China April/May 2012: Rollercoaster notations heading downward / Demand down amid holidays / Producers grapple with high production costs and reduced revenues / Plunging oil price and Europe debt crisis loom

摘要

It was not only workers in Europe who rejoiced at the number of public holidays in April and May 2012. Chinese employees also got to enjoy a few days off as Q2 got underway. Aside from the 5 April Qingming Festival, marking the beginning of spring, production also rested for three days from 29 April to 2 May, as the People's Republic celebrated International Labour Day.