China Strategic Intelligence

Bespoke research on Chinese commodity markets, regulatory developments and consumer dynamics. Confidential briefings — written for decision-makers, not analysts.

Discuss this serviceFAQ

The work

Subscription-style "China research" floods most decision-makers' inboxes already. What is harder to come by is research that has been scoped against a specific decision, written by someone with operating experience inside the country, and delivered in a form that can actually be circulated to a board.

Thornfield's intelligence work is bespoke, confidential and decision-shaped. We do not publish public reports, we do not run a paywalled dashboard, and we do not resell other people's data. Each engagement begins with a structured scoping conversation to clarify the decision the intelligence will inform, and ends with a written briefing — typically 8 to 25 pages — that can be read in one sitting.

Coverage areas

Commodity markets

Copper concentrate flows, CSPT positioning, Chinese smelter capacity, critical mineral policy (rare earths, antimony, tungsten, germanium, gallium), recycling and circular-economy dynamics, refined-metal export licensing.

Regulatory developments

Export control changes, foreign-investment review pathways, environmental compliance shifts, customs and tariff developments, sector-specific industrial policy, anti-monopoly enforcement trends.

Consumer markets

Category-level penetration data, premium and luxury segment dynamics, e-commerce platform changes (Tmall, JD, Douyin, Xiaohongshu), regional consumption patterns, KOL and channel landscape, payment and logistics infrastructure.

Deliverable formats

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from subscription China research providers?
Subscription research is necessarily generic — written for many readers, against no specific decision. Our briefings are bespoke, written for one client, against a defined decision. The cost-per-page is higher; the cost-per-useful-insight is usually much lower.
Do you have sources inside Chinese government?
No, and we would be cautious of any advisor who claims to. Our work is built on public sources, industry sources, peer relationships in Chinese manufacturing and trading, and structured interviews. We do not pay for confidential information.
How do you handle sensitive topics like export controls or sanctions?
We scope sensitive engagements carefully at the outset, decline anything that would breach UK, EU or US sanctions law, and recommend specialist legal counsel where appropriate. Most of our regulatory work is informational rather than transactional and well within normal advisory boundaries.
What does a typical briefing look like?
Eight to twenty-five pages of analysis, written in plain English, with charts where they help and footnotes for traceable claims. Suitable for circulation to a board or investment committee without further translation work.

Talk to Sarah Liu

A 30-minute confidential call is the best place to start. No charge for the initial discussion, no obligation to proceed.

Email info@thornfieldres.co.uk