China property market remains prudent, says RICS Global Commercial Property Survey Q4 2008
HONG KONG, March 4 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Collapsing oil prices have pulled oil rich countries into the global property malaise with capital values falling in emerging nations for the first time in the survey's history, says RICS Global Property Survey today (4 March 2009).
The previously strong performing UAE (United Arab Emirates) saw capital values plummet from a positive balance of 65 percent to a negative balance of 83 percent. The outlook for future performance has in consequence turned very gloomy. In the UAE, 85 percent more Chartered Surveyors expect capital values to fall compared to a positive balance of 45 percent in the previous quarter. In Dubai, 96 percent more Chartered Surveyors expect capital values to fall even further over the next three months, a drop from a positive balance of 22 percent in the previous quarter.
Commercial property in China has until recently remained relatively firm in the face of the global economic downturn. Most of the Chinese indicators have previously remained in positive territory, with both supply and demand holding up and expectations generally upbeat. However, the number of surveyors reporting a fall than a rise in capital values hit its worst level in the survey's history. 72 percent more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise in capital values compared to a positive 18 percent in the previous quarter with surveyor sentiment for future rises also turning negative for the first time.
Rents fell across more than 90% of the countries surveyed with the greatest downward pressure occurring across parts of Asia. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and India were ranked in the bottom five for rental performance as the collapse in world trade has smashed export earnings and business confidence.
Mr. Henry Li, Chairman of RICS China, said, "While uncertainty in the economy has affected China's commercial industry, it still remains one of the world's fastest growing commercial property markets. This RICS Global Commercial Property Survey learns more about the view and provides the latest intelligence of the surveyors and commercial experts in 5 Chinese cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shanghai on changing conditions and trends in China commercial property market to support the business development efforts of the industry players. Despite fiscal policies put in place by PRC government to minimize the transmission of the global financial crisis into China, negative impacts such as falling overall confidence, tight liquidity, potential fall in capital values and significant loss on the global stock markets, continue to transmit this downturn to China's commercial property market. But at the same time China continues to increase its global share of fixed investment and consumer expenditure."
About the Global Property Commercial Survey
RICS' Global Commercial Property Survey is a quarterly guide to the developing trends in the commercial property investment and occupier market. This edition details market conditions for the fourth quarter of 2008 based on information collected from leading international real estate organisations and local firms.
About RICS & RICS Asia
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity - providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society. RICS is the worlds' leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction. With over 140,000 members globally, RICS represents, regulates and promotes the work of property professionals throughout 146 countries.
The RICS Asia supports a network of over 9,000 individual professionals across the Asia region with an objective to help develop the property and construction markets in these countries, by introducing professional standards, best practice and international experience. It promotes RICS and its members as the natural advisors on all property matters. It also ensures that services and career development opportunities are provided to members.
The RICS Asia region covers national associations and local groups locating in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The People's Republic of China and the SAR Hong Kong. It also has members working across the region such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos PDR, Macao, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, The Maldives, The Philippines, Timor East and Vietnam.
Designated contacts for Hong Kong media:
RICS Hong Kong Public Relations Representatives
Ms Katherine Chow / Ms Kate Kwan
Tel: +852-23720090
Fax: +852-23720490
Mobile: +852-92563223 / +852-90771337
Email: kat@creativegp.com / kate@creativegp.com
