Editor's note: Urbanization is definitely the buzzword of the year, as it is expected to create the biggest domestic demand in the country. China Daily now would like to focus more on how urbanization affects people's everyday lives and how enormous business potential will be created.
But most brands have tapped only into first- and some second-tier Chinese cities. A vast number of cities are still largely untapped. [Full Story] Unilever targets West China's vast market | |
|
Desperate to get rid of the aura of small townsfolk and become integrated into city life, they have a greater willingness to dine in restaurants, shop in department stores, go to the gym and travel, facets of life familiar to native urban residents.
Despite all the consumption potential shown by people like Su, surging housing prices overshadow and restrain it. To own a property of their own, many new city dwellers have to cut down on their daily expenditures. [Full Story]
House price hikes thwart 'China dream'
Urban Chinese find consumer prices too high
|
|
Urbanization: Not just building homes
Urbanization has different implications for different property developers. But one thing for sure is that the new type of urbanization is not merely building homes.
Vanke Co Ltd, China's largest developer in terms of market value, for instance, would like to be a more service-based company to better meet different demands from its community residents. [Full Story]
Stable outlook for Chinese developers in 2014
Secondhand housing market sees chill in Dec
Evergrande eyes more consumer goods businesses
|
Demand for iron ore, steel to rise
Although China's economic growth is slowing down, ongoing urbanization will still strongly support demand for iron ore and steel products for a long time.
"We have confidence in China's iron ore demand because its urbanization requires a large amount of steel products in the coming years," said Neville Power, chief executive officer of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, the third-biggest iron ore producer in Australia. [Full Story]
Rio Tinto to boost iron ore capacity
China will buy more iron ore in coming months
Resource boom not to go bust due to China
|
See more at
|
Preview for 2014: Financial market
|
Preview for 2014: Key PC players
|