China Car Exports Still Basket Case, Imports Nearly Double

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

There is one area where the feared Chinese export machine is way behind, and this is cars. According to data published by the China Association of Automobile manufacturers CAAM, 566,200 units were exported in 2010. At and in the same time, China imported 813,600 units.

According to the data, exports are up 53.17 percent. Export value of was $ 6.986 billion, an increase of only 34.68 percent. Even the CAAM must note that ”although vehicle exports in 2010 showed a resumption of growth, the total is still below the 2008 and 2007.”

This is illustrated by China’s top ten export destinations: Algeria (47,200 units), Syria (32,800 units), Vietnam (32,800 units), Russia (31,300 units), Chile (31,200 units), Iran (30,600 units), Egypt (30,000 units), Brazil (28,900 units), Bangladesh (25,300 units), and Iraq (24,200 units). China is selling cheap cars and trucks mostly into 3rd world countries.

On the import side, a totally different picture. The 813,600 imported vehicles reflect an increase of 93.33 percent. Total imports value was $30.64 billion up 99.73%. Value-wise, China imports more than four times the amounts of exports. Imports nearly doubled in China last year, both in units as in dollars.

Luxurious SUVs dominate with 351,400 units, followed by usually equally luxurious 343,700 cars. Amongst the import countries Japan leads with 254,800 units, followed by Germany with 239,300 units. The other countries where China likes to import from were Korea (87,400 units), United States (80,100 units), United Kingdom (43,300 units), Mexico (31,300 units), Slovakia (25,300 units), Belgium (10,700 units), Austria (10,500 units) and Portugal (6,500 units). Don’t be too proud of U.S. exports: If BMW exports an X3 to China, or if Toyota sells a Highlander here, it counts as a U.S. export.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Blowfish Blowfish on Feb 18, 2011

    middle kingdom no need to worry, Rome was not build in 1 day, they have themselves to blame with all the funny stuffs, lead paint Barbie ( that switch & bait caused the demise of a HK businessman, his buddy sold him down the river!), fake milk, crumbling autobody & school buildings , phone batteries caught fire, at this price is not going to last. They need more time to prove to the World that they're reliable. Last a long time not good time. All manufacturers who pull a any quick ones did have to pay the stiff price. BLMC, FIAT, British Bikes. they burn consumers, and eventually have a taste of his own medicine.

  • Obbop Obbop on Feb 18, 2011

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmEEnWEaeRk Pic atop article led to immediate convoluted likely perverted thoughts as clarified in the link. Safe for work. If not, thou worketh in a mighty strange place!!!! Of course, general surfing or peering at topics not actually directly related to work chores can be naughty if thine job regs declare ONLY actual job/task-related peeks at the Web.

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
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