Exports Of Textiles, Footwear And Other Products Increased In The First Quarter, But The Volume Of Port Cargo Was Low.

First quarter National clothing , Spin and shoes Export growth of products ranged from 10%-42%. Faster growth in the same period also includes electromechanical products, integrated circuits and high-tech products.

The rapid export growth of these products stimulated the total import and export value of 6 trillion and 120 billion yuan in the first quarter, an increase of 13.4% over the same period last year. Of which, exports of 3 trillion and 200 billion yuan, an increase of 18.4%.

However, what is interesting is that the corresponding port cargo volume in the first quarter is in the doldrums. The above scale ports completed 804 million 490 thousand tons of foreign trade cargo throughput, an increase of 9.1% over the same period last year, and the growth rate dropped 4.2 percentage points over the same period last year.

Since the beginning of this year, the growth rate of China's coastal ports has been very low this year. For example, the growth rate of foreign trade cargo in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Xiamen and Beibu Gulf ports in the first quarter is less than 10%, but the growth rate of foreign trade in these areas has been increasing rapidly over the same period, and the export volume of Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi has increased by 34.3%, 21.2% and 19.2% respectively.

Li Jian, an expert of the International Trade Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, thinks that the port and foreign trade Digital mismatch needs to be studied in detail. For example, precious metals or integrated circuits can be transported by air, so the export figures can hardly be reflected in ports. But the number of exports to Hongkong like the mainland is much lower than that of the Hongkong statistics. The Customs has already made an explanation. But deeper reasons still need to be investigated.

Previous figures show that in December 2012 -2013 March, the mainland's exports to Hongkong amounted to US $94 billion 900 million, while the value of imports from the mainland by Hongkong Customs was only US $58 billion 700 million. As for this gap, Zheng Yuesheng, spokesman for the Customs General Administration, explained that the products sent to Hongkong from the mainland need to be counted. However, products re exported through Hongkong are not necessarily counted by Hongkong. In addition, some multinational companies have transferred some warehouses in the international logistics and distribution center in Hongkong to the neighboring Shenzhen area. The logistics distribution and distribution centers of multinational companies are still in Hongkong, leading to an increase in the import and export frequency of goods in the mainland and Hongkong.

However, some people who are engaged in export told reporters that the mode of tax rebate was very common when exporting enterprises took low prices and reported high prices.

At present, the Ministry of Commerce has sent an investigation team to understand the problem of abnormal foreign trade figures. The regular press conference in April 17th is expected to be answered.

　 Port Statistics in the first quarter

According to the figures released by the Ministry of communications, in the first quarter, the above scale ports completed 804 million 490 thousand tons of foreign trade cargo throughput, an increase of 9.1% over the same period last year, and the growth rate dropped 4.2 percentage points over the same period last year. Among them, the coastal port completed 734 million 550 thousand tons, an increase of 8.8% over the same period.

In terms of direct export related container data, it appears to be even lower. In March, the port of scale completed container throughput of 15 million 290 thousand and 300 TEUs, an increase of 7.1% over the same period, slowing down 1.7 percentage points from January to February.

In terms of coastal ports, the throughput of large ports from south to north is relatively low. In 1-3 months, the cargo throughput of Qingdao port, Shanghai port, Ningbo Zhoushan port, Xiamen port, Shenzhen port and Beibu Gulf port increased by 8.4%, 4.9%, 4.7%, 8.3%, 4.1% and 9.8% respectively, all below 10%.

However, in the corresponding areas, the growth rate of exports in some places is very low, for example, the export of Shandong and Jiangsu was only 3.6%, 3% in the first quarter. Shanghai's exports also fell by 4.6% in March. However, the export situation of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi was good, with a year-on-year growth rate of 11.7%, 21.2%, 34.3% and 19.2% respectively. Guangdong also showed an accelerating trend.

The growth rate of port throughput is inconsistent with that of foreign trade.

In the first quarter, the total value of foreign trade and import and export amounted to 6 trillion and 120 billion yuan, an increase of 13.4% over the same period last year. Of which, exports of 3 trillion and 200 billion yuan, an increase of 18.4%. However, the growth rate of cargo throughput in the above scale port trade is only 9.1%. The gap between port growth and import and export growth is large, especially export growth is almost 1 times the growth rate of foreign trade goods.

This situation is a great surprise to many people in the industry. Cao Zhongxi, consultant of China Port Association, pointed out that the general figures of foreign trade and ports are corresponding, and there are some mismatches that need to be studied carefully.

Data show that in 2012, the national export growth rate was around 6.2%. In 2012, the cargo throughput of ports above designated size increased by 6.8% over the same period last year. Among them, foreign trade cargo throughput increased by 8.8%. The 3 figures are relatively close.

Wang Qianjin, an analyst with China's first textile net textile industry, believes that the port numbers are generally hard to fake, so the port's downturn has confirmed that the current export situation is not optimistic. But the number of foreign trade is very high. There may be a lot of enterprises exporting to Hongkong and importing many times, that is, the products are pulled to Hongkong to export, pull back and import, then export.

For the whole year, the clothing and textile industry is better than last year, but it may be as high as 20% of the current garment export growth, which is difficult to achieve in the whole year. "There may be some moisture in the foreign trade figures." He said.

　　 High growth in foreign trade, false reporting and tax fraud

The foreign trade figures do not match the actual export figures. The number of mainland exports to Hongkong has not been matched before.

In the slowdown of export growth, Guangdong's export trend is accelerating. This is not only reflected in the Hongkong area, the port should also have rapid growth.

Data show that in the first quarter, Guangdong's import and export value to Hongkong and the United States increased by 91.6% and 16.3% respectively, and the import and export of Taiwan to US $23 billion 940 million, an increase of 111.1% over the same period last year, and Guangdong's imports and exports to Africa reached US $14 billion 670 million, an increase of 64%. Such a large increase in exports to Hongkong should be shown in the direct shipment and shipment transshipment at Guangzhou port and Shenzhen port, because Taiwan's exports to the United States and Africa have not yet left Hongkong, but are still growing rapidly.

But in 1-3 months, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhanjiang increased 1.1%, 4.1% and -7.7% respectively. In terms of containers, Guangzhou port is down 2%, while Shenzhen is only 4%.

An export industry source told reporters that this situation, as long as exports are aware of the situation. For example, export enterprises set up a company in Hongkong and imported from Hongkong companies. In the name of incoming processing, tax exemption is granted. At the time of export, exporting to Hongkong's own enterprises in the name of mainland enterprises is generally higher than the quoted price and striving for export tax rebates.

The high price can not be said as long as it is not very ridiculous, because it can be said to be an added value. For example, the multiple price 10%-30% is normal.

In this way, importing the finished products from Hongkong can still be said to come in for further processing, such as higher and deeper processes, so it still understates imports and exports more, and it can easily get the national export tax rebate.

In addition, direct cooperation with warehouse personnel in bonded areas will be carried out to the bonded area, which means that the export is completed and tax rebates can be collected. "In addition, there are also low-priced imports of overseas products, which are sold at home after finished products in the country, but when exported, they are exported by other bad products at high prices, which is actually smuggling." One industry source said.

The reporter was informed that the Ministry of commerce is currently conducting research on abnormal figures in foreign trade. It is expected that there will be a statement soon.