China's warehousing storage sector maintains expansion in February

China's warehouse storage sector maintained expansion in February, according to the index released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) on Tuesday.

In February, China's warehousing index stood at 50.2 percent, down 2.3 percentage points from the previous month, still remaining in the expansion zone. Warehousing business demand continued to grow steadily, with the bulk commodity market performing particularly well.

A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 percent reflects contraction.

"In February, with the conclusion of the Spring Festival holiday, rising temperatures, and continued policy support, market supply gradually recovered, and businesses accelerated their resumption of work and production. In our raw materials industry, sectors such as building materials and nonferrous metals also showed a faster recovery trend," said He Hui, assistant president of the CFLP.

With the unleashing of the post-holiday infrastructure investment demand, warehousing demand for steel, nonferrous metals, and mechanical equipment remained strong, with the new orders index staying above 50 percent in the expansion zone. Correspondingly, the utilization rate of warehousing facilities remained high, with the facility utilization index reaching 52.5 percent in February, marking a three-month high.

In terms of inventory levels, the end-of-month inventory index stood at 53.2 percent in February, remaining unchanged from the previous month, indicating active stockpiling by enterprises and a continued rise in inventory levels. By category, the end-of-month inventory index for steel, nonferrous metals, chemical products, mechanical equipment, and home appliances remained above 50 percent.

Looking at the subsequent trends, the business activity expectation index stood at 54 percent in February, up 2.1 percentage points from the previous month, maintaining a high level. This reflects a generally optimistic outlook among enterprises.

China's warehousing storage sector maintains expansion in February

China's warehousing storage sector maintains expansion in February

Russian media have widely condemned Japan's revision of its arms export rules, warning that the move marks a major shift in Japan's defense policy and poses new risks to regional stability.

The Japanese government officially revised "the three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines on Tuesday to allow overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities, despite waves of large-scale protests, local media reported.

The revisions scrap rules that limit Japan's defense equipment exports to five non-combat categories, namely rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and mine sweeping.

Under the new policy, weapon exports will not require prior parliamentary approval. Instead, the government's National Security Council will make export-related decisions, with the Diet informed only after approval.

The Russian Business Consulting Daily commented that the changes marks a major shift in Japan's defense policy.

Russia's Vzglyad notes that Australia has signed a contract with Japan for its Navy to purchase its first three frigates from Japan.

Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reported that tens of thousands of Japanese citizens have rallied in Tokyo to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's attempts to revise the constitution.

The revisions, approved by the Cabinet and the National Security Council, coincide with the kickoff of the three-day spring festival at the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression.

Takaichi sent a ritual "masakaki" tree offering to the controversial shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II.

Russian media slam Japan for revising non-combat arms export policy