Although the following shows a dramatic change it must be remembered that statistics have to be viewed in context EG if you jump 500% in one period is is so bad to drop 100% in the next?
It's all about how China manage the changes, they are not the most flexible administration
Link To Mining.com Not convinced Chinese trade is a disaster? Take a look at these shipping numbers
China – which overtook Japan in 2010 to become the world's second largest economy – dominates the global trade in just about every commodity including iron ore (representing some 60% of the global 1 billion tonnes seaborne trade), copper (38%), coal (47%), nickel (36%), lead (44%) and zinc (41%).
Fast-forward a couple of years and rates, orders and activity in the shipping industry – especially dry-bulk vessels used to haul iron ore and coal – are painting a very different picture: •The benchmark Baltic Dry Index is down 44% year to date at 958. The BDIY reached a high of 11,793 in May 2008 – that is a 91.8% drop. •Three-year charter rates for capesize ships which carry 80% of the world's 1 billion tonne iron ore trade have tumbled to roughly $10,000 a day from $55,000 five years ago. •Worldwide orders for dry-bulk vessels dropped 49% to 9.8 million deadweight tons in the first half of 2012. •The share price of Rongsheng Heavy, China's largest shipbuilder not under state control, is down 72% over the last 12 months. Astonishingly, it has not announced a single contract for new ships in 2012. •The monthly index of new-ship prices in China is now at its lowest point since March 2004.
