China Cruise Business Continues To Grow

China has provided additional information regarding its domestic cruise industry development plans. Initial designs for a smaller, luxurious cruise ship were presented by CSSC (China State Shipbuilding Corporation). A banking syndicate helps China grow its international cruise business.





Carnival Corporation and Shipbuilder CSSC have created a joint venture to create a new brand. Today, they announced that Adora Cruises would be the name of their new brand when it begins in 2023. This is part China's strong push towards expanding its domestic capabilities. Fincantieri has also been a partner of the CSSC, which is guiding the construction of China's first major domestic cruise ship.

Although many ships have not returned from China since the outbreaks, they are making efforts to do so. China's largest cruise vessels are waiting for an exemption from the zero COVID policy. They will not be able to sail until then, which has stopped all foreign cruise operators from restarting their operations.

The first mega-cruise vessel is being built quickly, and CSSC expects delivery by the end of this year. The corporate design used by Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises was modified for this vessel. There will be 2125 staterooms aboard, giving the ship a length of 1,060 feet and a gross weight of 135,000 tonnes.

Chinese officials have also changed the plan to build a second larger cruise ship. Since the start of the year, the ship has been in construction. It will weigh 142,000 gross tons. It will measure 1,119 feet long and have 2,144 staterooms.

The company also offers short and long cruises to domestic and international destinations. It said that it will also establish a boutique long-term route along the "Maritime Silk Road." But, more details about the cruises are yet to be revealed. The destinations on this trip include countries which are crucial to China's "Belt and Road” initiative.

Adora, proud of its Chinese heritage, says it will combine a global view with domestic expertise to craft a cruise itinerary that caters to Chinese tourists. According to Adora, the company will "address different demands of different customers" by offering a "better onboard experience and exclusive shore trip items."

In detail, plans were also drawn up for expansion of the cruise business by CSSC. The first Chinese-developed cruise ship design was approved in December 2021 by an international classification agency. It was for a vessel larger than 150,000 gross tons. CSSC Cruise Technology Development Co. (a wholly-owned subsidiary China State Shipbuilding Corporation) has today revealed a new design of a cruise ship that can carry 80,000 tonnes.

CSSC considers this new design a luxury cruise vessel measuring 963 feet in length. CSSC believes that the design's high ratio of passenger space and passenger-crew, as well as its public area per passenger, significantly increase passenger comfort. Techniques such as improving the wind field, hydrodynamic performance and installation of energy-saving equipment are used to reduce resistance and improve energy efficiency. This type of ship will have a balcony room ratio exceeding 69%. China Classification Society has approved the design (AiP).
source 

https://www.traveldailymedia.com/chinas-domestic-cruise-industry-continues-to-grow/

https://www.chinesetouristagency.com/chinas-cruise-industry-situation-in-2022-2023/

The Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as well as China Construction Bank and China Bank of Communications and other financial institutions signed a memorandum of collaboration with CSSC Finance Co. and CSSC Carnival Cruise Co. in order to finance the Chinese cruise industry's expansion. Details reveal that $1.4 billion worth of loans will be pooled in order to finance the construction of two huge Chinese cruise ships and expand the country’s cruise fleet. This is the first syndicated credit long-term for cruise financing in China.

Social Media fake news in China

 Social media is awith claims of a coup in China, but the credibility of these claims is doubtful, claim experts. Speculations that Chinese President Xi Jinping had lost control ran wild on the internet after he was found missing from the public eye following his return from SCO summit in Uzbekistan.

With no official confirmation from the Chinese Communist Party or the state media and with all these updates from anonymous users, who are neither verified nor credible, experts are confident these rumours are just rumours and false speculations.

So, here’s what we know so far:

Is Xi Jinping under house arrest?

The last time the Chinese President was seen publicly was at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand. The summit was also attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

There's a strong possibility the Chinese premier could be in quarantine following the country's strict 'Zero Covid Policy’. Under the policy, every individual who enters China from abroad must undergo quarantine.

Most Popular Social Media Platforms in China

1. Wechat
2. Sina Weibo
3. Douyin (Tiktok)
4. Little Red Book (XiaoHongShu)
5. Kuaishou 
6. QQ
7. Douban
8. Youku
9. Bilibili
10. Baidu Tieba
11. Zhihu
12. Toutiao
13. Meituan Dianping

China's Fast Fashion Business Model

 This business model is very popular in China where fashion consumers are constantly looking for new trends and are willingly to pay for them. The country is home to a large middle class with more disposable income.

Chinese consumers are also becoming more aware of global fashion trends, and they are eager to adopt them. This trend has been capitalized by fast fashion brands that offer trendy, affordable clothes that appeal to local tastes.

China's fast fashion industry is expected to grow in the next few years. Green collections and sustainable brands are flourishing. This is a huge opportunity for foreign brands looking to enter China's market. Brands can be successful in this industry by understanding local trends and needs.

Fast fashion in China

Fast fashion refers to clothing that is quickly created and placed on the market in response to current trends. Fashion brands that produce fast fashion take their inspiration from celebrity designs and mass-produce them quickly so they are available almost immediately. read more

Zara

Zara, a fast-fashion brand, changes 15% of its inventory every week. Every salesperson reviews 12,000 references in real time to give key insights to the designers. There is 72 hours between the initial sketch and the prototype . This has resulted in a rising demand for fast fashion products, especially among the younger Chinese Gen Z shoppers who want stylish, affordable pieces as well as celebrities with the same style. Via

China is the largest market for fast fashion in the world, with Chinese buyers spending an estimated 6.9 billion on footwear and clothing in the 2019 report. This is due to a growing middle class that has more disposable income and a younger generation who is fashion conscious and willing to spend on trends.

Doing business with China is an art

 When I told my friends about my project, they all said 'Harold forget it, you don't speak Mandarin, you've never lived in China and you don't know a single Chinese person'" recalls Harold Parisot, founder of the Chinese Business Club, the first Franco-Chinese business network. Nearly ten years after the launch of his club, the bet to increase business relations and business with China has been successful.

Doing business with China is an art

The Chinese market is the one that offers the most opportunities to France and that Harold Parisot has understood this well. In September 2012, under the impetus of some of his Chinese clients, he embarked on the adventure of the Chinese Business Club. “In 2012, when I became self-employed, I was in contact with foreign investors. And systematically when I met Chinese people, they wanted to meet French politicians and brands. Systematically, it was the same questions. So I said to myself that I was going to create a small business and France-China meeting club,” explains the French entrepreneur.

Harold Parisot has therefore built for ten years a meeting place where business and Franco-Chinese network are the key words. For Harold Parisot, China is a market of the future that must be encouraged and not neglected. It is the colossal manna of consumers offered by China, which makes it the preferred target for French companies. 1.4 billion potential customers that France can reach in three ways. First, “via tourism in France, currently 3 million Chinese tourists choose France but in the short term, they will be 6 to 9 million”.

China, a market of the future for France

Second and third, “via the Chinese in Mainland China which can be reached in two ways. Either via e-commerce or via a physical presence. A physical presence means a lot of time, a lot of money. It's a tough commitment. Chinese e-commerce is not very complicated, it is not very expensive and it allows you to reach more consumers. However, it is imperative to be present on Baidu, the Chinese Google and translate your site into Mandarin,” explains Harold Parisot.

The share of Chinese in France, whether tourism or business, is set to grow in the years to come. The Chinese unlike the French, who are very modest, have a very simple vision of business, for them, a period of crisis is also a period of opportunity. In the space of eighteen months, several million Chinese have become considerably richer and will swell the ranks of potential consumers. For Harold Parisot, things are clear: “There is a boulevard in front of us, fifteen to twenty years of business to build”.

source

A high-level networking club

The principle of the Chinese Business Club is simple. Each month an event is organized in an emblematic place of the capital around a distinguished guest. The former President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy, or even the CEOs of large influential companies, such as the CEO of Total, that of L'Oréal, Prince Albert of Monaco or the actress Sophie Marceau, extremely well known in China. “The guest of honor, whoever he is, is the pretext to bring everyone together. Because with these ten years of experience and hindsight, I have very clearly observed that the more prestigious the guest of honor, the more the members come”, explains Harold Parisot.

This meeting thus allows, “an uninhibited business, people are more accessible. This allows members to combine business with pleasure, to do business while having a good time”. Among the Chinese members, the main investment funds and banks are represented, as well as many companies and party dignitaries (ambassadors, diplomats, consuls, mayors, etc.). Put on hold during the pandemic, the events of the Chinese Business Club restarted on Tuesday June 15, 2021, in the presence of the President of Huawei France, Weiliang Shi.

Distinguished guests to bring together

It is also one of these prestigious guests who in 2015 will shine the spotlight on the Chinese Business Club. Harold Parisot remembers: “I started from zero and at the beginning despite the presence of large families like the Dassault family, the club took time to establish itself. And in 2015, there was a before after. While the club was not well known, I received Emmanuel Macron as a guest and he was then Minister of the Economy. Many media came and wondered what this club was still unknown to the battalion where the Minister of the Economy was going. Since then, more than a hundred companies have been members of Harold Parisot's Chinese Business Club.

The Chinese Business Club 

Baidu Market Share 85.5% in 2022

 Baidu Market Share reach 85.5% in 2022 and is the leading search engine in China. 

Baidu’s revenue surged swiftly and totaled about 107 billion yuan in 2020. A majority of the revenue was generated through online marketing services. However, the operating profit reduced drastically after having peaked over 15 billion yuan three years prior to 2020. Although Baidu controlled about 70 to 80 percent of China’s online search market, a new contender Sogou emerged and is expected to close the gap in the near future. The underdog in the search engine market is a subsidiary of Chinese internet company Sohu, Inc. source 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/253340/market-share-of-search-engines-in-china-pageviews/

Truth be told, Baidu is in excess of a web index. It is a web benefit organization with different administrations including network administrations like ‘Baidu Baike’ which goes about as a dialect reference book. Baidu is the most prevalent web crawler in China since it is the most proficient and very much composed. It additionally enables clients to look pictures and sound documents. Also, it has turned into the standard web crawler in China. While each web search tool in China tends to have a substitute statistic, with Baidu controlling 70% of the market, it’s harder to pinpoint a specific statistic for them. The web index serves customers in each statistic. Any online business can’t thrive in China on the off chance that it doesn’t know how to showcase its item or administration on Baidu. This web benefit is the door to Chinese online networks. Here are some key actualities about Baidu.

source 

http://upstartbusiness.com/2018/10/22/startup-guide-for-baidu-marketing-chinese-seo/

The China health , market study

 Increased spending on medical and health related items is a result of ore wealth

With the GDP growing year-on-year, Chinese customers are able to pay more for healthcare. As the Chinese embrace international health products in innovative and exciting ways, there will be no slowing down in this market. Vice Premier Li Keqiang said that the healthcare industry is now in "uncharted waters."

Chinese families are becoming more concerned about the safety and quality their products and are more likely to spend more in order to maintain high quality healthcare in China. In fact, 96% Chinese now contribute to China's basic healthcare system.

The Quest for a New Life Style that Requires New Health Solutions

China's constant economic growth and well-being improvements have raised awareness about health care's new stakes. In a society where performance pressures and environment are affecting health, the sale of OTC medicines like antibacterial remedies or sleep aids could help Chinese people cope with their modern lives.

What are the key factors driving China's healthcare market?

Find out more about these segments here

China Water & Air Pollution are a serious concern for Chinese Citizens

Air pollution is a problem for many Chinese. China has been ranked among the most polluted countries on the planet. There are also areas that are more affected than others. This makes it even more difficult to change your mentality.

China's air pollution is a grave problem. It has been responsible for between 50 000 and 500 000 premature deaths each year. This is without doubt a "health crisis." Many Chinese are switching to electric vehicles and avoiding the harmful effects of petrol-powered cars. They wear masks and use air purifiers to protect themselves. Chinese people want to live a healthy and safe lifestyle. They don't want to live in a polluted area.

China's Healthcare Market Revenues 

China's water is unsafe for human consumption and is a national problem. Although regulations have been enacted to reduce the pollution, these measures are slow-moving. Even though Chinese citizens are able to avoid drinking tap water, many Chinese still use it for other purposes, such as to take a shower, wash their hands, and clean their dishes. However, these filters can be expensive and complex, so they aren't widely used by the majority of the population, who prefer the cheaper, easier options.

This pollution threat can be prevented by citizens and governments. Health providers have a great opportunity to assist those already affected.

https://marketingtochina.com//pharmacy-healthcare-market-china-export-guide/

heavily impacted by obesity

As Chinese citizens have more money, their waistlines also grow. China's obesity is a growing problem. From 5 to 20 percent , the percentage of obese or overweight children has risen dramatically. In 2020, 10.4 percent of China children were either overweight or obese.

Covid Situation in China, specialist China

 1- Situation as of April 3 covid Shanghai

=National figures=

13,236 new cases announced (including 11,781 asymptomatic) during the day of April 3, including more than 60% in Shanghai.

National total = 99,203 cases (54,911 asymptomatic)

Covid is a national cause in China explained a member of a Chinese business club at the Dr Raul conférence

                                                      

A =Shanghai=

The number of cases is on the rise again with a record of more than 8,000 cases announced on Saturday, a result which includes the first PCR screening in Puxi.

8226 new cases announced (including 7788 asymptomatic) during the day of April 3.

Current total = 33,988 cases (including 32,648 asymptomatic)

At =Jiangsu=

47 new cases announced (including 42 asymptomatic) during the day of April 3, including 13 in Suzhou and 9 in Nantong.

Current total = 461 cases (including 413 asymptomatic) distributed in Nanjing, Changzhou, Lianyungang, Suqian, Zhenjiang, Suzhou, Wuxi, Taizhou, Nantong, Yancheng

In =Zhejiang=

20 new cases announced (including 9 asymptomatic) during the day of April 3.

Current total = 377 cases spread across Ningbo, Quzhou, Kecheng, Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Zhoushan, Lishui, Shaoxing

In =Anhui=

The increase in the number of cases continues, with the main focus in the city of Huainan.

95 new cases announced (93 asymptomatic) during the day of April 3, including 59 in Huainan and 11 in Fuyang

Current total = 465 cases (including 445 asymptomatic) distributed in Hefei, Tongling, Ma'anshan, Suzhou, Anqing, Chuzhou, Hanshan, Bozhou, Bengbu Huainan, Wuhu, Fuyang

2- Continuation of the containment and screening policy

During her visit to Shanghai on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister SUN Chunlan insisted on the rigorous implementation of the anti-epidemic policy and reiterated the so-called "dynamic zero covid" policy. In particular, she called on the city of Shanghai to strengthen its testing capacity and its accommodation capacity in a collective quarantine center.

· The city's lockdown/screening campaign announced a week ago on Sunday March 27 continues. In Pudong, all the residences in the district are classified as “confined area” or “area under control”, and are therefore subject to new screenings and prolonged confinements (see situation report n°6). In Puxi, after a first PCR test on Friday April 1, antigen self-test kits were distributed today, and a second PCR test was announced for tomorrow morning. The whole city remains in strict confinement. No new announcement has been made on the terms applied at the end of Puxi's confinement (April 5).

The results of the PCR tests lead to the confinement of buildings and residences for periods ranging from 7 days to 14 days (see situation update n°6) from the first day of confinement in their district (28 March for Pudong and other counties east and south of the Huangpu River, and April 1 for Puxi). Some residences have already been notified of the implementation of these measures. The other pre-existing measures of partial confinement of residences or neighborhoods remain in force.

· Logistical problems (supplies, tests etc) seem generally more important in Pudong than in Puxi.

3- Frequently asked questions related to containment

· A positive screening in principle leads to the isolation in a hospital or an equipped center of the positive person and the contact cases. The consulate recommends that you report immediately to your block manager (link) and to the consulate in the event of a positive screening. The consulate will contact you immediately to follow up on your situation and provide the necessary support with local authorities. It is also recommended that you, as far as possible, isolate the person who has tested positive from the rest of your household by placing them in a separate room, having them wear a mask and airing them regularly, in order to avoid contaminating other members of the household. foyer.

Several days may pass before transfer to isolation centres.

To date, no official announcement on the use of home isolation has been made by the authorities. Recent statements by some officials and some local home isolation decisions could herald relaxations, but this remains to be confirmed.

· Pets: in the event of placement in a confinement center, it is not possible to bring pets, and the authorities have not put in place any dedicated procedure. However, support networks exist within the different neighborhoods (link). Several people report having managed to have their animals transferred to veterinary centers

read more 

https://marketstudychina.blogspot.com/2022/02/selling-furniture-decoration-in-china.html

https://marketstudychina.blogspot.com/2022/01/new-law-aims-to-prevent-forced-labor.html

 Selling furniture, decoration in China can be challeging. 

 in China furniture is a lucrative business , but it's important to know the market inside out. In this video, I take a look at the Chinese furniture market and share tips I have gathered along the way for brands and designers looking to cash in on this booming industry.

New law aims to prevent forced-labor goods from China entering US market

 U.S. U.S.

New U.S. laws require companies to prove that imported goods aren’t tied to forced labor in China. This is especially true for the Xinjiang region.

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act provides an additional presumption in the U.S. Tariff Act states that goods sourced or manufactured in Xinjiang, home to many Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, are made with forced labor. Companies will need to prove that the products they import are not sourced from forced labor in order to be allowed to export them.

Companies are discovering that there is no simple way to do this, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and activist investor watch. Analysts say that companies could encounter roadblocks when attempting to due diligence for complex supply chains, such as those for food, fabric, or minerals.

The law not only provides a compliance boost for companies like Nike Inc. and Apple Inc. but also adds an additional layer of environmental, social, and governance (ESG), concerns to corporate boards. Companies that fail to adhere to the law are subject to greater shareholder pressure regarding supply chain issues.

The law will take effect in June and is "a remarkably high bar, or an impossibly low bar to meet," Cullen Hendrix, a professor from the University of Denver's Korbel School of International Studies.

Challenges Ahead

The law was signed Dec. 23 by President Biden. It is intendedto force China to end the US and other countries' repressions of its Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. The allegations are denied by China's foreign ministry, which stated that the measure "will only compromise the stability of global supply and industrial chains."

Beginning June 21, companies will need to provide strong documentation to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prove that their products do not contain Uyghur components. This region is home to some of the most prolific areas of cotton and polysilicon in the world, which are used in solar panels.

Companies are looking into everything, from genetic testing textiles to third party auditors to make sure products aren’t made from forced labor in their supply chain. These solutions aren't always the best.

Most companies don't have the ability to monitor their supply chains and gather reliable data. It's difficult even for large companies," Michael Littenberg, a Ropes and Gray partner, said. Littenberg specializes in supply chain compliance and human rights.

Representatives from the energy, apparel, and tech sectors, such as Apple, Nike, BP America Inc., lobbied Congress for the law. Trade groups such as the American Apparel and Footwear Association and Consumer Technology Association also participated in the lobbying effort.

Littenberg stated that these companies are working to determine if their current procedures meet compliance requirements. He said that they are not aware of the requirements for documentation or whether each link in their supply chains can be vetted.

Littenberg stated that it would require more detailed understanding of supply chains and where the inputs come from than what most companies have done historically.

Material Risks

Final version of the law removed the requirement that public companies disclose to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission all business dealings with companies involved in Xinjiang.

However, investors and consumers may be more demanding of ethical product sourcing, according to Rachel Alpert, cochair of Jenner & Block’s National Security, Sanctions and Export Controls Practice. She stated that the law will likely increase the amount of information companies can disclose to investors as "material" risk.

She said that companies face additional risks such as shipments being held at border, supply-chains vetting deficiencies, or negative media reports about Xinjiang labor problems.

Alpert stated that this provides shareholders and government agencies with a stronger hook to examine companies for ESG issues.

Patricia Jurewicz is the founder and chief executive officer at Responsible Sourcing Network. She said that the new law increases the risk of companies not being allowed to sell goods. Her group works together with investors, human rights activists and companies to develop due diligence standards.

She stated that companies don't want their employees to pretend they are doing nothing.

However, taking action comes with its own risks. After asking its suppliers to stop using labor and products sourced from Xinjiang, Intel Corp. was met with backlash by Chinese officials as well as social media users.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based company issued an apology later for "causing trouble with our esteemed Chinese clients," saying that its efforts were meant to "ensure compliance with U.S. legal obligations."

Compliance Roadmap

In the last two years, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a series orders prohibiting Xinjiang products from entering the U.S. including tomatoes, cotton, and silica-based products.

Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing retailer, was unable to fulfill one of the orders after Customs refused release a shipment it couldn't prove was made with forced labor. More information on Jingwang labor lawer

Alpert stated that such orders are "among the best information we can have about the level Customs has historically placed upon Xinjiang shipments."

CBP's Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will provide more clarity through its forthcoming guidance. The task force issued a request to comment Jan. 24, on how to implement this law, and best practices for identifying Xinjiang-linked goods. source

Jurewicz stated that DNA analysis of Xinjiang-specific fibers can be performed if it is used at the right stage in the supply chain. However, it is less efficient if raw cotton from different regions is mixed together.

Hendrix from the University of Denver said that third-party audits could also be a possibility. However, Chinese authorities are known to harass and shut down operations. source

He stated that a credible third-party audit was going to be virtually impossible in Xinjiang.

Stephen Lamar, chief executive officer and president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, stated that despite its difficulties, the law should streamline the process of getting goods through Customs. He said that much of the success depends on clear guidelines from U.S. authorities.