News

RaboBank director doesn’t expect Chinese economy to collapse

A director at Rabobank says that while China’s economy is weakening, she doesn’t expect a collapse.

Deborah Perkins manages Rabobank’s Dallas office and tells Brownfield much of China’s growth was due to infrastructure expansion financed by debt.

“I think it’s important to remember that while China is slowing, it’s not collapsing.  The slowdown in China has already had an impact on global commodity prices, but we’re still going to see demand from China going forward.  They will continue to be an important player.”

American ag exports to China have slowed, Perkins says, and the strength of the U.S. dollar is also a factor.

“That means that it’s hard on U.S. exports, given that its products are more expensive in importing regions than other exporters.  Their products are more cost-competitive and they become more competitive against U.S. products.”

Perkins was one of the speakers at the fourth annual Women in Agribusiness Summit, held in Minneapolis earlier this week.