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China's box trade gap narrows

Half of all US and German container imports in 2009 came from China

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The imbalance in Chinese box trade narrowed last year as imports increased by 11.4% and exports fell by 16.7%. 

Analysis by Seabury Cargo Advisory reveals that the import share of Chinese containerised ocean trade increased from 25% in 2008 to 33% in 2009. 

However, overall, China’s ocean trade declined by 9% last year. 

Seabury also revealed that for the first time, 50% of containerised imports into the US and Germany were from China. 

Other developments that underlined an increased dependency on China were that 22% of German exports were destined for China, compared with 9% in 2000, and that Japan shipped 32% of its exports to China in 2009, compared to 28% in 2008. 

The US showed a similar pattern to Germany, as its imports from China grew in 2009 to 52% of its total compared with 31% in 2000. 

The combined import share of the US’s other large partners -- Japan, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Taiwan and South Korea -- decreased from 29% to 16%.
 
The research also revealed that approximately 8% of China’s exports, including sectors such as fashion goods, showed no decline in 2009. 

However, 39% of export commodities, related to transport as well as consumer hi-tech items, toys and household goods, failed to show any increase during the year.


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