Instead of exporting everything – in southern China’s Guangdong 90 per cent of the goods are shipped or flown to foreign markets – many of these northeastern China based enterprises sell a substantial portion of their output to the domestic Chinese market.
Others like the new Airbus plant in Tianjin assemble aircraft primarily for local carriers. “This economic strategy of standing on two feet makes most of them less vulnerable to external market downturns,” says Ulrich Huesson, Managing Director of TAT – Tianjin AirCargo Terminal.
Virtually next door to his office a huge industrial complex called `Binhai New Area´ is being created covering 2,700 square kilometers, making the total area roughly four times as big as Shanghai´s Pudong Industrial Zone. More than 10,000 Chinese and 4,000 international companies have settled in Binhai already.
Seventy of the 500 world leading corporations have established subsidiaries in the Binhai area. However, the majority of the tenants are medium sized or even small producers. The complex consists of seven special zones like the Economic and Technological Development Area or the Port Free Trade Zone, offering specialized manufacturers a tailored ambient.
“It is this mixture together with the diversity of production that helps stabilise the local economy within this region,” Huesson states.
Due to the rapidly growing importance of the Binhai industrial complex and pushed by a decree of the Chinese government, Tianjin Airport will see much more cargo traffic in future.
According to that decree, the passenger and air freight business will be split between Beijing and Tianjin with Binhai International Airport– located 120 kilometers southeastof the country’s capital – getting the cargo portion.
There are direct train links between both cities and two six-lane highways. Last year 151,098 tonnes were handled at Tianjin International, making it the 11th busiest cargo gateway in China.
The TAT is a joint venture between Lufthansa Cargo (46 per cent), Taiwanese investor Hwa Hsia International Holding Ltd (49 per cent) and Tianjin Airport International Logistics Joint Stock Co Ltd (five per cent).