The current market perception is that the impact of the terrible disaster in Japan on the global economy is likely to be limited to a shave-off of approximately 0.5% of global economic growth. The IMF's forecast for Japan was lowered from 1.6% prior to the earthquake to 1.4% in 2011. According to the IMF their initial estimates are that the damage could be twice that of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 or up to 5% of GDP. My initial estimates also called for a shave-off of global GDP growth of 0.5%.

What has transpired so far is that the extent of the damage could be far worse than I (and the market?) initially expected. The IMF's initial forecast excluded the effects of power shortages and ongoing risks due to the fallout of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, which is exactly what is happening now. Thirty percent of Japan's electricity is generated by nuclear power and I am afraid that power blackouts, especially in the Tokyo area and other northern regions that contribute more than 50% of the country's GDP, pose the biggest threat to Japan's economy.

Apart from Japan's manufacturing and services PMIs that plunged in March, the impact of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis on the other major economies is not visible yet. The reason probably lies in the fact that trade has not yet been affected in the March numbers due to inventories at shipping centers.

In the case of China some evidence of the impact has emerged in the March manufacturing PMI indices, though. I have plotted some important PMI indices for this year and compared them to "normal" years, excluding 2008 and 2009: the years of the global financial crisis. With Japan being the biggest source of Chinese imports, a significant drop in March is evident, although February's PMI went against the apparent seasonal trend - perhaps as a result of higher imports due to the situation in the Arab countries?

Sources: CFLP; Li & Fung; Plexus Asset Management.

With major production disruptions in the auto industry in the broader Tokyo region, it is clear that China's imports of auto parts and machinery will be affected the most. I will therefore not be surprised if the Import PMI index falls to below 50 in April.

China's manufacturing new export orders PMI came in substantially lower compared to previous "normal" years where March is normally a strong month, especially after the Chinese New Year holidays.

Sources: CFLP; Li & Fung; Plexus Asset Management.

Chinese authorities claim that the impact of the disaster in Japan will not be significant. I wonder. Just bear in mind that Japan is the recipients of about 8% of Chinese exports and consumer and business confidence has been dealt such a severe knock that consumers are likely to cut spending.

The impact of the lower than expected import and export PMI indices in March led to a weaker manufacturing PMI than I expected. Where April is normally a seasonally strong month, I am of the opinion that there is an above-average risk that China's CFLP manufacturing PMI for April could disappoint even more.

Sources: CFLP; Li & Fung; Plexus Asset Management.

While China's CFLP non-manufacturing PMI in March was smack bang on the apparent seasonal trend, the same disappointment as in manufacturing could await the non-manufacturing sectors' PMI in April.

Sources: CFLP; Li & Fung; Plexus Asset Management.

And ditto the economy as a whole.

Sources: CFLP; Li & Fung; Plexus Asset Management.

But this is not what the Chinese stock market is telling us!

The Shanghai Composite index tends to lead the China CFLP Manufacturing PMI by one month. Given the current level of the market, it is actually anticipating stronger PMIs through end May!

Sources: CFLP; Li & Fung; Plexus Asset Management.

Sure, a weaker than expected PMI in April and perhaps May and therefore a slowdown of the terrific pace of economic growth are likely to put any further tightening of monetary policy by the PBoC on hold and may entice buyers, especially on the outlook of reconstruction in Japan. But what about the impact on Chinese company profits? I will not join the bulls like PIMCO and others at this stage and will not add to my positions.

While the outlook for commodity prices from Q3 onwards is positive on the rebuilding of Japan, the immediate outlook is not rosy. Downside surprises in China's PMIs are unlikely to be welcomed by the bulls in commodity markets and especially industrial metals. The only factor that may lend support to commodity prices in terms of US dollars in the face of this is a further weakening of the US dollar against other hard currencies. That would mean that those prices will fall in terms of other hard currencies. I am of the opinion that the price of crude oil is likely to hold up better than industrial metals while gold will hold its own.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, click here to subscribe to updates to Investment Postcards from Cape Town by e-mail.