China orders closure of factories in 19 industries in economic growth bid

China’s government has ordered companies to close factories in 19 industries where overproduction has led to price-cutting wars, affirming its determination to push ahead with a painful economic restructuring despite slowing growth.

The industry ministry issued orders late on Thursday to more than 1,400 companies to cut excess capacity that has led to financial trouble for manufacturers. It also applies to producers of copper and glass and requires some companies to close outright.

Communist leaders are trying to reduce reliance on investment and trade. But a slowdown that pushed China’s economic growth to a two-decade low of 7.5 per cent in the latest quarter prompted suggestions they might have to reverse course and stimulate the economy with more investment to reduce the threat of job losses and unrest.

“This detailed list shows the government is serious in its efforts to restructure the economy and is prepared to tolerate the necessary pain,” said Nomura economist Zhiwei Zhang in a report. “This reinforces our view that aggressive policy stimulus is unlikely last year and that growth should trend down.”

An investment boom and government subsidies to industries such as solar panel manufacturing prompted producers to expand rapidly until supply exceeded demand. Companies have been forced to slash prices, often to below production cost.

The government’s overall measure of prices charged by producers has fallen for the past 16 months, threatening a growing number with financial ruin. A major solar panel maker, Suntech, was forced into bankruptcy this year.