Market Profiles on Chinese Cities and Provinces
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12.2007

QINGHAI PROVINCE

Major Economic Indicators

Economic Indicators

2006

Jan - Sep 2007

Value

Growth
(%, y-o-y)

Value

Growth
(%, y-o-y)

Gross Domestic Product (RMB bn)

64.2

12.2 1

53.3

12.5 1

Per Capita GDP

11,762

17.1

Added Value Output
- Primary industry (RMB bn)

7.0

3.5 1

4.8

5.1 1

- Secondary industry (RMB bn)

33.1

15.8 1

28.2

15.2 1

- Tertiary industry (RMB bn)

24.1

10.5 1

20.3

11.0 1

Value-added Industrial Output 2 (RMB bn)

24.0

20.4 1

22.3

18.8 1

Fixed-assets Investment (RMB bn)

42.0

14.3

38.7

16.9

Retail Sales (RMB bn)

18.0

12.2

14.8

15.5

Inflation (Consumer Price Index, %)

1.6

5.6

Exports (US$ mn)

509.9

62.7

217.5

-35.7

- By FIEs (US$ mn)

11.5

-14.1

4.5

-50.6

Imports (US$ mn)

425.9

141.0

309.4

-6.0

- By FIEs (US$ mn)

34.7

-3.8

56.4

338.5

Foreign Direct Investment
- Number of projects

17

-41.4

-

-

- Contracted amount (US$ mn)

380.6

7.0

370.0

-

- Utilized amount (US$ mn)

275.0

3.4

-

-

Notes:  1 In real terms  2 For all state-owned enterprises and other forms with annual sales over RMB 5 million  
Sources: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007, China's customs statistics 9.2007

General Background

Qinghai is located in northwestern China, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. And it is named after Qinghai Lake, the largest inland plateau lake. The total area is 722,300 square kilometers, taking up 1/8 of the country¡¯s total area. It is fourth largest province in terms of area after Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regions. Its population stood at 2.8 million at end-2006.

Owning the reputation of the ¡°Water Tower of China¡±£¬Qinghai is the origin of many rivers such as Yangtze River, Yellow River and Mekong River. In addition, it is rich in minerals, hydropower, agro-husbandry and tourism. Therefore, an important ecological status and abundant resources are the most distinct features of Qinghai.

Industries

Qinghai is a large province in resources such as pastoral resource, hydropower resource, mineral resources, saline resources, petroleum & gas resources. The natural resources endowment has a great influence on shaping the industry structure of Qinghai.

Composition of GDP (%)

1995

2000

2006

Primary

41.8

30.9

17.5

Secondary

23.6

23

27.5

....Industry  

7.3

8.6

7.5

Tertiary

34.6

46.2

55.0

Source: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007

In 2006, the four pillar industries: petroleum & natural gas industries, hydropower generating industry, nonferrous metal industry and saline chemical industry contributed to nearly 83% of the total added value of industrial output.

Value-added Share of Pillar Industries (2006)

% share of industrial value-added

Petroleum & natural gas industries

29.6

Nonferrous metal industry

26.2

Hydropower generating industry

15.6

Saline chemical industry

11.5

Source: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007

Qinghai's industrial output mainly concentrated in Xining and Haixi which together accounted for 93% of the province's total value added of industrial output in 2006.

Tourism

Qinghai is indeed a paradise for sightseeing, with 408 scenery spots, of which, 11 are of international-level, 52 are of national-level and 84 are of provincial level.  Some representative scenery spots include Qinghai Lake, Mount Sun & Moon, Longyang Gorge and Gold & Silver Meadow. Cultural tourism resources include Kunlun Culture, Folk Customs of Tu and Sala and Ta'er Monastery.

2006

% change

Number of domestic tourist (million)

8.1

28.0

Income generated (RMB bn)

3.5

39.4

Number of overseas tourist (thousand)

42.2

20.0

Foreign exchange income (US$ mn)

13.3

20.2

Source: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007

Foreign Trade

Major export items included aluminum & rolled aluminum, silicon, yarn, woolen fiber and carpets. Major export markets included Japan, Hong Kong and the US.
 
Major imports were aluminum oxide, semi conductors, parts for auto data processing equipment, motor Vehicles and chassis. Major sources of imports were Australia, India and Bosnia.

Foreign Investment

FDI in Qinghai  

1991-2006

2006

No. of contracts

454

17

Contracted amount (US$ mn)

2,146.3

380.6

Utilised amount (US$mn)

1,216.3

275.0

Source: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007

In 2006, foreign investments in Qinghai were mainly engaged in manufacturing industries (65% of the contracted amount), production of electricity, gas and water.

Hong Kong is an important source of FDI in Qinghai, accounting for 28% of the province¡¯s contracted FDI in 2006, only after BVI (39%) and followed by Canada (6%).

Consumer Market

In 2006, retail sales of consumer goods rose by 12.2% to RMB18 billion and annual per capita disposal income of urban households was RMB9,000 (+11.7%). Major consumer markets are located in Xining which accounted for 67% of Qinghai ¡¯s total retail sales.

Composition of Per Capita Expenditure of Urban Household (%)

1995

2006

Food

51.4

36.2

Clothing

14.0

11.1

Household articles

6.7

6.4

Medicine & medical services

5.5

8.3

Transportation & communications

4.7

11.5

Recreation, cultural & education

7.9

12.2

Residence

3.5

10.0

Source: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007

Qinghai¡¯s consumer expenditure pattern has undergone structural changes over the last decade with relatively less on food and more on services. In 2006, household appliances recorded the fastest growth (43.6%) in terms of sales value, reaching RMB290 million.

Major department stores and shopping centers in Qinghai include Xining Department Store, Xining Xidan Malls, Hualian Commercial Building.

Economic Indicators of Major Cities (2006)

Region

GDP
(RMB bn)

Per Capita GDP (RMB)

Industrial Output#
(RMB mn)

Retail Sales
(RMB mn)

Xining

28.2

13,326

32,928

11,951

Haixi

17.0

40,277

26,536

2,319

Yushu

1.6

5,116

26

272

Notes: # For all state-owned enterprises and other forms with annual sales over RMB 5 million
Source: Qinghai Statistical Yearbook 2007