The plan to guide China's economic development from 2011 to 2015 emphasizes income disparity reduction, brand building and R&D capability upgrades. Companies are encouraged to go "green" as well.

China's 12th five-year plan is likely to shake up the country's export industry.

China suppliers of high-value IT products have a safer and faster alternative to send their goods to Central Asia and Europe. But high costs make the railway a nonviable option for exporters in other industries.

With the opening of the Chongqing-Duisburg rail freight line in mid-October, manufacturers in China's inland provinces now have a swifter way to deliver goods to Europe.

Manufacturers in labor-intensive industries are turning to Asia, Mexico, Brazil, Russia and the Middle East to shore up their profit margins. While not without challenges, the endeavor has yielded double-digit growth for many product lines.

Increasing trade protectionist measures, the yuan's appreciation and the still uncertain financial situation in the EU and the US have led many China companies to cultivate sales in new markets.

Complying with the EU's REACH directive does not seem to be a problem for big enterprises. Smaller makers are waiting until the last minute and may even stop exporting to the EU.

China's large export manufacturers appear to be all set for REACH. This comes as the majority claims to have met the requirements ahead of schedule.