MNI POLICY: Global Virus Spread Hits China Supply Chain: Offcl

     BEIJING (MNI) - The spread of the coronavirus into Japan and South Korea is

hitting the operations of Chinese exporters, disrupting the imports of

semi-finished goods and impacting the supply chain, said Li Xingqian, director

of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce. 

     The government will look to safeguard production and supply chains to

offset any negative impacts from the spread of the virus overseas, Li said at a

briefing Thursday. China helps exporters resume operations, increase

transportation capacity and offer financial support, said Li.

     Here are other takeaways from the briefing by Li and other officials:

     - Average daily sales of 1,000 retailers monitored by MOFCOM rose 5.6% from

mid-February, according to Wang Bin, deputy director of the Market Operations.

Spending in February plunged as the coronavirus outbreak kept people home. 

     - Average sales of automobiles, communications equipment and major

appliances in Feb. 21-29 rose 14.8%, 11.7% and 11.1% respectively from a month

ago, said Wang.

     - China hasn't banned exports of masks or their component parts, said Li.

The is still a shortage of masks, even with production capacity rising rapidly,

he said.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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