2021 was the second year of the pandemic, marked by disruptions to supply chains, international travel restrictions, and geopolitical tensions. Stepping into 2022, the world continues to experience COVID-19 resurgences and war-related humanitarian crises.
China’s economy is a key driver of global growth - yet the country’s economic environment is becoming increasingly complex. China's growth rate was predicted to be around 5% in 2022, and after a strong start to the year, recent developments - such as the war in Ukraine and the worst COVID-19 surge in China in two years - have strongly disrupted consumption, production, logistics, and supply chains.
Against this backdrop, German companies in China are trying to navigate this increasingly challenging environment. Keywords such as dual circulation and global supply chains, localization, innovation and carbon neutrality will not only continue to shape the months to come, but likely gain in scope and meaning.
In this spring issue of the Ticker, we will dive into key trends in China’s economy in 2022, and review the opportunities and challenges of China’s fast‑changing market. We will explore China’s first steps in the metaverse and the importance of data governance, and hear from experts on decoupling and the future of logistics.
We hope you enjoy the issue! As always, please share, comment, discuss, tell us what you think, offer suggestions and contribute to our next editions of the German Chamber Ticker!