Cabbage price, this is an adjective that later generations used to describe the price of Chinese products.

Of course, in fact, for China 30 years later, if the product can sell the price of Korean Chinese cabbage, it will really be a dream to wake up with a smile.

In fact, the selling price of Chinese steel is not even comparable to the price of Chinese cabbage.

In the eighties, the Chinese did not realize how great their advantage was in the export of industrial products.

There are many factors here, such as the domestic industry has not reached the level of later generations and cannot give full play to the advantages of scale.

Another example is the state-owned enterprise system, where the factory does not understand the international market system, and the import and export company itself has limited energy and responsibility.

and the unclear property rights of state-owned enterprises, the heavy social burden makes the indirect costs of enterprise operation swallow up the advantages of the cost of means of production......

For many state-owned enterprises, it seems that the lack of confidence in the comparison of their own products with foreign products seems to have gone deep into the bone marrow. In many cases, it is actually a matter of thinking, unthinkable, dare not think, so the market is placed there but can only wait for foreign products to occupy the domestic market.

But what about the facts?

In the case of the 10,000-ton bulk carrier of the Bao Brothers Shipping Company, which was built by Dagang Shipyard in 1981, the cost alone is 1,200 tons of steel. In 1981, the planned price of steel for shipbuilding was 1,800 yuan/ton, which means that the cost of steel was about 2 million yuan.

Counting the costs of marine equipment and various auxiliary materials, labor, management, depreciation, etc., the cost of this 12,000-ton bulk carrier is about 3.8 million yuan according to Dagang Shipyard's own calculation.

The contract price is $3.5 million.

Compared with shipyards in South Korea or Japan during the same period, the price of building a 10,000-ton bulk carrier of the same class is between $7 million and $12 million.

In 1981, the exchange rate between the renminbi and the U.S. dollar was 1:1.7.

Other words. If converted into US dollars, the cost of building a 10,000-ton bulk carrier in China is about $2.2 million -- note that at this time, the renminbi has a fixed exchange rate against the US dollar, and the exchange rate does not play a role in regulating imports and exports, but is subsidized by imports for exports.

Real exchange rate. After export subsidies, it can generally reach about 1:4 to 1:5.

Since China was a planned economy at that time, many materials could not be measured by price. Because normally speaking, the market price is found based on scarcity, not according to the value of the product itself, and it is possible for the same steel to be circulated on the black market, and the price can be doubled or tripled.

What is the specific cost of a 10,000-ton bulk carrier, in the Chinese industrial system at that time, it was basically a bad debt.

However, even so. The $3.5 million 10,000-ton bulk carrier was definitely a lucrative business.

By 1985, the voice of China's liberalization of the exchange rate had become mainstream, and at this time, the exchange rate of the renminbi against the US dollar had also been adjusted to 1:2.9.

In other words, even if the price of $3.5 million remained unchanged that year, the profit would increase by 60%.

The $5.5 million is included in the export subsidy tax rebate. Really responded to that sentence, the quotation is based on quadrupling and then changing the currency.

It can be seen from this. When Director Sun heard that Hu Wenhai's offer to Anthony was $5.5 million, he thought that there was too much of a group of "grass and mud horses".

"Mr. Hu, this price is too high!" Director Sun couldn't believe it, shook his head and patted his face again, as if he felt that he was dreaming: "Also, the Bao brothers are from Xiangjiang." Can you listen to us?"

Hu Wenhai smiled, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Director Sun, don't worry, the Bao brothers will not refuse." Bao Yugang had met the chief designer back then, otherwise where did the order for the ship you built come from? Not only will it help, but it will go all out. Don't forget. Last year's Sino-British Joint Statement ......"

Before Hu Wenhai finished speaking, Director Sun suddenly realized. Needless to say, on December 19, 1984, the Sino-British joint statement was particularly sound, Bao Yugang is the world's ship king, how can he be so eye-opening.

"But the price?" said Director Sun, still worried.

In his opinion, the domestic shipbuilding industry has a bad reputation in the international community - no, it can simply be said to be a little transparent. He was in a hurry to think of contracting international shipbuilding business, and he also went for the purpose of revitalizing triangular debts. As long as there is a small profit, Dagang Shipyard can breathe a sigh of relief.

The price is high, what if the customer is scared away?

Hu Wenhai was confident, and said with a mysterious smile: "Director Sun, do you know how Anthony found us?"

Director Sun was stunned, yes, how could such a big customer go straight to his own head?

"Mitsubishi Heavy Industries offered him $12 million, and that's when he came to us. Compared with the price, 5.5 million is definitely the lowest in the field, so you can rest assured. ”

Director Sun's heart suddenly brightened when he heard this, and of course he knew what the old professors and experts of his own organization were going to do in Japan. This Hu Wenhai has obviously taken Mitsubishi's path, and even said that Mitsubishi directly recommended the business he was unwilling to eat to his side.

This, this, this is amazing!

Director Sun was excited, I'm afraid Anthony is just the beginning. Leaning on the big ship of Mitsubishi, even if there is no business!

The only thing I'm afraid of is that there is too much business, and my own shipyard can't do it!

Thinking of this, Director Sun hurriedly pulled out his legs and ran. Make a good confession with Bao's shipping first, in case the stuffing is exposed, it will be too much loss!

……

Li Pucheng followed behind Anthony, and when he was far away, he hurriedly ran two steps to catch up, and stopped him with a deep bow.

"Mr. Anthony, I'm Lee Pu-sung from Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, I'm sorry to disturb. ”

"Oh, South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries?" Anthony had two new ships built in the past two years, which were produced by South Korea's Hyundai Shipyard, and a smile appeared on his face when he heard this.

"Yes, I'm Li Pucheng from the Business Section, and this is my business card. Li Pucheng respectfully handed over his business card, and then said with a flattering smile: "Mr. Anthony, about your 12,000-ton bulk carrier business, I don't know if you are willing to talk about it again? If Mr. Anthony is willing to build this ship by us, our manager Lee Jae-yong has applied for a discount for you to cut the line!

"Cut the line, so we sign the order this month, and we will be able to pick up the ship in June next year?" Anthony seemed interested, and this kind of discount is still very attractive.

Normally, Anthony's ship would not have been built at the right time, because each shipyard has a limited number of slipways and dockyards. Only when one is built can the construction of the next one begin.

The shipbuilding business of the shipyard is generally divided into fast orders and slow orders, and the slow orders are for their contracts for several years, and the shipowners are not in a hurry to ask for ships, so they can naturally arrange the production plan calmly.

Such ships are generally much cheaper, and shipyards rely on such orders to offset costs and keep them running. When the construction of such ships is started at a time when the business is insufficient, the shipyard facilities of the province will incur depreciation and empty consumption.

The real profit of the shipyard mainly depends on the fast order. In other words, production needs to be arranged as soon as possible after getting the business. Time is tight, and the price is naturally high, which is the main source of profit for shipyards.

Anthony's bulk carrier itself is a fast order. If you add in the advantage of cutting in line, this is a fast speed.

The ship will make money a day earlier when it gets off the water, and it will be very attractive to complete the construction period three or four months early, which is equivalent to helping Anthony earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more.

"Yes!" Li Pucheng gritted his teeth and nodded: "If you can place an order this week, it just so happens that we have a ship launched, and our manager promised your ship to fill it immediately." It's been a week. Other boats will occupy the slipway, and you will have to wait at least one to two months longer......"

Anthony applied for flashing. He has seen a lot of salesmen's tricks to urge orders, and he doesn't take Li Pucheng's words too seriously.

A week was obviously trying to get him to make up his mind as soon as possible, without a chance to think carefully. But buying a boat is not buying flowers, how can there be the possibility of impulsive consumption?

Anthony believes that a ship may be built soon, but not in a week. Maybe it's half a month, or maybe a month, it should be the ammunition specially prepared by Hyundai Heavy Industries for this order meeting.

Anthony, who started as a salesman in his early years. There is indeed some uncertainty in the heart.

A 10,000-ton bulk carrier is only, why is Hyundai Heavy Industries willing to give up this kind of small opportunity to itself? In this order meeting, Hyundai Heavy Industries can get orders of hundreds of thousands of tons, but the treatment of cutting into the queue is at most two or three, so why waste it on itself?

Anthony's heart was racing. The complexion couldn't help but be a little solemn.

And Li Pucheng was also carefully observing his expression, he did have an opportunity to cut in line, but it was basically impossible to give this opportunity to Anthony's 10,000-ton bulk carrier, this order was too small.

But it would be a good litmus test, a place to cut the queue, and if Hyundai Heavy Industries was the first candidate in Anthony's mind, then this condition could easily take him down. At most, when signing the contract, it is easy to have an excuse to delay it for a month, and then there will naturally be other slipways to vacate it, which is equivalent to the general fast order construction speed.

If Anthony doesn't agree to this condition, then it's a bit of a big problem.

Obviously, this shows that in Anthony's mind, Hyundai Heavy Industries has little advantage, even if it is added to the discount of cutting the queue, it is not to the extent that he makes up his mind.

They know the conditions of the Japanese, and they have long been related to the manufacturers who have helped Hyundai inquire about the price in Japan's shipbuilding industry, and this year's ordinary bulk carriers are absolutely not competitive in terms of cost performance. Anthony is a South American shipping tycoon, not an American or European tycoon, and his capital is limited.

Between buying feelings and buying cost-effective, he must choose cost-effective.

Li Pucheng is confident that the quotation and conditions given by Hyundai Heavy Industries will definitely greatly exceed that of Japanese manufacturers in terms of cost performance.

Under such conditions, none of Anthony was clearly inclined to Hyundai Heavy Industries......

Then TM things are in trouble.

"Well, I need to think about it. ”

Anthony thought of the Chinese's offer again, $5.5 million a ship, which was more appropriate than the Koreans. Chinese also have Lloyd's Register classification experience, and there should be no need to worry about quality. The bulk carrier he wants to build is the most ordinary Panamanian ship type, which is technically very ordinary and can be built with a basic technical level.

Five and a half million dollars, the budget he originally planned to build two, can now build even three. Isn't it much better than the construction progress advantage brought by the Koreans?

He can only worry about the accuracy of the Chinese information now and make up his mind after checking it.

If it is determined that the Chinese really have the ability to build, then the capital has always been hesitant to change the door -- in fact, the risk of choosing a Chinese shipyard is not great, and after signing a contract and paying a deposit of about 10%, the Chinese can use the contract to open a letter of credit, and the letter of credit can be used to finance shipbuilding. After the ship is built, apply for classification from Lloyd's Register.

If you can't be classified, I'm sorry, the deposit Chinese will be doubled. Able to be classified, Anthony can also use the classification certificate to go to insurance after paying the final payment. If there are any technical and quality problems in the future ship, the insurance company will naturally be responsible for compensation, and the ship insurance of which shipyard will be bought anyway, and he will definitely not lose money.

Anthony was open-minded, but Li Pucheng's mood couldn't help but chuckle and hung fifteen buckets.

Anthony didn't dwell on the temptation to cut in line. Obviously, Hyundai Heavy Industries' previous offer was not the best option for him.

Li Pucheng showed a professional smile, did not dwell too much, bowed his head and sent Anthony away.

It's just that by the time Anthony walked away, there was no smile on his face.

……

"Are you saying that Anthony's attitude has changed a lot since he went to the Chinese shipyard?" said Lee Jae-yong frowned, as if he smelled the slightest hint of threat.

"Yes manager, after Anthony came out of the booth at the Chinese shipyard. It doesn't seem to be very interested in our offer. I offered to cut him in line, but he didn't come across as attractive. I doubt ......"

"Needless to say. I know what that means. ”

Lee Jae-yong is not a person without ability, South Korea in the 80s was a country in a period of rapid growth, and there will always be no shortage of capable people in such a society.

Just listening to Li Pucheng's simple words, he knew the change in Anthony's attitude behind him.

"Find a related person of ours and go to the booth of this Chinese shipyard to find out. ”

He made a quick decision.

However, without waiting for the related households of Hyundai Heavy Industry to inquire about the situation, soon rumors became popular in the market.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Yamazaki Aki at the beginning of the exhibition. More than a dozen shipowners were introduced to the booth of a Chinese shipyard, which is really amazing news.

I've never seen anyone do this kind of business, and they pay a high price to drive people out, and then introduce the business to other families. If it weren't for the fact that Yamazaki was also a veteran of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, it would have made people wonder whether he had accepted bribes from the Chinese.

But of course. Soon there were smart people who smelled it.

Masataka Yamazaki introduced the business of the Chinese booth, most of which are bulk carriers of less than 20,000 tons, general cargo ships, and some river ships and ro-ro wheels. These ships are not high-tech and have low profits, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is basically not competitive in doing these businesses now.

Obviously, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Chinese shipyards should have reached a cooperation. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries introduced the business it could not receive to the Chinese shipyards, and the Chinese shipyards got the business with extremely low quotations, and as for what Mitsubishi Heavy Industries got in the cooperation, no one knows.

"Damn, the Japanese are targeting us!" said Samsung Heavy Industries' Park Jae-kyung jumped to the ground, and the shipbuilding business of less than 20,000 tons accounted for at least 30 percent of South Korea's shipbuilding business. In recent years, the Korean shipbuilding industry has made a name for itself in the international market, relying on its price advantage.

Technically, the Koreans and the Japanese can't catch up, and the Korean shipbuilding industry eats this part of the low-tech ship type.

In Park's view, this is clearly because the Japanese know that they can't keep this market, so they simply lure the wolf and drive the tiger, preferring to cheapen the Chinese rather than let the South Korean shipbuilding industry, which has already posed a threat to the Japanese shipbuilding industry, gain benefits.

This Nima is really the rhythm of being shot while lying down!

Lee Jae-yong looked more calm, although he also had a serious face, he was not too angry. Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipbuilding technology is the best in South Korea, and the proportion of low-tech ships under 20,000 tons in Hyundai Heavy Industries is much smaller than that of the other four Korean shipyards.

"It's useless to get angry now, the Japanese are really powerful. But let's calm down, the Chinese have a fatal weakness. ”

Lee Jae-yong was sitting next to not only Samsung's Park Jae-kyung, but also the heads of the other three shipyards who were present at the order meeting, and all of them did not look very good.

Hearing what he said, the eyes of the other four people focused on Lee Jae-yong. Something is unclear.

If the Japanese transfer orders that they can't eat to China, then they will not talk about the growth of the shipbuilding business this year, and it will be very good if it does not fall.

"Manager Jaeyong, what are your weaknesses?"

Li Zaiyong nodded, did not sell the guanzi, and said simply: "It's the output." The Chinese shipyards that came to the exhibition this time had only one booth. I inquired, two large shipyards in China's Bohai province. No matter how large their shipyards are, the output that the two shipyards can undertake is probably limited. This time the order will be less than 20,000 tons, at least one million tons, how can the two shipyards eat all of them?"

"This ......"

The other four couldn't help but look at each other and nodded in realization. The two shipyards, even if they have the size of Korean shipyards, have a maximum production capacity of 400,000 tons, and the business that can be obtained at the order meeting will not affect the overall situation. Distributed to the five major shipyards in South Korea, it is only a loss of two or three ships. It doesn't affect much profit.

"Whew-"

Park Jae-kyung breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled happily: "Great, it's still the high vision of Manager Jaeyong, Chinese really not enough evidence! It is worthy of the ...... of Hyundai Heavy Industry."

"No!"

Lee Jae-yong interrupted Park Jae-kyung's sycophancy, and his face was serious: "If the Chinese have the support of the Japanese, I am afraid that they will become our henchmen! This order meeting may only be a tentative cooperation between the two shipyards, I am afraid that they will get the sweetness, and more and more Chinese shipyards will join this cooperation in the future." ”

Lee's words horrified others: "China's coastline is too rich in resources. In case China opens up its shipbuilding market and allows Japanese capital to enter China......"

The thought of China's cost and Japan's technology made everyone here shudder.

"The Chinese now have very strict control over foreign investment. I heard that foreigners are not allowed to hold shares, but can the Japanese accept such conditions?" the South Koreans found comfort in themselves, but it seems that they themselves do not have enough confidence in relying on the Chinese government to restrict the entry of Japanese capital.

"It depends on how much benefit the Japanese are willing to give, should we pin our hopes on the Chinese government? We have not yet established diplomatic relations with China, and we have no influence at all!"

"Yes, the Japanese and China have joined forces to carve up the international shipbuilding industry. Cultivate a partner who is at the behest of Japan and stop the rise of our Koreans......"

It can be said that all of you are quasi-senior executives of the Korean shipbuilding industry, and they are the most sensitive to industry dynamics. When I think of such a scene, it is like falling into an ice cave.

"Things haven't gotten that bad yet, and I asked people to look up the announcements of Mitsubishi's companies. There is currently no trend of investment in Chinese mainland's shipbuilding industry. ”

Li Zaiyong's gaze crossed the faces of the other four people, and he said in a deep voice: "At present, we must do a few things quickly! One is to report the situation here back to China, and the company's top management and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will come up with an attitude! Second, we must mobilize our intelligence forces to find out how China and Japan colluded together! There are also two Chinese shipyards, Dagang and Xinke, to find out our relationship and find out their situation! Finally, we must devote more energy to the business of less than 20,000 tons to curb the momentum of China's entry into the market. The price can't be compared, we can compare the service. We have more comprehensive information about each shipowner than the Chinese, and we will do the service in detail and impress the shipowner to choose us with the business level!"

It has to be said that it is indeed not a fluke that Koreans were able to rise to become a developed country in the eighties. The support of the Americans is indeed indispensable, but the United States supports more countries, and it is probably the norm that the mud cannot support the wall.

The Philippines has been a colony for the Americans for the longest time, has abundant resources, an "advanced political system", and has a realistic need for a strategy to contain the South China Sea. Similarly, there are South Vietnam, as well as Cuba, not to mention the two Irans, and even closer to the comical Ukraine.

Although the Koreans in the 80s stood behind the Americans, their own efforts were definitely respectable. Li Zaiyong's words can be said to be to the point, he is not chaotic in the face of danger, his command is determined, and he does have the demeanor of a general.

It's a pity.

Once China gets serious, facts have proved that history will return to its normal state...... (To be continued.) )