For decades, export manufacturing has played a critical role in powering remarkable socioeconomic development across Southeast Asia. Yet while several other Asian manufacturing economies have evolved into global leaders in advanced industries and innovation, most of Southeast Asia is still viewed primarily as a location for low-wage assembly work. The ten-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) now has a golden opportunity to move up the manufacturing value chai

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on Monday celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their dialogue relations. Since the relations began in July 1991, bilateral trade volume had soared from less than 8 billion U.S. dollars to more than 680 billion dollars last year. With such a strong foundation, the two sides have pledged to enhance cooperation in all sectors to open a new chapter in ASEAN-China common development and prospe

China has made a rapid economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which seems to have moved European investors from favouring offshoring to rediscovering their appetite for the country. European companies are seeking to increase their exposure in China and move their supply chains onshore in the country, according to a report from the EU Chamber of Commerce in China published in June 2021. The European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2021 finds that 59% of Eur

Official China Trade Data Analysis by John W. Miller, Chief Economic Analyst, Trade Data Monitor - May 2021 China Preliminary Data by Major Products & by Country/Region Asia is really humming. Chinese exports of goods to top Asian trading partners boomed in May, suggesting that the continent is blowing past Europe and the U.S. in 2021 in the speed and scale of its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Chinese exports to the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Nations, o

Levies now cover about $250 billion a year in goods—down from $370 billion—as U.S. companies shift purchases elsewhere U.S. tariffs have led to a sharp decline in Chinese imports and significant changes in the types of goods Americans buy from China, new data show, with purchases of telecommunications gear, furniture, apparel and other goods shifting to other countries. Nearly two-thirds of all imports from China—or roughly $370 billion in annual goods—were covered by tariffs

Discover in less than one minute the evolution of the world's main trading nations over the last 22 years! Trade has significantly expanded in the last four decades. In 1979, trade represented 36% of global GDP and by 2019 the figure had grown to 60%. This expansion came with changes in the competitive landscape of global trade, and the concomitant rise of the south. The above graphic tells part of this story. For instance, it captures the meteoric rise of China, from the per

China preliminary data for April (release by Major Products & by Country/Region) and below TDM insight by John W. Miller, Chief Economic Analyst - Trade Data Monitor For years, economists marveled at China’s history-shaping growth in manufacturing exports. But as this April’s trade data from Beijing illustrates, it’s time to start paying more attention to the ballooning of shipments to China. Chinese imports in April increased 43.1% year-on-year to $221.1 billion, the biggest

China is perhaps one of the most unprecedented stories of economic development in recent history. In the last 25 years, the country’s economy rapidly expanded, lifting more people out of poverty than anywhere else in the world. But all this wouldn’t have been possible without another outstanding story: the emergence of China from the periphery of world trade to becoming a global trade titan. Genesis of a trade transformation While the rise of China as an export powerhouse be

According to a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) economic growth in developing Asia is set to rebound to 7.3% this year, supported by a healthy global recovery and early progress on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, The projected resurgence follows a 0.2% contraction last year, according to ADB’s flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021, released today. The region’s growth is forecast to moderate to 5.3% in 2022. Excluding the

Official China Trade Data from our partners at Trade Data Monitor based on official HS Customs data on all commodities. It was March 2020 that marked the depths of the Covid-19 economic crisis. Factories closed. Shops shuttered. Consumer locked their doors and wallets. Last month’s Chinese exports signals that the global economy has found its way back. Spring is here. Wallets are open. In March, Chinese exports increased 30.7% year-on-year to $241.1 billion. That’s significan

Exports to U.S., EU Drive China Export Comeback - Official January & February China Trade Data insights from our partners at Trade Data Monitor, authored by Chief Economist, John W Miller For a copy of the latest trade data for China and other countries email: andrewk@kwconfex.com The global economy appears ready for a strong rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic. Shipments from China, the world’s top exporter, increased a whopping 60.6% year-on-year to $468.9 billion over the f

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has been ratified by China and it is hoped that other member countries can speed up their progress and finally reach the threshold of entry into force, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said Monday. "The sooner the agreement comes into force, the sooner the people of the member countries will benefit," Wang said on the sidelines of the annual national legislative session. The agreement signed by 15 Asia Pacific c

If blockchain technology can help reduce the high fixed costs of engaging in these complex procedures, that would be a big win. Blockchain technology has the potential to break the various silos that exist between parties involved in cross-border transactions The technology can help ease access to trade finance for SMEs in particular, reduce costs, and make it easier for them to participate in international trade In 2018, when the World Trade Organization (WTO) laid out block

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into China rose 4.5 per cent from 2019 to US$144.37 billion last year Investment from the Netherlands and Britain increased by 47.6 per cent and 30.7 per cent, respectively, from a year earlier Foreign direct investment (FDI) into China rose to a record high in 2020 by posing the fastest growth rate in five years despite the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. FDI in US dollar terms – excluding financial sectors such as banking, sec

As the world seeks to recover from the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic, trade data suggests it’s more dependent than ever on the Chinese export engine - Latest December China Trade Data insights from our partners at Trade Data Monitor, authored by Chief Economist, John W Miller - For a copy of December's trade data for China and other countries email: andrewk@kwconfex.com China’s full-year numbers show how global trade was almost crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic during

Latest November China Trade Data insights from our partners at Trade Data Monitor, authored by Chief Economist, John W Miller - For a copy of November's trade data email: globaltrade@kwconfex.com What has been building all year exploded into a crescendo in November, as China registered the biggest month of exports in economic history. Buoyed by a rebounding economy as the U.S. and Europe continue to struggle with containing the coronavirus, Beijing reported shipments of $268

The private sector in ASEAN now has access to a powerful new online system, the ASEAN Customs Transit System (ACTS), which will reduce intra-ASEAN trading challenges and enable companies to benefit fully from the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the free movement of goods across the ASEAN region. In 2017, ASEAN Economic Ministers set the twin goals of reducing trade transaction costs by 10% by 2020 and doubling intra-ASEAN trade between 2017 and 2025. To realise this goal,

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement comes at a time of major upheaval caused by COVID-19 and could help revive economic growth. A new mega Asia-Pacific trade bloc has the potential to help fuel investment in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, especially in poorer economies in the region, according to an UNCTAD report. Signed on 15 November, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement (RCEP) unites 15 countries, including China, Japan, Austral

We are pleased to share the October China Preliminary Data from our partners Trade Data Monitor, summarised by John Miller. For a copy of 'October Preliminary China Trade Data' feel free to email andrewk@kwconfex.com Trade Data Monitor Partner APAC China maintained its strong 2020 export performance in October, buoyed by a summer of consumer spending in the U.S. and Europe after a locked-down spring. Overall, outbound shipments increased to $237.2 billion, up 11.4% compared t

With the growing importance of foreign direct investments (FDI) for accelerating development, to eradicate unemployment and increase exports, many governments around the world have established investment promotion agencies (IPAs) to attract, advocate and facilitate investment in their countries. As often being the first entity contacted by investors and serving as an intermediate between foreign investors and the government, they have one of the key roles in the overall site