China has "eclipsed" the US as a consumer nation

China emerges as global consumer

* 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.

However, per capita consumption in China - the world's most populous country - remains far below that of the US.

Comments

Toad734 said…
Give it a couple of more years and they will also be the worlds biggest polluters. But I guess that makes sense, they are the worlds largest country.
bmitd67 said…
They are already there! I was in China a couple of years ago and the morning haze is crazy. I've never been to LA but it was sorta what I imagined the haze would be there.

Some Chinese I met were quite concerned with the fact that China produces all the chopsticks used...be sure to take your own or use a fork (or a spoon if you are in a Thai place) when in an Asian restaurant.