China’s economy expanded slightly faster than expected in the second quarter but private investment growth shrank to a record low, suggesting future weakness that could pressure the government to roll out more support measures.
Property investment, which has given the world’s second-largest economy a welcome boost in recent months by spurring demand for products ranging from cement to steel, also showed signs of fatigue in June, with growth cooling for a second month, Reuters reported.
While fears of a hard landing have eased, investors worry that a further slowdown in China and any major fallout from Brexit would leave the world even more vulnerable to the risk of another global recession.
China’s economy grew 6.7% in the second quarter from a year ago, unchanged from the first quarter but still the slowest pace since the global financial crisis. Analysts had expected it to dip to 6.6%.
Growth in investment by private firms, which accounts for over 60% of total investment, fell to a new record low in the first half of the year, as businesses retrench in the face of the sluggish economic outlook and weak exports.
“While there was a big pick-up in retail sales, the slowdown in fixed-asset investment is a worry. Given the slide in fixed-asset investment growth, I’m inclined to keep my forecast of slowing growth over the course of the year,” said Tim Condon, chief economist for Asia at ING in Singapore.
Fixed-asset investment growth in the first half slowed to 9%, the weakest since March 2000.
“We think GDP growth is likely to slow in Q3 and may rebound in Q4, driven by post-flood reconstruction activity. But the rebound will not last long,” said Nomura economist Wendy Chen.
Downward Pressure
China’s statistics bureau said the economy still faces downward pressure, but added that first-half performance lays a good foundation for achieving the government’s full-year growth target of 6.5 to 7%, which some market watchers believe is ambitious.
“Solid GDP in Q2, which is likely to have been led by property and construction, is unlikely to be sustained. Property investment grew 6.1% in the first six months, lower than 7% in January-May. Therefore, the property-led recovery has ended,” economists at ANZ said in a note.
Indeed, Zoomlion Heavy Industry, a major Chinese construction equipment maker, warned investors last Friday that its first-half net loss would more than double due to weak demand for construction machinery.
Policymakers have said the economy remains largely steady, but with private investment shrinking, the government has had to do more of the heavy lifting to support growth, adding to worries about the country’s mounting debt levels and delays in reforming the bloated and inefficient state sector.
State firms hiked investment 23.5% in the first half, and government spending rose 19.9% in June.
That spending spree and higher commodity prices have benefited long-ailing manufacturers. Industrial output growth rose to 6.2% in June from a year earlier, beating expectations for a marginal easing.
Retail sales growth also accelerated to 10.6%, easily beating expectations, while Chinese banks extended more loans than expected, driven largely by mortgage demand.
