Dragon Keeps Roaring

China’s industrial production jumped 15.4 percent in the first two months of 2008 compared to the same two months in 2007, according to its National Bureau of Statistics.

The figures, announced in mid-March by the Bureau, also indicated that industrial exports reached $152.5 billion, up 14.8 percent year over year.

According to a summary of the National Bureau of Statistics report provided by Industrial Info Resources (IIR) of Sugar Land, Texas, Chinese production shows the following growth rates by sector:

• Smelting and pressing of ferrous metals: 14 percent
• General-purpose machinery manufacturing: 21.9 percent
• Transportation equipment manufacturing: 18.8 percent
• Electromechanical equipment manufacturing: 20.3 percent
• Communication equipment manufacturing: 14.5 percent
• Production and supply of electric power and heat power: 11.8 percent
• Textile manufacturing: 11.6 percent
• Raw chemical materials and chemical products: 13.3 percent
• Nonmetallic mineral products: 19.7 percent.

Among specific commodities or products, production increases include:

• Pig iron: 75.63 million metric tons, up 7.3%
• Crude steel: 79.45 million metric tons, up 6.4%
• Rolled steel: 89.05 million metric tons, up 12.3%
• Cement: 140 million metric tons, down 2.8%
• Automobiles: 1.52 million vehicles, up 12.5 percent, including 820,000 cars (10 percent increase year over year).