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Cablegate: South China H1 Economic Report: Fujian, Guangxi,

Published: Wed 30 Aug 2006 09:19 AM
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300919Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
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INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 GUANGZHOU 029114
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USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN
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USPACOM FOR FPA
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV EAGR ELAB CH
SUBJECT: South China H1 Economic Report: Fujian, Guangxi,
and Hainan
REF: A) Guangzhou 18102
B) Guangzhou 26903
1. (U) SUMMARY: In the first half of 2006, Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region, Fujian Province, and Hainan Province
recorded rapid growth rates despite government control
measures and natural disasters. Strong industrial and
export sectors fueled rapidly rising gross domestic product
(GDP) figures. Growth in fixed asset investment was
particularly robust, although it focused primarily on
manufacturing in urban areas. Urban-rural disparities in
income remain roughly fixed at a 3:1 ratio. Despite damage
from a series of typhoons that struck South China, economic
growth is expected to stay strong in the second half of the
year. End Summary.
2. (U) All currency conversions in this report are at the
average exchange rate of USD 1 = RMB 8.0292. The majority
of statistics are from Chinese government sources, of
limited reliability, and best used in comparison to other
time periods. Even then, their accuracy may be limited,
since the methodologies used to calculate them often change
without notice. In the past, authorities have been
unwilling to explain irregularities or changes.
Guangxi
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3. (U) In the first half of the year, Guangxi's GDP amounted
to RMB 201 billion (USD 25.1 billion), up 13.6% from the
same period of last year, or 1.3 percentage points higher
than the growth rate of the same period of last year.
Guangxi's GDP growth has remained above 11% for the last 11
quarters, and above 13% for the last 3 quarters.
4. (U) The gross output of the farming, forestry, husbandry
and fishery industries totaled RMB 42.3 billion (USD 5.27
billion), up 6.8% from the same period of last year. The
industrial added value reached RMB 80.6 billion (USD 10.0
billion), up 18.9% from the same period of last year. Due to
the increase in residents' income and surging demand, the
tertiary industry showed significant growth in the first
half of the year.
5. (U) Fixed asset investments in the first half of 2006
reached RMB 88.2 billion (USD 11.0 billion), up 37% from the
same period of last year. Of the fixed asset investments,
RMB 76.5 billion (USD 9.53 billion) were in urban regions,
up 41.7%, the highest growth since 1995; RMB 11.639 billion
(USD 1.45 billion) were in rural regions, up only 12.2%.
The Provincial Governments recognize the need for additional
investments in rural areas. However, it will take time for
these investments to materialize. Fixed asset investments
continue to go to the urban areas where there is a higher
concentration of factories and businesses.
6. (U) Guangxi's trade volume with ASEAN reached USD 790
million in the first half year, up 49.8% from the same
period of last year.
-- Exports to ASEAN countries amounted to USD 440 million,
up 22.9%.
-- Imports reached USD 350 million, up 110%.
-- Vietnam remained Guangxi's biggest trade partner among
ASEAN countries.
-- Trade volume between Guangxi and Vietnam reached USD 650
million, accounting for 82.3% of the total China-ASEAN trade
volume.
-- Guangxi's top exports to ASEAN countries were
mechanical/electrical products, garments, and spinning
yarn/thread.
7. (U) In the first half year, 3,271 enterprises in Guangxi
were engaged in foreign trade, up 39% from the same period
of last year; 56.2% of these companies were private
enterprises.
8. (U) Residents' income rose steadily. In the first half
GUANGZHOU 00029114 002 OF 004
of 2006, urban residents' per capita disposable income
reached RMB 5,174 (USD 644), up 9.9% as compared to rural
residents' per capita income at RMB 1,590 (USD 198), up
14.9%. The price index rose 0.7%.
Fujian
------
9. (U) In the first half of this year, Fujian's GDP reached
RMB 315.7 billion (USD 39.3 billion), up 12.8% from the same
period of last year, or 1.7 percentage points higher than
the growth during the same period. Fujian's GDP growth in
the first half year was 1.9 percentage points higher than
the national GDP growth. Fujian's GDP has maintained a
growth rate of more than 11% in the last three years. From
2003 to 2005, Fujian's GDP growth was 11.6%, 12.1% and 11.3%
respectively.
10. (U) In the first half of 2006, Fujian's GDP only
accounted for 3.45% of the country's total. From 2003 to
2005, Fujian's share of the national GDP was 4.56%, 4.43%
and 3.6% respectively. Fujian's share of the national GDP
dropped due to greater growth in other Provinces, not from
any economic slowdown in Fujian.
11. (U) Fixed asset investments reached RMB 123.4 billion
(USD 15.4 billion), up 39.9% year on year, or 22.9
percentage points higher than the same period of last year.
Urban regions accounted for RMB 109.2 billion (USD 13.6
billion) of the fixed asset investments, up 42.8%, or 24.9
percentage points higher than the same period of last year.
12. (U) Fujian's exports reached USD 18.9 billion in the
first half year, up 18.4%, while imports amounted to USD
10.2 billion, up 8.2%, with a corresponding trade surplus of
USD 8.71 billion.
13. (U) Foreign enterprises' foreign trade volume reached
USD 18.89 billion, accounting for 64.87% of the Province's
total foreign trade volume.
-- Private enterprises' foreign trade grew 38.57% to reach
USD 5.69 billion.
-- State-owned enterprises' foreign trade only grew 2.89% to
reach USD 4.54 billion.
14. (U) The city of Xiamen's foreign trade volume reached
USD 15.12 billion, up 11.26%, accounting for 51.92% of the
province's total foreign trade volume.
15. (U) The United States, the EU, Japan, Hong Kong and
ASEAN were Fujian's top 5 export markets.
-- The United States imported USD 4.76 billion in Fujianese
goods and exported USD 1.01 billion to Fujian.
-- The EU imported USD 3.58 billion.
-- Japan imported USD 3.11 billion and exported USD 1.299
billion.
-- Hong Kong imported USD 1.33 billion.
-- ASEAN countries imported USD 1.15 billion.
16. (U) The top exported commodities from Fujian Province
were machinery (USD 8.389 billion), footwear (USD 1.981
billion) and clothing (USD 1.889 billion).
17. (U) Retail sales rose to RMB 130.2 billion (USD 16.2
billion), up 14.6% year on year, only 0.7 percentage points
higher than the same period of last year. The price index
rose 0.2%.
18. (U) Urban residents' per capita income was RMB 7,247
(USD 903), while rural residents' was RMB 2,357 (USD 294),
up 12% and 9.1% respectively.
Hainan
------
19. (U) Hainan's GDP for the first six months of the year
GUANGZHOU 00029114 003 OF 004
was RMB 49.155 billion (USD 6.12 billion), 11.6% more than
the same period of last year, a growth rate of 1.75
percentage points higher than the same period last year.
-- Primary industry value-added was RMB 15.964 billion (USD
1.988 billion), up 9.1%.
-- Secondary industry value-added was RMB 12.65 billion (USD
1.575 billion), up 15.7%.
-- Tertiary industry value-added was RMB 20.541 billion (USD
2.558 billion), up 11.1%.
-- Growth rates for primary, secondary, and tertiary
industries were 9.1%, 15.7% and 11.1% respectively.
-- The average price of agricultural products rose 5%
compared to the same period last year.
-- The finance and insurance industries grew by 12.6%, while
the tourism sector was up 9.5% from the same period of last
year, with output valued at RMB 7.166 billion (USD 892
million).
20. (U) Retail sales in the Province totaled RMB 14.828
billion (USD 1.847 billion), up 14.2%. Retail sales in
urban areas reached RMB 10.612 billion (USD 1.322 billion),
while retail sales in rural areas reached RMB 4.216 billion
(USD 525 million), up 14.4% and 13.6% respectively.
21. (U) The Province's foreign trade volume amounted to USD
1.27 billion, up 16.45%.
-- Exports were valued at USD 605.35 million, up 28.3%.
-- Imports were valued at USD 666.27 million, up 7.43%.
-- Hainan's trade volume with ASEAN countries reached USD
163 million, up 69%, far exceeding the growth of its trade
volume with the EU, which increased only 38%.
-- Hainan's major trade partners were Vietnam, Thailand and
Indonesia.
-- The Province's main exports were natural gas, meat and
fish, fertilizer, steel, and wood products. Its main
imports were aircraft, aircraft parts, and machinery.
22. (U) Hainan's utilized foreign direct investment in the
first six months of 2006 reached USD 31.14 million, up 4.6%
from the same period last year. U.S. investments are mainly
in the hotel, aviation, retail sales, and agriculture
sectors.
23. (U) Fixed asset investments in the first half year
reached RMB 17.022 billion (USD 2.12 billion), up 16.6%.
RMB 16.259 billion (USD 2.025 billion) of the fixed asset
investments took place in urban areas, up 16.2%. Only RMB
763 million (USD 95.0 million) of the fixed asset
investments took place in rural areas, up 25.4%.
24. (U) Urban citizens' average disposable income for this
period was RMB 5,023 (USD 626), up 16.2%. Rural residents'
per capita income was RMB 1,785 (USD 221), up 8.8% from the
same period of last year.
Comment
-------
25. (U) The region continues to record rapid growth rates
despite government control measures and natural disasters.
The strong industrial and export sectors fueled GDP growth
higher than the estimated national growth rate of 10.9%.
Fixed asset investments recorded particularly robust growth.
However, rural versus urban disparities in income and
investment levels continue, especially in Hainan Province
and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The expectation of
policy makers in the 11th Five-year plan is that continued
development of infrastructure, particularly rural roads and
connecting highways, will encourage increased investment in
rural areas and gradually raise rural incomes. However, in
the short term, these income disparities, coupled with land
compensation issues, homelessness resulting from recent
typhoons, and higher prices for agricultural inputs, could
increase socio-economic tensions in the affected areas.
Nonetheless, despite the typhoon damage to farms,
businesses, communications networks, and water conservation
GUANGZHOU 00029114 004 OF 004
projects, economic growth will likely continue at high
levels in the second half of the year.
GOLDBERG
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