Changes in online user behaviour results from the coronavirus

Source:  China Skinny, 17th February 2020

The coronavirus outbreak has altered online usage habits in China. 

An infographic detailed in this article, illustrates how China's online millions (netizens) have altered their behaviour, with most of the country being homebound over the past few weeks.

In the three weeks from the 14th January 2020, online usage grew over 20% to 6.11 billion hours - over six hours per Chinese online.

To read the full article and to view the suite of interesting infographics on this topic, click here

Image:  Daily Telegraph

How to read the coronavirus impact on Chinese consumer behaviour

Source:  China Skinny, 19th February 2020

Looking into consumer spending behaviour over the past few weeks paints a clear picture that most consumers aren’t yet back in the mood for making frivolous purchases. Rather, they have knuckled down in survival-mode.

JD’s sales spikes all came from staples such as rice, dairy, vegetables and meat. This has been confirmed by app behaviour which has seen a soaring usage of apps selling fresh produce, with consumers buying a week’s worth of vegetables and other household supplies at once.

Food delivery apps have seen a drop in usage, as consumers cook meals for themselves, not wanting to take risks contracting the virus from chefs or delivery men, on top of having more time to prepare food than in their usual busy lives.

To read the full article, click here

Image:  Inside Retail Asia

Cold storage at Shanghai and Tianjin Ports both full as coronavirus hits China seafood logistics

Source:  Undercurrent News, 14th February 2020

Cold storage warehouses in Tianjin and Shanghai - two of the world's busiest ports - are "full", according to the Maritime Bureau of China's Ministry of Transport, and shipping companies are advised to send goods to alternative locations.

According to a February 12 announcement, shipping companies docking at Shanghai port may face congestion fees or be re-routed to other ports in China.

A separate announcement said cold storage in Tianjin port is also full.

To read the full article, click here

Image: Produce Report

Japan sees first business failure linked to coronavirus

Source:  Japan Times, 25th February 2020

A hotel in Aichi Prefecture will file for bankruptcy due to a steep fall in customers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

It marks the first business failure in Japan linked to the COVID-19 outbreak, officials at the credit agency said.

To read more click here

Image:  Filipino Times

Huanan seafood market may not be the source of the coronavirus

Source: The Voice of Medicine, 23 February 2020 

On 23 February 2020, The Voice of Medicine in China forwarded an article written by Sun Tao of DeepTech that the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan City China is not the source of COVID – 19 (coronavirus).  

It was suggested that the coronavirus of the Huanan Seafood Market came from elsewhere. This conclusion is based on the evidence of genome sequencing by the research team of the Chinese Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden.   

To read more, click here

Image:  ABC News

China Approved List update - seafood products exempt from the non-viable eligible species list

Source:  Department of Agriculture

A reminder that the Department has been advised that the (non-viable) eligible species list is not applicable to products whose Harmonised System (HS) tariff codes are located in 1603000090-1605909090 or 2103909000.

Industry can investigate whether their seafood products may be legitimately tariffed under the above Harmonised System Codes and therefore exported to China without the need for non-viable eligible species listing. 

To read more click here

Image: The School Run

Aquaculture sector in Penang in troubled waters

Source: The Star, 15th February 2020

The aquaculture sector in Penang, which rakes in RM1.67 billion a year in revenue, is nosediving as orders from China and Singapore shrink tremendously in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Penang Fish Farmers Association Deputy Chairman Chew Thong Tai said the export of fish from Penang has shrunk by 60% in the last two months.

To read the full article, click here

Image:  The Star

Fines for poaching eels to be raised to ¥30 million in 2023

Source: Japan Times

The Fisheries Agency plans to raise the maximum fine for illegal fishing of baby Japanese eels, or glass eels, from ¥100,000 to ¥30 million starting in 2023, in a bid to stem a source of funding of organised crime syndicates.

The maximum period of imprisonment for glass eel poaching will also be increased from six months to three years. Japanese eels have been designated as an endangered species.

To read the full article, click here

Image: Buglobal Environmental Solutions

Japan's central bank keeps monetary policy steady and nudges up its economic growth forecasts

Source:  Japan Times, 22nd February 2020

The Bank of Japan last month kept monetary policy steady and nudged up its economic growth forecasts as the government’s stimulus package and receding pessimism over the global outlook took some pressure off the central bank to alter course. 

To read the full article, click here

Image:  Fortune