EU companies in China hit by new exchange controls

Several European companies in China have been unable to remit dividends abroad following new exchange controls, in the first confirmation that a complicated approval process for making payments out of China is having a wider impact than first indicated.

The EU Chamber of Commerce in Beijing said the payment difficulties experienced by EU companies were “disruptive to business operations”.

The measures, introduced on November 28, appear designed to shore up China’s foreign exchange reserves following a period of unprecedented capital outflows, which have sent the renminbi falling almost 6 per cent against the US dollar this year, and put it on track for its worst year on record.

China has sold dollars from its foreign exchange reserves to try to curb downward pressure on the currency, with reserves hitting $3.12tn at the end of October, the lowest level since March 2011.

The EU Chamber in Beijing said that, as of Monday one company based in Shanghai had a dividend payment of several hundred million renminbi “stuck”, while another in southern Chinese city was told last week that a Rmb900m ($131m) payment needed more time for approval.

Another company based in south-west China was asked to give a detailed payment plan for a divided payment of Rmb2bn, which the EU Chamber described as unusual. Such dividend payments would have been routine two weeks ago.

The new difficulties follow a conference call on Monday of last week in which a state regulator, the State Administration on Foreign Exchange (Safe) in Shanghai, instructed about 20 foreign and domestic banks on new “window guidance” on foreign capital flows, to be implemented immediately.

The new rules require companies to obtain Safe approval for capital outflows above $5m, such as repayment of loans or paying dividends, regardless of the currency.

“The unpublished window guidance on the control of capital outflow is disruptive to EU companies’ regular business operations,” said Jörg Wuttke, head of the EU Chamber in Beijing. “It also unnecessarily exacerbates uncertainties regarding the predictability of China’s investment environment.”

Some banks have advised clients to submit 10-page applications in support of requests to remit funds abroad, and Safe has committed to providing answers within five days.

“According to EU banks, applications can be submitted for approval; the chance of such is, however, very low at the moment,” said the Chamber in a statement. “It is observed that dividend payments previously approved are put on hold.”

The rules also appeared to differ from city to city, the EU Chamber said. The threshold for approval in some cities appeared to be lower than $5m — for example, $1m in Chongqing.

The Chamber said it knew of one successful case last week where the Shanghai branch of Safe approved an EU company shareholder’s loan repayment on November 30.