China fears domestic oversupply

Chinese industrial production is continuing to grow strongly, but some government sources have started to warn of growing domestic oversupply. The country's industrial output grew at an annual rate of 16.1% in October, slightly down on September's 16.5%, said the National Bureau of Statistics. Jia Yinsong, an official at the National Development Reform Commission, said steel was one area overproducing. Excess steel production is expected to top 100 million tons this year. Chinese steel demand is set to exceed 300 million tons in 2005 official figures show, with production above 400 million tons. Demand is predicted to rise only marginally to 320 million tons by 2010, but output capacity is estimated to hit 530 million tons by 2008. Another official report warns that Chinese car production could be double that of domestic demand by 2010.

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