China's March exports grow despite virus; imports flat

China's exports rose . . . while imports were flat amid disruptions due to coronavirus outbreaks.

Umm, to be clear, imports to China unexpectedly declined by 0.1 percent YOY to USD 228.7 billion in March 2022, missing market forecasts of a 8 percent growth and after a 15.5 percent increase in the first two months of the year.

It was the first drop in shipments since August 2020, as COVID-19 curbs across large parts of the country hampered freight arrivals and weakened demand.

On the export side, China's trade surplus with the US rose by 50% yoy to USD 32.09 billion. Meantime, total trade with Russia grew 27.8% to USD 38.18 billion in Q1, while those with Ukraine increased 10.6%. Considering the first three months of the year, the goods posted a surplus of USD 162.9 billion. [General Administration of Customs]

Same, China as Russia. Don’t invest in western companies.

We all need to pitch in and do our part. To make it simple just remember this little rhyme:

Pick it up

Turn it round

"made in China"?

Put it down.

As the picture shows, most of the ports in China are highly automated and require minimal staffing, while most of the factories are also in the process of becoming highly automated, not sure if covid or lock-down will have much impact from production standpoint, it will likely only have impact on service industries and consumptions perhaps, which could possibly be explained by a drop in imports, I guess no one was shopping.

As the picture shows, most of the ports in China are highly automated and require minimal staffing, while most of the factories are also in the process of becoming highly automated, not sure if covid or lock-down will have much impact from production standpoint, 

The big unloading gantries are not automated. It is a highly skilled job actually that takes years to get good at. The trucks taking the freight into and out of their ports are not automated. The automated trucks you see only move boxes from the big gantries to stacks further back from the wharf. Trucks with drivers will move the boxes from the stacks out of the port or bring in cans to be loaded on ships. I used to work in container ports. The "Transtainers" that stack and unstack the boxes and load them on trucks are manned and that too is a skilled job that takes time to master.

Factories cannot get inputs because drivers don't want to risk entering Shanghai, testing positive and being forced to isolate for weeks. Container throughput in Shanghai is about 40% of normal due mainly to a lack of drivers. Some 477 loaded bulk cargo ships waiting to enter Chinese ports to unload. 222 of these are stranded outside Shanghai. This disrupts schedules all across the maritime industry. Now these ships are late to load, late with their next load, etc. Customers around the world cannot get products out of China and cannot satisfy their customers needs. Delays in big ports like Shanghai disrupt transportation and industries around the world. It is not just a problem that confines itself to China.

https://gcaptain.com/bulkers-stuck-waiting-china/