Chinese Toys Popular in US, Europe

More Chinese toys ended up in overseas stores last year, in spite of the Asian financial crisis which has weakened international demand.
China last year exported US$5.3 billion worth of toys, US$300 million more than in 1997.
Over 80 per cent were exported to the United States and European countries.
Industrial experts from the China Toys Association said this had contributed heavily to the industry's achievement last year.
However, industrial experts predicted that toy exports will not be able to increase by a big margin in 1999, because of the slowdown in economic growth in the United States and European countries.
In order to remain the world's biggest toy supplier and increase export volume further, the Chinese Government has decided to increase the rebate toy exports enjoy from 9 to 11 per cent this year.
The statistics from the toy association showed that China's toy exports accounted for about one-tenth of the world's total trade volume in 1997, reflecting the country's lead position in the international toy market.
Nearly all the toys made for export come from overseas-funded enterprises, located in Southeast China's coastal regions, including Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu provinces and Shanghai.
There are some 6,000 toy manufacturers across the country, of which more than 80 per cent are funded by overseas capital.
The enterprises mainly use technologies, designs and materials from their overseas investors to produce toys with original features and high quality.
Five overseas-funded toy factories rank among the China's top 500 businesses, with a sales volume reaching 1 billion yuan (US$120 million) each.
The inflow of capital and advanced technology from overseas have stimulated the domestic toy industry greatly and made it possible for the industry to become a pillar of the light industry.

The Trend of Car Consumption at Home

This year there won't be any great changes in the supply and demand of cars at the market. The domestic car output will reach 2 million. The annual need is exceeding 2 million among which 700 thousand are sedans. The abolition of selling the license plate at base price will further inducing nationwide discussions on how to improve the environment for the consumption of cars, Fundamentally speaking, there'll be a bright prospect for the consumption of cars in 2001. Macroscopic policy without the support of microscopic environment is still the key factor to restrict the consumption. The policy of gathering fuel taxes will affect car marketing. Vehicles with high consumption of fuel and those used for farming will be greatly affected. Consumers will favor vehicles with low-exhaustion and low-consumption of fuel. According to European No. 1 standard, cars should have unpassed gas exhaustion in the whole country. Consumers of cars should invest more in the protection of the environment. The major consumption will be private cars, which now takes up 60% of the market while in 1999 only 55%. The increasing growth of private car consumption will bring about new demands of post sale services for the car manufacturing business. The disputes between consumers and manufacturers resulting from car quality and services may probably keep increasing. There will be greater voice for safeguarding the right of car consumers by law. Exclusive sales, single level marketing and the circulation style of sales with post sale services will take a lead in the markets. The car price will drop due to new type cars being put on the market and the increasing output of other kinds of cars. Homemade cars with the price between 10-15 thousand RMB will sell well. The purchase of imported cars will go down due to the import of China's entering WTO. Car purchase on Loan will not attract customers due to the concept of consumption and income problem. Consumers will pay more attention to the safety of cars. Cars with ABS and Gas Bag and other safety installed will sell well.

Increasing Demand of Fabric for Industry

China has listed fabric for industry as the key point of growth in the new economy of textile industry. It is revealed on Beijing International Exhibition of non-weaving cloth and fabric for industry that the average annual growth rate of this kind of fabric ran up to 11% during the decade from 1988 to 1998. It is estimated that the output will reach 1.8 million tons this year and will run up to 3 million tons by the end of 2010.

Fabrics for Industry are mainly used in aviation, architecture, transportation, and environment production etc. At present, Fabric for industry , clothes making and household textile have become the three pillar industries of our country. The Bureau of Textile that the demand for chemical and synthetic materials will keep increasing with the opening up of the West of China and the reinforcement of the capital constructions. The demand of fabric for car cushions, chairs, and safety gas bags will keep increasing as the car industry is booming. The fabric enterprises for industry should meet the opportunity, seek the markets, readjust production structure and enhance marketing. The focus should be placed on developing fabrics for agricultural cultivation, for medical care and health and for filter and tarpaulins.