Last month we saw record supplies purchased for the construction industry, with wholesalers and construction companies placing orders through us looking to reduce material costs to maintain profit margins.  We also had a record number of new enquires from this industry sector with companies asking us to resource products for them. So what are the…

As Donald Trump meets Kim Jong-un the rhetoric and threats of trade sanctions between the US and China rumble on.  The next looming deadline. the 15th June when Trump publishes his latest list of affected products to face higher tariffs.  This follows the announcement at the end of last month that the US were going…

New trade wars – opportunity or threat? By now most people will be aware of the new trade sanctions imposed by the US government.  This has led to reprisals from Canada and Mexico.  The EU is also considering a response but as with all things EU it might take many months to reach an agreed…

Recent announcements by US president Donald Trump that he intends to increase tarriffs on imported steel ad aluminium is t many a backward step heralding the spectre of trade wars and protectionism.  Whilst this may be true there is little we here in the UK can do about it.  It does however bring opportunities for…

New Year is always a difficult time for overseas traders with China.  The whole country shuts down for a National holiday lasting two weeks with many factories closed for a month.  Its a time of great celebration in China and the Spring Festival as it’s known in China is the most important celebration in the…

The collapse of Carillion in the UK has come as a shock and surprise to some, but not to others who had predicted the problems and voiced tier concerns.  Either way it’s a worrying and difficult time for many of the 1000’s of employees affected.   It is also a huge concern for the many sub…

As China enforces its ban on imported plastic waste the western world reels.  China recycled over 30% of the worlds plastic so it’s refusal to accept imports of plastic waste is not to be under estimated.  What is surprising is the shock an surprise expressed by countries such as the UK given that this change…

China has in the recent past been notorious for its levels of air pollution.  This was highlighted during the Bejing Olympics where special measures were taken to reduce pollution as world attention was focused on the Chinese capital.    Since then the government has taken considerable steps to reduce pollution and clean up the air.…

Building and construction in the UK is currently on the increase, especially in the domestic housing sector.  This is driven by a chronic shortage of housing, increasing demand and rising prices.  The UK government has supported and encouraged increased house building through a number of initiatives including relaxing planning controls and financial incentives. This has…

The past year has seen a steady rise in steel prices in China – especially for higher value products such as galvanised steel pipes used extensively in the construction industry.  This is on a background of falling domestic demand and a world wide surplus of steel producers which perhaps at first glance makes it surprising.…

Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed a new 100 day ten point trade agreement.  It covers a wide range of areas from US beef and Chinese chicken through to credit card companies, bond issuers  and agricultural biotech companies.  Many US commentators however feel it doesn’t go far enough and is a very select list…

The UK has a very long and at time chequered history of trading Tea with China dating back to 1700’s.  This has primarily been a one way process with tea being imported to the UK from China.  This trade reached it’s peak perhaps in the late 1700’s when its value was such that smuggling into…

At the last meeting of the Bank of England held on 15 march the monetary policy committee voted by 8:1 to hold interest rates at their historic low of  0.25%.  Previous meetings had been unanimous in the decision but at this months meeting there was one dissenting voice.  A signal that may see as the…

The second Northern Powerhouse conference held in Manchester on 21st and 22nd February welcomed a major delegation of Chinese businesses looking for new commercial partnerships. The delegation was made up of members of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), The China chamber of Commerce UK delegation and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.…

In the face of increasing hostility expressed by US president Donald Trump towards trade with China Germany is hoping to cash in. German businesses have struggled for many years to do trade with China in an equitable manner. They have long complained of an unfair playing field with Chinese business having free access to European…