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[China overtakes U.S. in consumption… (BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | China emerges as global consumer)** **
China has overtaken the United States in the consumption of basic agricultural and industrial goods, a new survey says.
It is now the world’s biggest consumer of grain, meat, coal and steel. Only in oil does the US consume more.
China is well ahead of the US in the consumption of goods such as television sets, refrigerators and mobile phones.
The Washington-based Earth Policy Institute says that China is now an emerging economic superpower.
However, per capita consumption in China, the world’s most populous country, remains far below that of the US.
According to the report:
China has overtaken the United States in the consumption of basic agricultural and industrial goods, a new survey says.
It is now the world’s biggest consumer of grain, meat, coal and steel. Only in oil does the US consume more.
China is well ahead of the US in the consumption of goods such as television sets, refrigerators and mobile phones.
The Washington-based Earth Policy Institute says that China is now an emerging economic superpower.
However, per capita consumption in China, the world’s most populous country, remains far below that of the US.
According to the report:
- 64m tons of meat were consumed in China in 2004 compared to 38m tons in the US
- 258m tons of steel were used in China in 2003 compared to 104m in the US
- China’s factories and homes burned 40% more coal than in the US
- The number of PCs in China is doubling every 28 months.