Chinese manufacturing: Rest of the world plays catch-up
25 March 2022
Chinese manufacturing output emerged from 2020 relatively unscathed due to strong COVID-19 measures. The Chinese economy has now slowed down, and competitors are catching up.
China’s GDP grew by 8.1 per cent in 2021. This was largely due to the 18.3 per cent COVID rebound in the first quarter (Q1). Meanwhile, the remainder of the year saw strong downward pressure, with growth coming in at 7.93 per cent in Q2, and 4.9 per cent and 4.0 per cent in Q3 and Q4 respectively.
Slowing growth after a strong first quarter
This was due to a range of factors. While in Q1 government fiscal policy was focused on measures which enabled the economy to bounce back, for the rest of the year policy was directed more by medium- and long-term considerations, and was slower in its implementation. Investment declined as a consequence.
Among those medium- and long-term-focused measures, those implemented to reduce carbon emissions had the impact of limiting production in energy-intensive industrial sectors. Furthermore, the re-emergence of the virus and the acute shortage of semiconductor chips also contributed to downward pressure.
Exports to struggle in 2022
We predict China’s economic growth will register at 4.5-5 per cent in the coming year. This is lower than the target of 5.5 per cent, the lowest for three decades, set by the government and reported in the Wall Street Journal this month. Export markets will particularly struggle. China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao warned at the end of February of “massive pressure in maintaining high export growth” following a strong period last year when exports were boosted by high overseas demand for items needed to control the spread of COVID.
The global environment for foreign trade looks tough throughout 2022, with supply chain blockages continuing, shipping prices remaining high, and labour shortages and rising energy and commodity prices further complicating matters. Of particular concern for China is the impact that the crisis in Ukraine might have on supply chains. On top of that, the country will have to endure growing competition from recovering South-East Asian economies.
Investment always recovers slowly, and the decline we saw in the second half of 2021 will be followed only by a gradual 4.5 – 5 per cent rise in 2022. This will have a limited effect on economic growth. However, investment in advanced manufacturing will grow rapidly as China pursues its ‘Made in China 2025’ policy of industrial modernisation and transformation. Sustainability and green energy will be key drivers here. However, rising costs and the downward pressure on export markets will impact on growth. Nearly 90 per cent of manufacturing investment will be private investment.
Growth: rest of world plays catch up
The chart above shows a comparison of our forecasting for Chinese manufacturing output made before and after the pandemic. Note how from 2021 to 2024, post-pandemic forecasts outstrip pre-pandemic ones: a measure of the resilience of the Chinese manufacturing economy. However, in spite of the strong initial recovery and steady growth the region is predicted to see up to 2026, competitors are catching up. The late rebound of the region’s competitors will mean that, at least for a period, the growth rate of China’s manufacturing industry will lag behind that of its competitors. This is something the world has not seen for a long time.
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