Asia Times -

China

China's toy exports to exceed US$10bn

BEIJING - China's toy exports are expected to exceed US$10 billion this year, Beijing Science and Technology News has reported.

The newspaper quoted Shi Xiaoguang, president of the China Toy Association, as saying that toy exports, mainly affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome in May and June this year, showed increase momentum in July and were expected to set an annual record high.

An international toy, model and present exhibition will be held in October in Shanghai and so far nearly 100 domestic and international famous brands, including many toy brands like "Tomy" of Japan and the Disney princess series of the United States, have applied for the event.

Shi believes that the exhibition will provide a good opportunity for China to promote its own toy brands and stimulate the entire toy industry.

With about 8,000 toy factories, China now stands as the world's largest toy manufacturer, producing 75 percent of world toys, and exports toys to more than 100 countries and regions. In 2002, China's toy export reached $9.9 billion.

(Asia Pulse/XIC)

Sep 11, 2003