Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

China bets they have beaten the pandemic

By Michael Knox - posted Tuesday, 5 May 2020


In this issue we look at the Chinese GDP numbers for the first quarter of 2020 and also the industrial production numbers for the same period. We also look at decision making and risk perception from the point of the Chinese government.

In the West, there is considerable disbelief in the official Chinese reports of COVID-19 death numbers, which state that there has been 3,200 deaths in Wuhan and 4,600 deaths in the whole country. Media commentators have remarked that this must be low, even in Wuhan, based on information showing that cremation has increased to account for a death rate more than ten times that amount; a Voice of America publication on the 27th of March estimated that deaths in Wuhan number between 42,000 and 46,8001.

Dr Derek Scissors of the American Enterprise Institute is an experienced China watcher who is involved in the preparation of the China Beige Book, a detailed analysis of the Chinese economy as it relates to American investors. On the 7th April 2020, Scissors published an article titled 'Estimating the True Number of Chinese Covid-19 Cases', in which he estimates that, based on his data, there are at least 136,000 dead from coronavirus in China and 2.9 million cases in the country2.

Advertisement

Should you believe Derek Scissors' numbers, you would think that there is a considerable risk in re-opening the Chinese economy at this point. However, if you are General Secretary Xi Jinping and you believe the official Chinese numbers then you would now reopen the Chinese economy and accelerate growth as rapidly as possible. That is what appears to be happening in the Chinese economy based on industrial production and GDP numbers.

Should Xi Jinping be right, then the resulting outlook of the Chinese economy is similar to that which has now been published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF said that after growth of 6.1% last year, the Chinese economy will grow by 1.2% this year and accelerate to 9.2% in 2021.

Obviously, that's a very bullish outlook. It's particularly bullish when you look at the numbers for Chinese GDP. For the year to the March quarter of 2020 Chinese GDP fell by 6.8% on a year on year basis. The actual quarterly numbers were worse than that. The 6.8% for a year-on-year basis includes a couple of quarters of reasonable growth, about 1.5% each quarter. When we actually look at the first calendar year quarter, the Chinese GDP fell by 9.8%. I don't think there is a number as bad as that until you go back to the data from the 1970s.

Let us look at industrial production to see where that slump in the first quarter really hit. The slump hit particularly in manufacturing which fell by 10.2% in that quarter. It hit a little bit less in high tech manufacturing which only fell 3.8% in the quarter, and mining only fell by 1.7% that quarter. At the end of the quarter, the Chinese administration was attempting to reaccelerate production.

The manufacturing output year on year for the year to March was only down by 1.8%. After locking up the Chinese economy in January and February, the Chinese administration was trying to (from March onwards) rapidly reaccelerate manufacturing in China.

When we look at the sector numbers for industrial production in China, we note that some areas were very badly hit and other areas weren't, in the first quarter. The area which had a great decline in output in the first quarter was the manufacturing of cloth. This fell by 31% for the quarter. Even for the year to March it was still falling by 25%. Cement production fell by 24% for the quarter. Even for the year to the end of the March it was still falling by 18%.

Advertisement

Saloon Car (Sedan) manufacturing has been particularly badly hit with a slump of 48% for the quarter. This was still down 44% for the year to March. SUVs fell by 42% for the quarter and 44% for the year to the end of March. Sectors with a broader measure of demand like electricity fell by 7% in the first quarter, down by 4.6% for the year to March.

The numbers above are really terrible numbers for the broader Chinese economy. However, Australia doesn't export to the broader Chinese economy. Australia primarily exports iron ore to the ferrous metal Industry. When I go through the production numbers for industrial output in China for the first quarter, it turns out that the steel industry was one of the best performers.

The manufacturing of ferrous metals together with smelting and processing was up by 0.5% for the quarter. In March it was growing by 4.1%. We are a lot better off selling to the steel industry in China than selling to the automobile industry in China, as the Germans are.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. All

This article was first published by Morgans.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this report is provided to you by Morgans Financial Limited as general advice only, and is made without consideration of an individual’s relevant personal circumstances. Morgans Financial Limited ABN 49 010 669 726, its related bodies corporate, directors and officers, employees, authorised representatives and agents (“Morgans”) do not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from or in connection with any action taken or not taken on the basis of information contained in this report, or for any errors or omissions contained within. It is recommended that any persons who wish to act upon this report consult with their Morgans investment adviser before doing so. Those acting upon such information without advice do so entirely at their own risk.

This report was prepared as private communication to clients of Morgans and is not intended for public circulation, publication or for use by any third party. The contents of this report may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Morgans. While this report is based on information from sources which Morgans believes are reliable, its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. Any opinions expressed reflect Morgans judgement at this date and are subject to change. Morgans is under no obligation to provide revised assessments in the event of changed circumstances. This report does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase any securities and should not be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

18 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Michael Knox is Chief Economist and Director of Strategy at Morgans.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Michael Knox

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 18 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy