amount of cement that the United States produced in the whole 20th Century. Heavy News
Other world markets are accusing China of dumping their capacities into their markets and damaging local heavy industries. As Internal growth has slowed, China has been forced to look else where to distribute the oversupply. By exporting heavy materials, China hopes to continue the production of such materials to aid in the assistance of the development of its economy. According to Chinese Customs information, steel exports increased 20% in 2015.
Although some industries are benefiting from China’s increased exports of low-priced heavy industrial products, other industries around the world are blaming this overcapacity for their losses. One of the world’s leaders in the steel industry, ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg-based steel maker), blames China’s overcapacity for its 8 billion dollar losses and resulting layoffs they suffered in 2015.
However, Chinese leaders have promises and plans on dealing with these over production issues. Beijing has announced that they will cut the production of steel by 150 million tons over the next 5 years. President Xi Jinping has further plans for soaking up this overproduction by selling to Central Asian and the Middle East by means of the “One Belt Road Plan” he is developing. (This type of trade route is basically a resurrection of the ancient Silk Road trade routs.)
Will these measures be enough? Some countries are skeptical as to whether these measures will be sufficient.
While some are losing, opportunities for others are born. China is the number one exporter of various products around the world. Their large population coupled with an increasingly well-educated workforce is creating a market of manufacturers and suppliers who can produce high-quality products quickly and efficiently. World-wide, the number of businesses realizing these opportunities are growing as the number of businesses importing has seen increases over the last few years.