It is in the middle of Chinese New Year when this report is released. It is expected that total number of 3.4 billion (+9.1% from year ago) people would move during 40 days of Chinese New Year period. Energy of this exodus would be beyond our imagination. Repercussions of Chinese New Year holiday would be immeasurable to the world economy. I made a fast trip to Shanghai from Jan 30 to Feb 2 in 2013. I could enjoy an atmosphere of Chinese New Year in Shanghai to some extent. TV reporter commented that it was difficult for people to buy the railroad ticket to return to hometown. Over 50% of people buy the tickets through the internet, 25% by telephone and a few percent of people buy them at the station nowadays. People buy the ticket available first at all costs regardless of the price and to buy 2nd and 3rd ticket for safety purpose and later they cancel the higher one for refund. Therefore, the ticket could not be obtainable by people in need. It is not easy to get on the train. People have to stay a few days at the station to secure the seat. It is also the difficult task to reach their home town. We could remember the same scenery in Japan 40~50 years ago. They could get job at their home town these days so that a few people could not come back to the city. It has been causing shortage of laborers in the city. As a result management gives them half of their bonus before Chinese New Year and the rest of half after they come back.
The proto-type of Sliding Door Container was made by the factory that specializes in Special Containers and Hybrid Open Top was made by the affiliated company of the major container factory in Shanghai. I noticed that the key person was the woman who fluently spoke in English. One was the factory manager and the other is the assistant to the factory manager. They have known well about manufacturing containers and quickly instructed the persons in charge what to do. As a result we asked them to modify some parts of container. They had readily finished our requests of modification at once after they loudly talked each other while looking at the drawing. Such their sincere and positive attitude moved me enough. They have already had a professional sense to make the good quality of products. In Japan it would take a few days to cope with our request but they could complete it for a few hours and have finished it on the next day. They have had great zeal in manufacturing products which we, Japanese have already left somewhere in the past. They looked quite reliable to me.
In 2012 China has become No. 1 largest in Export and Import business exceeded USA. China increased by 6.2% from the previous year to $3.8667 trillion and USA was by 3.5% up to $3.8628 trillion. China ranked No.2 largest GDP country in the world passing Japan in 2010. The sky in Shanghai had been heavily covered by smog. As the air pollution in China has been serious in harming people’s health it is the pressing issue to solve. Chinese TV was alerting people every day to attract their attention on the air pollution. In this regard Japan could cooperate with China as the expert who had overcome such problem. China has been jeopardizing by distortion in various aspects after the rapid industrialization. I think we should help China in the civilian level as much as possible to make people live happily. People whom I met in China regardless of business or off business were kind and even longing for Japan. Youngman took care of my wheel chair in Pudong Airport to return home showed me the picture of two shot with “Miss Mai Kuraki” (Japanese singer) as his treasure which had been taken together when she visited in Shanghai. He said to me that he like Japan. Thus, I returned him “I like China” so he gave me back a big smile.
Container price hit at the bottom of $2,300 per 20f in Feb and it seems uptrend after Chinese New Year. Factory inventory in China seems to reach 800,000 teu at present. The contract between ILA and USMX expired on Feb.6 has been successfully extended 6 more years. Thus, the worst case was avoided. TSA has decided raise of $400/FEU for US West Coast and $600/FEU for other area effective on April 1. The rate restoration is a matter of great urgency to shipping lines for improving their income.
Shipping lines have been quite active in acquiring the mega-ships as before. The main reasons are due to the lower ship price and charter hire. Evergreen decided to charter 10×13,800 teu ship last year. In Jan 2013 Yang Ming chartered 5 (+ 5 option) x 14,000 teu ship. MOL announced to charter 4×10,000 teu ship completed in 2014 and will put into service of 5×14,000 teu ship chartered from APL this year. On top of that MOL will add the own new ships, 2×8,600 teu this year. All ships will be operated in the trade of Asia and Europe. Container ships delivered this year would be 1.7 million teu in total, +9.5% from the year ago. The number of ships of over 10,000 teu would be 43 ships covering 650,000 teu. In view of stabilization of Europe economy, recovering USA economy and increasing cargo movement in Asia would ensure the recovery of the world economy from the 2nd half of this year?
The News has been reporting that the number of Japanese student studying abroad reduced to 58,060 (- 3.1% from the previous year). They decreased 24,885 by 30% less than the peak year of 2004（82,945). In order to break through the introverted personality Japanese young men should go abroad. There will be many interesting things they could engage in abroad. People in other countries would expect you to come to help them. You have to be aware of your challenge existing abroad. You should believe that there are many dreams you could fulfill. It could be feasible for you to complete your dream with your heart without words. You could find the life worth living abroad if you have strong guts of challenge. Yong men! Go abroad by believing yourselves!