The Sarcasm Report v.55

July 8, 2010
Where Are Global Managers Investing?

You've got 660 million tons of cement manufacturing capacity; that's more than the EU, the US, Japan, and Russia combined; and they've got 470 million tons under construction.

August 26, 2009
China to Study Curbs on Overcapacity in Steel, Cement (Update3)

Li Yizhong, China’s industry minister, earlier this month ordered the steel industry to refrain from expanding capacity. Mills have capacity to produce 660 million metric tons of steel each year and there’s demand for 470 million tons, Yi said.

Let's sum up what we know.

* 660 million metric tons of cement manufacturing capacity
* 660 million metric tons of steel manufacturing capacity
* 470 million metric tons of cement under construction
* 470 million metric tons of steel demand

I love it when numbers line up that well. Cement? Steel? Under construction? Demand? It's all good. Just mix and match numbers and economic phrases and you too can be a global manager!

China produced an estimated 1.45 billion tons of cement last year, accounting for half of world output and making it more than eight times bigger than its nearest rival India, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Producing "1.45 billion tons of cement" with just "660 million tons of cement manufacturing capacity" is truly miraculous. China never ceases to amaze me.