Consumer electronics manufacturers have been amongst the hardest hit with a big air freightdecline in consumer demand for mini hi fi systems.To help offset the problems, the China government has introduced a raft of measures designed to help air freightbusinesses survive the decline in demand. These have included directions to state banks to lend more money to small and medium sized exporters, support for letters of credit and a restoration of export tax rebates for the textile sector. In addition, there has been a halt to raising of the minimum wage, again to help air freightemployers weather the decline.One of the factors that has adversely affected China imports is the number of trade remedy measures launched by other developed nations and the growth of trade protectionism.However, with the robust actions taken by the Chinese government to try to minimise the impact of the economic air freightslowdown and the slowly improving economies worldwide, the outlook for overseas trade is now looking more positive. This bodes well for the continued development and strength of freight transport and the international freight sector in China.Author’s Resource BoxStephen Willis is Managing Director of RW Freight Services a UK based freight transport company, established in 1971 and operating air freightspecialist freight services to and from ChinaChina Import Surviving The Downturn Author : Stephen WillisSubmitted : 2009-01-29 18:07:15 Word Count : 663 Popularity: 26 Tags: Freight services, shipping air freightcompanies, international freight, freight transport, freight forwarding Author RSS FeedDespite the current impact of the world economic crisis which has seen factory closures and job losses in China in recent weeks, China is expected to continue as the leader in global trade and remain an important market for international freight.Although China growth rate has fallen to 9 in the third quarter of 2008, down from its growth rate of 11.9 last year, this is still a remarkably impressive growth rate.Similarly, although growth at China two largest ports, air freightShenzhen and Shanghai have slowed down this year, we are still seeing an overall pattern of growth in freight forwarding.To cope with ongoing growth in freight forwarding, new container terminals are being built and existing facilities are being expanded across China eastern seaboard.The third berth at Shenzhen Dachan Bay Terminal One has now been completed and there will be three more berths by the end of 2009.A consortium is also planning to build a four berth second Dachan Bay terminal, to be completed by 2010.This investment is justified against an expectation of continued increase in demand for freight services in the region, with the South China market expected to grow at 10 per annum in the coming years.Despite the recent downturn, China remains the factory of the world, with efficient manufacturing, low labour costs, high quality infrastructure and effective freight transport.What more, the Beijing government is acting decisively and taking measures to reverse the impact of the world economic crisis. This proactive approach will have a beneficial impact on freight forwarding.Export taxes have been cut on steel, chemical products and grain. Export duties will be cut on December 1st 2008 on over three thousand other goods, as part of a 586 billion dollar economic stimulus plan.These positive steps are likely to ensure that China import markets will air freightcontinue to grow over time. No other manufacturing country on a similar scale can offer the same winning combination of high productivity and low costs.There is considerable scope to extend China imports further into the European Union, as the level of China import to Europe lags behind the level of China import to the U.S. It is estimated that there is potential to increase this by at least 20 .Meanwhile, outsourcing by Europe to China and other markets continues apace, creating a further boost for shipping companies and freight forwarding.With the possible exception of clothing, there is still opportunity for China to increase its share of production from the current levels of less than 10 of global production.This positive picture overall is reflected in the growth of container terminal facilities across China.http://www.gfsforwarding.com/services-solutions/air-freight/