Saturday, March 5, 2016

Zambia: Impact of China's Economic Slowdown

The Wall Street Journal published on 4 March 2016 a detailed article titled "Mining Collapse Cripples Africa's Dreams of Prosperity" by Patrick McGroarty and Joe Parkinson. 

The article focuses on the impact of China's economic slowdown on Zambia's economy, which is heavily dependent on the export of copper.  Slowing Chinese demand has nearly halved the price of copper in two years.  While China's demand for copper and other minerals once enriched Zambia and other mineral exporting countries in Africa, these countries are now facing the downside of decreasing demand and lower commodity prices.