商务英语阅读 unit 6 中国物流业发展所面临的挑战与机遇

Poor infrastructure
One of the key challenges facing the Chinese logistics industry is the status of the country's transport infrastructure. At present, despite some large scale projects, companies in the region complain of insufficient integration of transport networks, information technology (IT), warehousing and distribution facilities. Outside of the main economic centers, the logistics sector tends to be of low quality, highly inefficient and with little technological competence.
"If China's economy does have a 'hard landing' as many economists predict, there will be a major impact on air, sea, express and logistics companies which have over invested in capacity in the region." Insider says, "For the time being, though, the fragmented, low value-add nature of the Chinese transport market will still provide huge opportunities for foreign, and the more developed domestic players, to grab market share. There is no doubt that China will eventually become the world's industrial powerhouse. However, its transformation will not be as straightforward as many logistics companies would like to hope."
In recent years, China's logistics market is opening up to the
outside world. Obviously, the state-owned, private-owned and foreign-funded enterprises are surviving and thriving in the competitive markets. According to the commitments of Chinese Government when entering WTO, China would open up the market of logistics industry since December 11, 2019. The year of 2019 is the first year of China's 11th Five-Year Plan, and is also the first year when logistics is opened up completely.
Economy imbalance
China's economy has wide variances in levels of activity and development. There is a major imbalance of goods flows from the developed east of the country to the more undeveloped west. This has resulted in difficulties in finding supports, leading to higher costs for Chinese haulage companies which transfer cargo among regions. Internationally these imbalances also exist between China and the rest of the world, leading to difficulties in re-positioning empty containers.
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During the 10th Five-Year Plan period, China's logistics industry experienced quick growth. According to the statistics of National Development and Reform Commission, National Bureau of Statistics of China and China Logistics and Purchasing Association, in the 10th Five-Year Plan period, the total amount of social logistics reached RMB158.7 trillion, increasing 1.4 times compared with that of the 9th Five-Year Plan period, with an average annual growth of 23%, which is much higher than the GDP growth rate of 9.5%. The ratio of the total amount of social logistics against GDP dropped from 19.4% in 2000 to 18.6% in 2019. In 2019, the amount of China's logistics exceeded RMB 1.2 trillion, with an annual increase of 12.7%, took 16.6% of the added values of servicing industry.
Domestic trade barriers
Although China's entry to WTO has lowered trade barriers such as tariffs and quotas for international shipments, there are still problems related to moving goods around China itself. There are unofficial border tolls when goods move between provinces. This is particularly evident for shipping from an inland manufacturing location to a port city.
知情人士提到如果中国的经济发展真象很多经济学家预言的那样硬着陆那么将对在这一地区物流业过度投资的空运海运和物流快递行业产生巨大的影响
Unit Six
Teaching Objectives
了解中国物流业发展所面临的挑战和机遇 理解机遇和挑战的来源 了解中国物流业未来发展的方向
Teaching Emphases
Economy imbalance Domestic trade barrier Unsound regulation Poor infrastructure Lack of qualified operators
Content
Text Fast Reading I Fast Reading II
Unsound regulation
Although it is slowly opening up to outside competition, the Chinese transportation and logistics market is one of the most highly regulated markets in the world. Regulation exists at a number of different levels, imposed by national, regional and local authorities. Regulations often differ from city to city, hindering the unity of national networks.
TEXT General Introduction to Logistics
Pre-reading questions
1.What are the major challenges do you think facing Chinese logistic industry?
2.Why do you think these challenges exist?
Furthermore, the economy has to go through a major restructuring which will be needed to transform its many stateowned enterprises into private sector. One problem for the country is that increased economic activity has led to rising labor costs especially in key regions of manufacturing and logistics. This will increase pressure on inefficient public sector companies and eventually lead to higher levels of unemployment. This will be increased by foreign competitors entering the market in line with China's WTO commitments.
Without doubt, China's logistics industry is having a period of fast growth with the economic development and the increased acceptance of outsourcing by Chinese manufacturers and retailers. However, there are also a number of challenges faced by Chinese logistic companies. These include weak transport, information and communications infrastructure outside economic zones; a culture of regulation and bureaucracy; fundamental problems of energy supply; high transport and logistics costs; a poorly educated and badly trained work force as well as high regional imbalances of trade both domestically and internationally.