Changing China – Impact & Action Demand for Foreign Businesses (IHK Event)The future of business in China: where is the journey heading? This question is on the minds of more than 5,000 German companies currently operating in China. The Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce provided answers as part of an expert panel. As part of the event organized by the IHK Cologne on May 9th, our partners Daniela Bartscher-Herold and Uwe Haizmann shared their perspective on opportunities and challenges for German enterprises in the Chinese market. In front of >70 decision-makers, they elaborated on the recent COVID-outbreak in Shanghai, general …
China’s Aged Population: Favorable Policies and Economic Opportunities
China’s Aged Population: Favorable Policies and Economic OpportunitiesAccelerating Demographic Shift and Start of an “Aged Society” In January 2022, Chinese elderlies aged 65 and above reached 200 million – accounting for 14.2% of the total population. According to UN standards, a country with more than 7% of the population over the age of 65 is an „ageing society“, more than 14% an „aged society“ and more than 20% an „ultra-aging society“. Thus, this marks China’s official demographic entry into an „aged society“. Meanwhile, China’s elderly service resources are not balanced geographically: especially in rural areas and in the case of …
China Trade 2022 – Mutual Dependency instead of Decoupling
China Trade 2022 – Mutual Dependency instead of DecouplingDespite fundamental changes in the relationship of China with the rest of the world, there is a very different sentiment when it comes to consumption patterns and purchase decisions. In 2021, China traded more with the rest of the world than ever before. We shed light on some key attention points.Six trillion USD in export and import value shows that China remains deeply connected with the global economy. Pushed by demand from the EU and US, the country recorded its biggest trade surplus to date. Consumers in both Europe and North America …
The Ice & Snow Economy behind the Winter Olympics
The Ice & Snow Economy behind the Winter Olympics“300 million people hit the ice & snow” When the Chinese government bid for the Olympics in 2015, it pledged to attract 300 million new winter sports participants as part of the Olympic legacy. In 2022, before the opening of Beijing Winter Olympics, China claims that the number of people who had taken part in outdoor and indoor winter sports-related leisure activities since 2015 has reached 346 million, surpassing the initial target. The “300 million” is not only a number that shows the popularization of winter sports in China, but also a …
The Chinese Consumer in 2022
The Chinese Consumer in 2022“Generation Z” Chinese consumers display fundamentally different behavior as new sales channels, rising domestic brands and an increasing desire for self-expression have changed purchasing habits. But the growing elderly population is becoming an important consumer group as well! In this article we summarize the main characteristics about consumption in China you need to know.Rising Purchasing Power in China The annual disposable income of residents in China’s urban areas has been constantly growing over the past decade: From on average around 2,500 EUR in 2010 to more than 5,500 EUR in 2020. Urban dwellers in tier-1 cities …
China’s Offline Retail Challenge
China’s Offline Retail ChallengeIn the past decades, the Chinese retail market has experienced a significant transformation from traditional to modern, and is now again being disrupted by e-commerce. Since 1992, China’s retail market developed with the country’s rising economy and changing consumption habits. New and modern shop formats have been introduced during this period, such as department stores, hyper/supermarkets, convenience stores, exclusive stores, and other forms of business, which are shaping China’s modern retail landscape until now.What threats are China’s offline retail facing? After 2003, with the establishment of Alibaba’s Taobao platform, China consumers’ consumption habits have been changed dramatically …