Asian Markets

(Yicai Global) May 31 — Various Chinese cities will implement the world’s toughest automobile emission standards from July 1.

Nearly 70 percent of auto dealers said they have difficulty selling vehicles made per the former emission standard, sector statistics show.

China’s central government plans to institute the Sixth Stage National Vehicle Emission Standard, the world’s toughest, starting next July 1, but Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai have all unveiled their respective policy documents to jump the gun and start from this July 1. Over 20 provinces and cities have also announced their plans for advance implementation of the new standard.

This has set the thumbscrews on dealers,  66 percent of whom in places where local governments will fast-track the new standard will be unable to clear all inventory manufactured under the formernorm by July 1, they said in a sample survey conducted by China Auto Dealers Chamber of Commerce, and 60 percent estimated around 100 vehicles will be left on their lots.

Many carmakers not only reduced prices to promote sales, but also forced vulnerable dealers to buy these vehicles to clear inventory, the survey also found. Some manufacturers also tried to offload these vehicles onto their employees at a discount.

Some carmakers are still enforcing sales targets for old models, said 44 percent of dealers surveyed in affected areas, while 86 percent said automakers have not agreed to take back unsold stock after July 1 or move unsold vehicles to areas as-yet unburdened by the new rules.

Heedless early activation of the new norms will impact the auto sales market, though it represents the general trend, Luo Lei, deputy secretary general at Beijing-based China Automobile Dealers Association, told Yicai Global. Most carmakers are also not yet ready, and prospective car buyers are waiting on the sidelines, Luo added.

Areas that jump-start the new standard should offer local dealers a transition period of at least three months sell off back stock, CADA suggested. Local governments should also mandate that carmakers buy back unsold products after transitional periods lapse.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Ben Armour

https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-car-dealers-on-hot-seat-as-tougher-emissions-rules-kick-in-early

(Yicai Global) April 30 — China’s manufacturing sector expanded for a second month in April, though the pace of growth slowed from March, according to official data.

The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell 0.4 point to 50.1, National Bureau of Statistics figures showed today. Before March, the reading had been below the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction for three months in a row.

Coming after a significant gain last month, April’s overall decline shows that the economy is still not stable and faces many uncertainties, Zhang Liqun, an analyst at the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, told Yicai Global. Government agencies should embrace counter-cyclical macroeconomic policies, focus on expanding domestic demand, and stabilize the economy.

Demand maintained steady growth this month. The sub-indexes for production and new orders fell 0.6 and 0.2 point to 52.1 and 51.4 respectively, but are still higher than the first-quarter average and are relatively buoyant for the past seven months.

The high-tech manufacturing PMI rose 2.8 points to 52.9, gaining for a fourth consecutive month. The gauges for new export orders and imports gained 2.1 and 1 point to 49.2 and 49.7 respectively, logging a second straight month of gains. Indexes for imports and exports of medicine and computer communications and electronic equipment were above 54.

The index of non-manufacturing activities dropped 0.5 point to 54.3, which remained over 54 for a fourth month in a row, indicating that the country’s non-manufacturing sector maintained an overall positive growth momentum.

Private financial media Caixin’s manufacturing PMI this month fell 0.6 point to 50.2, it said today, remaining in growth and basically sharing the same trend with the official figure.

https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-manufacturing-pmi-expands-for-second-month-in-april-despite-slowing

(Yicai Global) April 30 — China’s manufacturing sector expanded for a second month in April, though the pace of growth slowed from March, according to official data.

The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell 0.4 point to 50.1, National Bureau of Statistics figures showed today. Before March, the reading had been below the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction for three months in a row.

Coming after a significant gain last month, April’s overall decline shows that the economy is still not stable and faces many uncertainties, Zhang Liqun, an analyst at the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, told Yicai Global. Government agencies should embrace counter-cyclical macroeconomic policies, focus on expanding domestic demand, and stabilize the economy.

Demand maintained steady growth this month. The sub-indexes for production and new orders fell 0.6 and 0.2 point to 52.1 and 51.4 respectively, but are still higher than the first-quarter average and are relatively buoyant for the past seven months.

The high-tech manufacturing PMI rose 2.8 points to 52.9, gaining for a fourth consecutive month. The gauges for new export orders and imports gained 2.1 and 1 point to 49.2 and 49.7 respectively, logging a second straight month of gains. Indexes for imports and exports of medicine and computer communications and electronic equipment were above 54.

The index of non-manufacturing activities dropped 0.5 point to 54.3, which remained over 54 for a fourth month in a row, indicating that the country’s non-manufacturing sector maintained an overall positive growth momentum.

Private financial media Caixin’s manufacturing PMI this month fell 0.6 point to 50.2, it said today, remaining in growth and basically sharing the same trend with the official figure.

https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-manufacturing-pmi-expands-for-second-month-in-april-despite-slowing