China's CIMC halts some output amid slack business

SHANGHAI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - China's CIMC (200039.SZ) (000039.SZ), the world's largest shipping container maker, has stopped the production of dry vans, used for shipping general cargo, for two months, the official Xinhua news agency said on Friday.

An official at China International Marine Containers (Group) Co (CIMC) told Reuters that business was slack and that the company allowed more staff to take leave this year than in previous years.

"The fourth quarter is typically a slow season for our sales and a season during which we allow our staff to take leave and suspend some non-essential business," said the official, who declined to be named due to corporate briefing rules.

"This year, our business has been hit by the global financial crisis, so we are allowing more staff to take leave," he added.

The dry van business accounts for less than 50 percent of the company's net profit each year, the official said. He declined to comment further, saying that the company would issue a statement over the weekend with details.

Trading in CIMC's shares was suspended on Friday. (Reporting by Lu Jianxin; Editing by Edmund Klamann)