china become world's largest consumer

[VV o n g B a]

this is a bit of a milestone...

---------------------

China overtakes US as world's leading consumer
By Emad Mekay

WASHINGTON - China is quickly overtaking the United States as the world's biggest consumer of global resources, energized by a dynamic economy that is growing at a record pace, says a Washington research group. "China is no longer just a developing country. It is an emerging economic superpower, one that is writing economic history," said Lester Brown, founder of the Earth Policy Institute and author of Wednesday's report.

"If the last century was America's, this one looks to be the Chinese century," he said.

The report says China is outpacing the US in four of the five most important commodities: grain, meat, coal and steel. The fifth, oil, is still consumed in the US at rates triple that of China, about 20.4 million barrels per day. But while oil use in the US rose by 15% from 1994 to 2004, its use in the Asian giant more than doubled. China has now surpassed Japan as the world's second-largest consumer of oil after the US, said the report, titled "China Replacing United States as World's Biggest Consumer".

China also consumes about 800 million tonnes of another fossil fuel, coal, which meets nearly two-thirds of the country's energy demand. "With its coal use far exceeding that of the US and with its oil and natural gas use climbing fast, it is only a matter of time when China will also be the world's top emitter of carbon," says the report. "Soon the world may have two major climate disrupters."

Chinese consumption patterns are rising in other categories. It has opened a wide lead with grain: 382 million tonnes, compared to 278 million tonnes of the US last year. Among the three big grains, the world's most populous country leads in the consumption of both wheat and rice, and trails the US only in corn. Among leading consumer products, China trails the US only in automobiles. By 2003, it had 24 million motor vehicles, scarcely one-tenth of the 226 million on US roads. But with car sales doubling over the last two years, China's fleet is quickly catching up.

full story

[AliBabaIncorporated]

By 2003, it had 24 million motor vehicles, scarcely one-tenth of the 226 million on US roads. But with car sales doubling over the last two years, China's fleet is quickly catching up.

Oh wonderful.

Hopefully China's non-democratic form of government will prevent rich automobile owners from demanding and getting ever-increasing subsidies in the form of new roads near major cities. But I wouldn't count on it. Looks like China is headed for American-style government-funded suburban sprawl (probably with even more restrictive zoning laws to keep out the poor through minimum lot size, prohibitions on multi-dwelling units, etc, since the Chinese rich are a lot more classist than the American rich), and hollowing-out of urban neighbourhoods.

[MovingForward]

The difference being is China has, at least through this date, managed to provide for itself as both consumer and manufacturer in umpteen more ways than the U.S..(all props given to nations that supply China in some ways in this hemisphere).

The U.S. evolved into a fantastic consumer but a depleted manufacturer. I think the article is being cautious when it underestimates the China Century. It certainly isn't just about large populations and increased spending power.

Originally Posted by AliBabaIncorporated

(probably with even more restrictive zoning laws to keep out the poor through minimum lot size, prohibitions on multi-dwelling units, etc, since the Chinese rich are a lot more classist than the American rich), and hollowing-out of urban neighbourhoods.

Clarification - oops, my post landed after yours - just wanted you to know when I say "the difference being" in my post I'm not referring to your post concerning the suburban sprawl, US vs. China, etc. - I was jumping on the article itself concerning consumer/manufacturing differences between the US/China and hadn't yet read your post.

Perhaps here or in a different thread, can you educate me some on this hollowing out of urban neighbourhoods? Is it different than what the US does in cities?