Export boom interrupted

Exports of power hand tools from China will pass the US$ 3 bn mark by the end of 2005, reveals the latest China Sourcing Report: Power Hand Tools, by Global Sources. Compared with the preceding year this signifies an increase of 20 per cent. The number of hand tool manufacturers in China has doubled to 2 000 in the last year. Following the export boom in 2004, growth rates have slowed. In the period from January to July 2005 China exported tools to the value of US$ 1.6 bn, equivalent to growth of 19 per cent over the previous year, thus far behind the growth level of 2004 (37 per cent). The trend in terms of volume was relatively stable, with growth rates of 19 per cent in 2004 and 11 per cent in the first seven months of 2005. This is evidence of the fact that the export quota of higher-value appliances has risen.
Export plans of Chinese manufacturers of power hand tools (PDF file)