John Miller, Author at Trade Data Monitor

China Boosts Imports of Raw Materials by Double Digits

UncategorizedNovember 13, 20232KViews 0Likes 0Comments

China in October dramatically increased imports of fossil fuels, industrial metals and agricultural commodities, a run on raw materials that if sustained will have a major impact on prices and supply chains. China continued to increase its ferocious energy consumption, hiking imports of natural gas 120.1% year-on-year to 8.8 million tons, coal 23.3% to 36…

Chinese Trade Sputters as Global Demand Weakens

UncategorizedOctober 23, 20232KViews 0Likes 0Comments

U.S. and European Union policymakers have labored to cut inflation after lathering stimulus on their economies to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. The resulting higher interest rates are denting consumer demand, which is bad news for Chinese manufacturers who’ve been hoping that consumers from Prague to Portland can lift them out of their doldrums. Total exports…

Amid Play for U.S. Steel, Buyers Face Supply Crisis, Trade Data Shows

UncategorizedAugust 16, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The ongoing corporate jousting for U.S. Steel has created another round of uncertainty for American industry. The fate of the venerable 122-year-old firm remains uncertain, but buyers of steel face a supply chain crisis, trade data suggests. The U.S. has fallen to fourth in the world in steelmaking, at around 86 million tons, behind China…

China Doubles Coal and Gas Imports as Global Trade Putters

UncategorizedJuly 27, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The world’s biggest exporter reported another month of dismal trade figures for June. Chinese exports declined 13% year-on-year in the month to $285.3 billion, and imports fell 6.9% to $214.7 billion. The decline was driven by a massive drop in consumer spending in the U.S. and Europe, caused by inflation, fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, and…

China’s New Place in Global Trade: Number 1 Importer of Food&Ag

UncategorizedJune 12, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

As expected, China reported lackluster trade numbers this week, signaling a possible recession in the U.S. and more trouble for the global economy. Chinese exports fell for the first time in three months, dropping 7.5% year-on-year to $283.5 billion. Imports dropped 4.5% to $217.7 billion. The World Bank this week said that the global economy…

China Export Growth To BRI Countries Booms Since 2012

UncategorizedMay 25, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

In 2013 China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched by President Xi Jinping with a goal of increasing economic prosperity by improving China’s global connectivity. As of March 2022, there were 147 countries (1) participating in the BRI with China. As we approach the 10th anniversary, what is the impact on China trade as…

China Goes To Europe

UncategorizedMay 12, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

There’s so much focus on the U.S.-China trade relationship and its frequent fireworks that it’s often forgotten that the European Union, still the world’s preeminent free-trade alliance, with 447 million consumers, is the better customer. In April, exports to the European Union increased 4.1% year-on-year to $44.7 billion, while exports to the U.S. dropped 6.2%…

Why China Is Hiking Imports From Latin America

UncategorizedMarch 10, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The global economy is being rewired by shifting geopolitics, changes in high-tech and renewable supply chains, and lower consumer demand in the U.S. and European Union. One major consequence of these changes: a slip in trade with China, the world’s top exporter, and number two importer, of goods and commodities. On Tuesday, China reported total…

China Hikes Trade With Russia As Exports Fall

UncategorizedJanuary 23, 20231KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The global economy is sputtering, chipping away at China’s mighty export machine and prompting Beijing to build a stronger trading relationship with Moscow even as Russia faces trade sanctions with the U.S. and European Union. Chinese exports in December declined 9.9% year-on-year to $306 billion. “China’s foreign trade and exports showed strong resilience in the…

South America Commodities Bumped by Global Slowdown

UncategorizedNovember 17, 20221KViews 0Likes 0Comments

As the global economy slows, it's denting global trade and hurting economies in farflung places. The World Trade Organization now expects global trade to grow at 1% next year instead of 3.4%. One of the regions most impacted will be South America, where trade will increase only 0.3% in 2023, according to the WTO. South…

Chinese Exports Fall as Global Economy Cools

UncategorizedNovember 11, 20221KViews 0Likes 0Comments

For the first time in over two years, China’s monthly exports fell year-on-year as the global economy cooled off. As the world’s top export power, China is bearing the consequences of higher inflation in the U.S. and European Union, rising interest rates, lower economic growth, and the end of stimulus payments. In addition, Beijing has…