Kings of Coal to Barons of Bling?

Posted: 22. Sep, 2012 Last update: 22. Sep, 2012

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Kings of Coal to Barons of Bling? Xinjiang’s coal boom will drive sales of Bentleys, BMWs, and other “bling”,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 66 (21 September 2012). China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”© So what do coal mines have to do with high-priced Bentley automobiles? In Chinese coal mining towns, a [...]

China’s Growing Meat Consumption is Driving Corn Imports and Creating a New Strategic Dependency

Posted: 02. Jan, 2012 Last update: 02. Jan, 2012

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “China’s Growing Meat Consumption is Driving Corn Imports and Creating a New Strategic Dependency,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 51 (2 January 2012). China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”© China will likely import 3.0 million tonnes of corn in the 2011/12 market year, more than triple the amount it took in 2010/11 (USDA).  As Chinese [...]

Internal Challenge: China’s diabetes epidemic highlights how rising healthcare costs could constrain economic growth and military spending

Posted: 31. May, 2011 Last update: 30. Jul, 2011

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Internal Challenge: China’s diabetes epidemic highlights how rising healthcare costs could constrain economic growth and military spending,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 36 (31 May 2011) China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”© As analytical attention (including a substantial portion of ours) focuses on China’s growing military power and economic influence, both in [...]

Dying for a Spot: China’s car ownership growth is driving a national parking space shortage

Posted: 10. Jan, 2011 Last update: 30. Jul, 2011

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Dying for a spot: China’s car ownership growth is driving a national parking space shortage,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 17 (10 January 2011). China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”© Major Chinese cities are suffering from a serious shortage of parking space as supporting infrastructure lags rapid car fleet growth. In Luoyang, [...]

In Hot Water: High-efficiency heat pump water heaters will reduce residential energy use in China

Posted: 16. Dec, 2010 Last update: 30. Jul, 2011

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “In Hot Water: High-efficiency heat pump water heaters will reduce residential energy use in China,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 11 (16 December 2010). China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”© The comfort of a hot shower is hard to beat and Chinese homeowners are moving quickly to install water heaters as [...]

U.S. Pecan growers crack into Chinese market

Posted: 10. Dec, 2010 Last update: 30. Jul, 2011

China SignPost™ 洞察中国– “Clear, high-impact China analysis.”© Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “U.S. Pecan Growers Crack into Chinese Market,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 9 (9 December 2010). Chinese pecan buyers are accumulating supplies as they prepare for the next Chinese New Year in early 2011, a peak nut consumption period in China. Rising incomes and [...]

Follow the money: “Rich lists” hint at sectors that may become future wealth generators

Posted: 27. Nov, 2010 Last update: 30. Jul, 2011

Key takeaways: China’s consumer, tech, retail financial services, private education, and health care are likely to be key future wealth generators. Strategic industries such as the natural resources sector will remain vital to the economy, but do not appear poised to create dynamic personal wealth or job growth the way the more privatized sectors will.

Areas of highest global impact: Chinese tech firms are likely to become more influential global players, which will force regulators worldwide to adjust to more attempts by Chinese firms to make tech-related acquisitions abroad. The ongoing friction over Huawei’s recent acquisition of 3LeafSystems is likely a harbinger of things to come. More Chinese health and pharmaceutical firms are also poised to reap the gains of the country’s life science research complex and become global heavyweights. Growth in China’s consumer economy will increase demand for commodities such as base metals like copper and aluminum, grains, paper for packaging, crude oil, and electricity.

Policy recommendations: Publish clear guidelines for foreign acquisitions in sensitive sectors like tech. Be sure to include bilateral investment access as a key agenda item at high level meetings. Revive the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue between Washington and Beijing.