The volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the economy of mainland China in January-February decreased by 20.4% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 171.21 billion yuan ($23.87 billion), according to the Ministry of Commerce. The manufacturing industry accounted for 47.82 billion yuan, and the service sector for 120.49 billion yuan.
At the same time, the UK’s FDI in China grew by 87.9%, Germany’s by 54.7%, and South Korea’s by 45.2%, Xinhua cited the ministry’s data.
At the same time, 7,574 thousand new enterprises with foreign capital were registered in the country in two months, which is 5.8% more than their number in the same period in 2024.
As reported, the volume of FDI in 2024 fell by 27.1% to 826.25 billion yuan. This is the largest decline in the history of calculations (since 2008).
Experts club presents the 2024 ranking of all steel-producing countries in the world. The ranking is compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), which updates data for all steel-producing countries on a monthly basis. Below is the production data in million tons, with percentage of production in 2023 in parentheses.
Global steel production continued to perform strongly in 2024, despite fluctuations in demand and the impact of economic factors. China remained the undisputed market leader, producing 1,005.1 million tons of steel, accounting for more than half of the global total. India, which took second place, continues to increase production, reaching 149.6 million tons, while Japan rounds out the top three with 84 million tons, followed by the United States and Russia.
China’s exports in January-February 2025 reached a record $540 billion, up 2.3% year-on-year, Bloomberg reports. However, the country’s imports unexpectedly fell by 8.4%, leading to a significant trade surplus of $171 billion.
According to analysts, the growth in exports is partly due to accelerated deliveries as Chinese companies seek to circumvent possible new trade barriers from the United States. The U.S. administration is considering additional tariffs on Chinese goods, which could affect the competitiveness of Chinese products.
China remains the largest exporter in the world, supplying products to a wide range of industries. Among the key export products:
Electronics and technology – smartphones, computers, semiconductors.
Machinery – industrial machines, cars and components.
Consumer goods – clothing, footwear, household appliances.
Metals and chemicals – aluminum, steel, plastics.
Renewable energy – solar panels, lithium-ion batteries.
Services – IT development, digital platforms, logistics.
The drop in imports may indicate weak domestic demand, as well as China’s desire to develop self-sufficiency in strategic industries.
Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China have signed an agreement on the terms of export of Ukrainian aquatic products and peas to China, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reports.
“The Ministry of Agrarian Policy continues to work on opening new markets and scaling up existing ones. Today we have signed an important agreement with the People’s Republic of China,” Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval said on Telegram.
According to the report, the agreement will allow Ukrainian farmers to gain access to one of the world’s largest markets, expand their presence in China, and support producers, especially in the fisheries and grain sectors. Ukraine will be able to increase exports and foreign exchange earnings, diversify its markets and integrate into global trade chains.
These agreements are the result of a dialogue between our countries and a series of high-level meetings. It was also the result of active cooperation between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, associations, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine, Ma Shengkun. I am confident that we have laid a solid foundation for expanding cooperation, as the last time such a contract was signed with China was more than 5 years ago,” the Minister summarized.
China will impose additional duties on some imports from the United States, the Customs Duties Committee of the Chinese State Council said Tuesday. Tariffs of 15 percent will be imposed on chicken meat, wheat, corn and cotton, and 10 percent on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
The move comes after the U.S. decided to impose additional 10% duties on goods imported from China starting March 4.
The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States undermines the multilateral trading system, increases the burden on U.S. enterprises and consumers, and damages the foundation of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, the committee said in a statement quoted by Xinhua news agency.
China has also placed 15 U.S. companies on the export control list. They include Leidos, Gibbs&Cox, IP Video Market Info, Shield AI, Group W, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics’ unit General Dynamics Land Systems.
Also included on the list of untrustworthy entities are 10 U.S. companies, which will prohibit them from engaging in China-related imports or exports and making new investments in the country. The names are TCOM, Stick Rudder Enterprises, Teledyne Brown Engineering (a unit of Teledyne Technologies), Huntington Ingalls Industries, S3 AeroDefense, Cubic Corp., TextOre, ACT1 Federal, Exovera and Planate Management Group. Last month, fashion brand owner PVH Corp. and biotech company Illumina Inc. made the list.
On February 10 this year, the first freight train was sent from China to Afghanistan via a new direct rail route connecting the two countries through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The train, carrying 55 containers of communication equipment manufactured by the Chinese telecommunications concern ZTE, departed from Chongqing’s Tuanjetsun station to Afghanistan’s Hairaton.
The train will cross the border at the Khorgos checkpoint in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and reach its destination in Khairaton via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The entire journey is expected to take 12-15 days. “By using the direct rail freight transportation scheme, transportation time will be reduced by 3-5 days compared to road transportation, and logistics costs are expected to be reduced by 15-20%. This will strengthen the safety and efficiency of transportation and supply of goods,” said Liu Jianfeng, a ZTE employee.
The opening of the direct freight route will further strengthen trade and economic cooperation and exchanges between Chongqing and Afghanistan, as well as with other Central Asian countries.
