For years, China’s property market was seen as an unstoppable juggernaut, powering through global economic upheavals and delivering solid returns. But the current landscape paints a different picture, and foreign investors might be feeling the tremors.

Let’s talk numbers. In a startling revelation, dollar-denominated bonds from Chinese developers have plummeted in value over the past 24 months, dropping an astonishing 87%. This drastic fall translates to a loss of $135.5 billion from $154.9 billion in outstanding notes. To put this in perspective, picture holding a dollar and seeing its worth drop to just 11 cents in a short span. That’s the bleak reality for these bonds.

These numbers aren’t just abstract figures on a screen. They represent the widespread distress enveloping China’s real estate sector. Over the last two years, 53 real estate firms have crumbled, with industry investment dwindling by 7.9% in H1 2023 alone. The once-thriving sector is contracting, a trend that started back in 2021.

Making headlines in this saga is Country Garden Holdings. Previously holding the title as China’s top developer in terms of sales, it’s now teetering on the edge. Recent financial reports reveal a staggering loss of $6.7 billion in H1. This, coupled with looming bond coupon payments, might just push them over.

A cry for help has been echoing across the property corridors, with many in the sector waiting for a governmental lifeline. And it’s not just about the companies themselves; the ramifications of a struggling real estate industry ripple across the entire Chinese economy. Why? Because the property sector underpins roughly 30% of China’s total output.

The gravity of the situation is reflected in China’s Q2 GDP growth, which registered at 6.3%, trailing behind expert predictions that had pegged it closer to 7.1%. With burdensome debts, waning property demand, and these recent setbacks, economists are recalibrating their crystal balls, tempering growth forecasts for 2023 and 2024.

For anyone with a stake in China’s property game, or even global investors keen on diversifying portfolios, this turbulence serves as a poignant reminder. Booming industries can face downturns, and the mighty pillars of an economy can develop cracks. As always, thorough research and diversification might be the key to weathering such storms.