China’s ship exports in August declined by 16.2pc from the prior August to 399 units, according to the data released by the General Administration of Customs. In Jan-Aug, the country exported 3,208 ships, a decline of 23.1pc from the prior-year period.
Of the total exported ships in August, six were tankers, a decline of 53.8pc from the year prior. In Jan-Aug, China exported 57 tanker ships, a fall of 44.7pc from the Jan-Aug 2019 period. Four container ships were exported in August and 25 in the Jan-Aug period, a decline of 20pc and 45.7pc, respectively.
Bulk carriers exported in August fell by 27.3pc to 16 units from Aug 2019, and by 28.9pc to 174 units in Jan-Aug 2020, compared to the prior-year period.
Earlier this year, China became the first country to report the COVID-19 outbreak, which hampered its economic activities. The pandemic soon gripped the world affecting exports. With trade activities in most countries on the mend, exports could pick up in the coming months.