Exports of Christmas commodities made in Guangdong Province are
still in the slump that hit the industry in 2004, a local customs
spokesman said.
The officer of the Huangpu Customs of Guangdong said the
province's Christmas commodities exports were only US$550 million
in the first nine months, just 1.7 percent up on the same period
last year.
July, August and September, the mid-season for Christmas
commodities, had passed, and the province's exports are unlikely to
rise in the final three months, he said.
Guangdong exported US$640 million of Christmas commodities in
2002, a rise of 22.3 percent year-on-year, and its exports in 2003
edged up by 25.2 percent to reach US$790 million.
However, in 2004, Guangdong just exported US$630 million of
Christmas commodities, down by 20.1 percent from 2003. The figure
last year was US$620 million, down 1.8 percent year-on-year.
Exports of China-made Christmas commodities have been hindered
by rising costs of raw materials and increased competition for the
foreign markets, the customs spokesman said.
As Christmas gained in popularity among Chinese, especially
young people, many manufacturers have focused on the domestic
market and reduced their exports.
Many Chinese Christmas commodities also failed to meet quality
and safety standards in the European Union, the United States,
Canada, Australia and other countries, the official said.
Customs officers are advising domestic manufacturers to
diversify their products and improve quality to sharpen their
competitiveness on the international market.
China's total export value of Christmas commodities was about
US$1.07 billion each year in 2004 and 2005.
(Shenzhen Daily November 6, 2006)